/
     
01-19-2016 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGREGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated January 19, 2016 Meeting was called to order by Council President Cichetti at 7:00pm at the Auditorium at the Roberta G. Doering School, 68 Main Street, Agawam. Item A. Roll Call ROLL CALL – 11 PRESENT, 0 ABSENT Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council President James Cichetti, Christopher Johnson, Gina Letellier, Council Vice President Joseph Mineo, Donald Rheault, Robert Rossi, Anthony Suffriti and Richard Theroux. With eleven present, there was a quorum. Item B. Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Council President Cichetti asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Item C. Citizen’s Speak Time There was only one citizen signed up to speak and that was Chris Lomoscola who complained about the lack of follow through by the Mayor, the Solicitor and the Fire Chief about an issue with permitting and waste disposal containers. Item D. Minutes Regular Council Meeting – December 21, 2015 Motion to table made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Rossi. The item was tabled. Regular Council Meeting – January 4, 2016 (Reorganizational) Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Rossi. The voice vote was unanimous. Item E. Declaration from Council President None. Item F. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials & Remonstrances 1. TR-2015-52 - Resolution confirming the appointment of Dean Godek, 24 Cedar Knoll Drive, Feeding Hills to the Agawam Municipal Golf Commission for a term expiring on December 31, 2018 (Mayor) Motion to approve made by Councilor Johnson and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. Councilor Rossi suggested tabling this item and any future Golf Commission appointments until Council decided what they were doing with the Golf Course. While it is nothing personal, Councilor Rossi mentioned that Mr. Godek has been on this commission for years and is therefore part of the problem with the Golf Course and suggested considering this as a Motion to table. Councilor Bitzas respectfully disagreed and thought that that would not be a wise thing to do. Councilor Theroux noted that the Council has their own Ad Hoc Golf Committee but this particular item is appointed by the Mayor. Mr. Godek has done an excellent job over the years and deserves to be reappointed. He stated that these are two separate issues. The question was moved and Council President Cichetti stated he had a Motion to table by Councilor Rossi who then said it was not a Motion just a suggestion. The vote was 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSTENTION (Councilor Rossi) approving the item. 2. TR-2015-53 - Resolution authorizing the appropriation to fund the demolition and hauling away of structure(s) located at 30 Royal Lane, Agawam, MA in the amount not to exceed $16,500.00 (Mayor) Motion to approve by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. Councilor Cavallo stated that this was an excellent move with the blighted property ordinance. Councilor Johnson reminded the Council that this had nothing to do with the blighted property ordinance but that the town took this property by tax title. The vote was 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSTENTION (Councilor Calabrese) passing the item. 3. TR-2015-54 - Resolution accepting a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53A to Agawam Emergency Management ($6,460.00) (Mayor) Motion to approve made by Councilor Suffriti and seconded by Councilor Letellier. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO approving the item. Item G. Report of Council Committees None. Item H. Elections None. Item I. Public Hearings None. Item J. Old Business 1. TO-2015-90 - Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s License to Elias Auto, 1123 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Johnson. As current Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Rossi provided a report stating the committee sent a positive recommendation for passage. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO passing the item. 2. TO-2015-91 - Order Granting a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Kaptain Jimmy’s Restaurant & Distillery, 916 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA. (Clerk) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. Again, Councilor Rossi as Chair of the Administrative Committee said the committee sends a positive recommendation by a unanimous vote and after a lengthy discussion. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO approving the item. 3. TOR-2015-9 - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinance §180 entitled “Non-Conforming Use” (Councilor Cichetti) – Public Hearing date set for March 7, 2016 (Referred to Legislative Committee) Motion to table made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Suffriti since the public hearing date is not until March 7th. Item K. New Business 1. TR-2016-1 - A Resolution accepting a donation from Theory Skate Shop pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A to the Town of Agawam (Mayor) Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee. 2. TR-2016-2 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Gerald Landry, 71 Country Road, Agawam, MA to the Whiting Street and Thomas Pyne Fund for a term expiring December 31, 2017 (Mayor) Next Agenda. 3. TR-2016-3 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Rene Trudel, 66 Brien Street, Agawam, MA to the Whiting Street and Thomas Pyne Fund for a term expiring December 31, 2017 (Mayor) Next Agenda. 4. TR-2015-4 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Anthony Pioggia, 20 Sharon Lane, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam Municipal Golf Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2018 (Mayor) Next Agenda. 5. TR-2016-5 - A Resolution Accepting a Grant from Commonwealth of Massachusetts State 911 Department pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A for Agawam Police Department (Mayor) Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee. 6. TR-2016-6 - A Resolution regarding the approval of an Inter-Municipal Animal Control Shelter between the Town of Southwick and the Town of Agawam (Mayor) Next Agenda, referred to Community Relations Committee. 7. TO-2016-1 - Budgetary Transfer of $20,000 from Building Maintenance Regular Permanent (#11921-51010) to Building Maintenance Overtime (#11921-51030) (Mayor) Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee. 8. TO-2016-2 - An Order granting or Renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s License to Zielinski Brothers II at 218 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee. Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilor Letellier congratulated Council President Cichetti on his first meeting stating he did a good job and welcomed Councilor Theroux to the Council. She asked for reports on the balances of the Whiting Street and Thomas Pyne Fund as well as the eligibility requirements of this fund. She would also like an update on the City Clerk’s position and would have thought a new Clerk would have been in place as of the first of the year. Councilor Calabrese also welcomed Councilor Theroux and congratulated Council President Cichetti. Councilor Theroux mentioned that he was in the town hall helping the ladies in the Clerk’s Office for the upcoming election and noticed the posting for the City Clerk position ends on January 22nd. Council President Cichetti thanked everyone for voting for him and Council Vice President Mineo and asked for everyone’s support throughout the year as they work together for the common goal of making Agawam a wonderful place to live. His commitment is to make communication, accountability and responsibility the three main things by which the Council is measured. He hopes to make the Council a more well-rounded, more experienced Council by changing up the sub-committees and hopes everyone will gain more experience on various sub-committees and positions. He mentioned that he and Council Vice President Mineo had already met with the Mayor on several occasions over the past two weeks and intend on meeting bi-weekly throughout the year and hopes this open communication will result in the Mayor attending some of our Council meetings. He emphasized that the message is not to automatically comply with whatever the Mayor wants but to openly discuss and debate issues as well as respecting each other’s views. He stated that the Council should work together and support each other and while we don’t have to always agree, the Council needs to work together for the common goal of the Town of Agawam. Adjournment. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around the house. The time of adjournment was P.M.