02-01-2016 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGREGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated February 1, 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 – 9 PRESENT, 2 ABSENT
Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul
Cavallo, Council President James Cichetti, Christopher Johnson, Council Vice President Joseph Mineo, Donald Rheault, Robert Rossi, and Anthony Suffriti. Councilor Theroux called Council
President to inform him he was out of town and Councilor Letellier was absent. With nine 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 Superintendent
William Sapelli who spoke about Statement of Interest and Accelerated Repair Program to help with the boiler issue at the Doering School. MSBA will give funds up to a certain amount.
We qualify because the boilers are over 50 years old. The replacement of these boilers is not an option. The deadline for submission to the MSBA is February 12th which is the reason
for the emergency. He thanked the Council for their consideration and support.
Item D. Minutes
1. Regular Council Meeting – December 21, 2015 (Tabled 1/19/16)
Motion to remove
the item from the table made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Johnson. Voice vote was unanimous. Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor
Johnson. Again, the voice vote was unanimous approving the minutes.
2. Regular Council Meeting – January 19, 2016
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor
Mineo. The voice vote was unanimous approving the minutes.
Item E. Declaration from Council President
None.
Item F. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials & Remonstrances
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) (Referred to Finance Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Suffriti. Councilor Johnson as Chair of the Finance Committee provided a report stating that a positive recommendation
was sent by his committee at their meeting earlier that evening.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
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)
.
Motion to approve
made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Johnson.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
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)
Motion to approve made by Councilor
Rossi and seconded by Councilor Mineo.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
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)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Mineo
and seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
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) (Referred to Finance Committee)
Motion
to approve made by Councilor Suffriti and seconded by Councilor Johnson. As previously stated in his Finance Committee report, Councilor Johnson stated that a positive recommendation
was sent by his committee at their meeting earlier that evening.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
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) (Referred to Community Relations Committee)
Motion
to approve made by Councilor Mineo and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. Councilor Bitzas as Chair of the Community Relations Committee provided a report stating that a positive recommendation
was sent by his committee at their meeting earlier that evening. He also mentioned that Chief Gillis spoke regarding this item stating that the contract with Southwick was less than
$9000 as compared to the contract with Westfield.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
Item G. Report of Council Committees
None.
Item H. Elections
None.
Item I. Public Hearings
1. 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)
The item remains on the table until March 7th.
Item J. Old Business
1. TO-2016-1 - Budgetary
Transfer of $20,000 from Building Maintenance Regular Permanent (#11921-51010) to Building Maintenance Overtime (#11921-51030) (Mayor) (Referred to Finance Committee)
Motion to approve
made by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. As previously stated in his Finance Committee report, Councilor Johnson stated his committee sent a positive recommendation
for approval. Councilor Rossi stated after reading the summary of information provided by Doug White that it seems there isn’t a good scheduling system and this account was designed
to be used as an overtime expenditure system. Councilor Rossi suggested working harder on the workload and manpower issues and figure it out.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors
Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
2. 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)
(Referred to Administrative Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Johnson and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided
his report saying they reviewed the application and deemed it to be incomplete. The committee voted to table the item until more information was received.
Motion to table made by Councilor
Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Johnson. The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) tabling the item.
Item K. New Business
1. TR-2016-7 - A Resolution
authorizing the reservation of surplus funds from the Community Preservation Fund (CPA)
Next Agenda.
2. TO-2016-3 - Budgetary Transfer for $4,500.00 From Park Service (#16202-52520)
to Temporary Salaries (#16201-51020) to cover School Street Park supervisor salaries (Mayor)
Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee.
3. TO-2016-4 - Emergency Preamble authorizing preparation of a Statement of Interest for the “Accelerated Repair Program” for the Roberta G. Doering School (Mayor)
Due to the emergency
situation, this item would need to be considered this evening. Councilor Cavallo wanted to know what the reimbursement amount would be to which Councilor Johnson replied it was stated
right in the resolution attached to the emergency preamble. Councilor Johnson read the resolution into record.
Motion to approve the Emergency Preamble moved and seconded.
The vote
was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
4. TR-2016-8 - A Resolution to prepare a Statement of Interest for the “Accelerated Repair Program”
for the Roberta G. Doering School (Mayor on behalf of Agawam School Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Rheault. Councilor Bitzas stressed
the importance of passing this. Councilor Calabrese did the math and provided some numbers that could be expected for reimbursement.
The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors
Letellier and Theroux) approving the item.
5. TR-2016-9 - A Resolution authorizing the posting of the warrant for the Presidential Preference Primary on March 1, 2016 (Mayor)
Next
Agenda, referred to Finance Committee.
6. TR-2016-10 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Marilyn Curry, 123 Beekman Drive, Agawam, to the Whiting Street and Thomas
Pyne Fund for a term expiring December 31, 2017 (Mayor)
Next Agenda.
7. TR-2016-11 - A Resolution accepting a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Emergency Agency pursuant
to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53A to Agawam Emergency Management ($2,000.00) (Mayor)
Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee.
8. TR-2016-12 - A Resolution
endorsing a “Complete Streets Policy” within the Town of Agawam (Mayor, co-sponsored by Councilor Cichetti)
Next Agenda, referred to Community Relations Committee.
9. TO-2016-5 -
An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to Richard Conlon Jr. d/b/a Motor City Car Co., 91 Ramah Circle, Agawam, MA. (Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative
Committee.
Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council.
Councilor Suffriti thanked Barbara for sending out the information regarding the cell phone tower
now being in use and hopefully those in the affected areas would find some relief.
Item M. Adjournment.
The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around the house. The time
of adjournment was 7:28pm.