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02-06-17 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated February 6, 2017 Meeting was called to order by Council President Cichetti at 7:00pm in the Auditorium of the Roberta G. Doering School, 68 Main Street, Agawam. Item A. Roll Call ROLL CALL –10 PRESENT, 1 ABSENT Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Council President James Cichetti, Christopher Johnson, Council Vice President Joseph Mineo, Donald Rheault, Robert Rossi and Anthony Suffriti. Councilor Richard Theroux was absent. With ten 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 None. Item D. Minutes 1. Regular Council Meeting – January 17, 2017 Motion to approve made by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Johnson. Voice vote approved noting abstentions of Councilors Letellier and Cavallo. Item E. Declaration from Council President 1. Discussion of topics for upcoming workshop Council President Cichetti asked for suggestions from the Full Council for the upcoming (and not yet scheduled) Council workshop Item F. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials & Remonstrances None. Item G. Report of Council Committees None. Item H. Elections None. Item I. Public Hearings None. Item J. Old Business 1. TOR-2017-1 - An Ordinance to amend Chapter 180 of the Code of the Town of Agawam Temporary Moratorium on Recreational Marijuana Establishments (Co-sponsored by Mayor Cohen and Councilor Theroux) (Two Reading Required) [adding an amendment to place a temporary moratorium through 12/31/18 to allow town to undertake a planning process related to recreational marijuana] Motion to approve made by Councilor Letellier and seconded by Councilor Calabrese. Discussion began with Councilor Bitzas asking since the sponsor is not at the meeting, can he withdraw it for him? It couldn’t be withdrawn but it could be removed from the Agenda. Councilors Letellier and Calabrese withdrew their motion to approve. Motion to remove the item made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Johnson. The vote was 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Theroux) removing the item from the Agenda. Item K. New Business 1. TR-2017-4 - A Resolution approving sewer use rates fixed by the Department of Public Works (Mayor) [increase in sewer rates as submitted by the Mayor] Referred to the Finance Committee, next Agenda. 2. TR-2017-5 - A Resolution authorizing the application and acceptance of Massachusetts Community Development Block Program (Mayor) [accepting a CDBG program grant as submitted by the Mayor] – Suggest Public Hearing Date Referred to the Community Relations Committee, next Agenda. 3. TR-2017-6 - A Resolution confirming the re-appointment of Jennifer Towne, 775 Springfield Street 11B, Feeding Hills, MA. To the Agawam Housing Authority for a term expiring the second Monday in January, 2020 (Mayor) Next Agenda. 4. TR-2017-7 - A Resolution adopting and endorsing a Tax Increment Financing Agreement between the Town of Agawam and Sound Seal, Inc. (Mayor) [TIF agreement as proposed by the Mayor] Referred to the Finance Committee, next Agenda. 5. TR-2017-8 - A Resolution authorizing the approval of an inter-municipal animal control shelter between the Town of Southwick and the Town of Agawam (Mayor) [current agreement with Town of Southwick is expiring – this is a renewal as the Town of Agawam does not have its own facility] Referred to the Community Relations Committee, next Agenda. 6. TO-2017-4 AMENDED – Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) for American Legion Post 185 Wilson-Thompson located at 478 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA. 01030 (Clerk) Referred to the Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 7. TO-2017-5 - Budgetary Transfer of $10,000.00 from Building Maintenance Regular Permanent Salary (Account #11921-51010 to Building Maintenance Overtime (Account #11921-51030) (Mayor) Referred to the Finance Committee, next Agenda. 8. TO-2017-6 - Budgetary Transfer of $2,000.00 from Building Maintenance Regular Permanent Salary (Account #11921-51010) to Building Maintenance Regular Temporary (Account #11921-51020) (Mayor) Referred to the Finance Committee, next Agenda. 9. TOR-2017-2 - An Ordinance to amend Section 49-7(9)(D)(1) of the Code of the Town of Agawam to update the hourly wages for election & census workers (Councilor Bitzas) (Two Readings Required) [increase in hourly wage for poll workers as submitted by Councilor Bitzas] Referred to the Legislative Committee, next Agenda. Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilor Cavallo mentioned there’s a School Committee School Budget Finance Meeting on Feb 9th at 5:00pm and handed out copies of the timeline of meetings to his committee. Council President Cichetti asked Barbara to send to the Full Council as well. Councilor Cavallo also spoke about upcoming meeting on new licensing/permitting software and asked for input from his committee. Councilor Bitzas asked what was happening with Caesar’s which was been a blighted property longer than Twin Silos. Councilor Letellier expressed interest in the Superintendent Search Committee as she is one of the few councilors with a child still in the school system. Councilor Suffriti again spoke about blighted properties and agreed that Caesar’s is very overgrown with trees but during the winter months it becomes more of a noticeable eyesore. It seems that as soon as the City Council mentions it, we bring it to the forefront and suddenly receive information from the Administration. He has three words for the Games & Lanes property – TEAR IT DOWN. He is looking forward to the update on that property promised to be received in April. Councilor Johnson congratulated the New England Patriots for the awesome win. He also wanted to schedule a Finance meeting for Thursday, February 16th. Councilor Cavallo asked to piggyback. Councilor Rossi stated that week after week we hear about blighted properties. He is requesting a list of all of the blighted properties in town and the related priority plan from the Mayor’s Office. Item M. Adjournment. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around. Meeting was adjourned at 7:19pm.