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10-16-17 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated October 16, 2017 Meeting was called to order by Council President Cichetti at 7:00pm in 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 The following citizens spoke: Sam Konieczny – The new Assessor introduced himself, providing his background and expectations. He spoke briefly of the upcoming tax factor Michael Squindo – The new COA Director also introduced himself, providing his background and mentioned he will make some changes in the near future and looked forward to working with the Council Item D. Minutes 1. Regular Council Meeting – October 2, 2017 Motion to approve made by Councilors Suffriti and seconded by Councilor Rheault. Voice vote approved. Item E. Declaration from Council President None. Item F. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials & Remonstrances 1. TR-2017-54 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Chris Lanski, 24 Seymour Avenue, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Veterans’ Council to a term expiring October 1, 2020 (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) Motion to approve made by Councilor Theroux and seconded by Councilors Bitzas and Suffriti. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the appointment. 2. TR-2017-55 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of John L. Bonavita, 109 Liberty Street, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam Veterans’ Council to a term expiring October 1, 2020 (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Letellier. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the appointment. 3. TR-2017-56 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Ken Pietras, 759 North West Street, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam Veterans’ Council to a term expiring October 1, 2020 (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) Motion to approve made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Letellier. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the appointment. 4. TR-2017-57 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of $6,460.00 from Massachusetts Emergency management Agency through the Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance for the Town of Agawam Emergency Management Program (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) (Referred to Finance Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Suffriti and seconded by Councilor Johnson. As Chair of the Finance Committee, Councilor Johnson provided the report stating that after a brief discussion regarding the fact that the submitted materials do not indicate how the grant funds will be utilized, but the committee did not want to not accept an allocation grant from the state, a motion to make a positive recommendation to the Council on this item was made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Calabrese. The motion was approved by a 4 yes 0 no and 1 absent vote. The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT 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-2017-29 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to ACE Auto Body, 1363 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) (Referred to Administrative Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Johnson. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided the report stating that the committee gave a positive recommendation for passage by the Full Council with a vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (Councilors Bitzas and Rossi) The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the item. 2. TO-2017-30 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for 342, Inc., d/b/a Murphy’s Pub, 664 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA. (Clerk) (Referred to Administrative Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilors Theroux and Cavallo. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided the report stating that the committee gave a positive recommendation for passage by the Full Council with a vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (Councilors Bitzas and Rossi) The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the item. 3. TO-2017-31 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Polish American Club of Agawam, Inc., 139 Southwick Street, Feeding Hills, MA. (Clerk) (Referred to Administrative Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Johnson. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided the report stating that the committee gave a positive recommendation for passage by the Full Council with a vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (Councilors Bitzas and Rossi) The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the item. 4. TO-2017-32 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for Automatic Amusement for Polish American Club of Agawam, Inc., 139 Southwick Street, Feeding Hills, MA. (Clerk) (Referred to Administrative Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Rheault. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided the report stating that the committee gave a positive recommendation for passage by the Full Council with a vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (Councilors Bitzas and Rossi) The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the item. 5. TO-2017-33 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to Euro Imports, 325 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) (Referred to Administrative Committee) Motion to approve made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Rheault. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided the report stating that the committee gave a positive recommendation for passage by the Full Council with a vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (Councilors Bitzas and Rossi) The vote was 11 YES, 0 NO, O ABSENT approving the item. Item K. New Business 1. TR-2017-58 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Sustainable Materials Recovery Program to the City of Agawam for a small scale initiative (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda. 2. TR-2017-59 - A Resolution to appropriate and authorize borrowing in the amount of approximately Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to pay costs of repairing and replacing the Department of Public Works Building façade (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda. 3. TO-2017-34 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for Automatic Amusement for The Buc, Inc., 84-86 Maple Street, Agawam, MA. (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 4. TO-2017-35 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for The Buc, Inc., 84-86 Maple Street, Agawam, MA. (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 5. TO-2017 -36 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to Langonet, Inc., 61 Ramah Circle South, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 6. TO-2017-37 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to Parrotta Auto Service, Inc. d/b/a Parrotta’s Auto Sales, 357 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 7. TO-2017-38 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to LaFleur Auto Exchange, 374 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 8. TO-2017-39 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer’s LICENSE to Auto Kraft, 119 Walnut Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk) Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda. 9. TOR-2017-11 - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinance to add Solar Energy Systems (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen) – seek determination of whether Council can consider Next Agenda. Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilor Cavallo requested a letter to be sent to Verizon Wireless regarding the poor service in the Silver Street area and asked for them to come before the City Council. Councilor Bitzas thanked the voters who came out to vote and especially those that voted for him. Councilor Theroux encouraged the Council and others to attend the 1st Annual Masquerade Ball Gala to benefit the I Found Light Against All Odds to benefit at risk youth which is November 4th at Chez Josef. Councilor Calabrese reminded everyone to complete the online recreational survey. Councilor Letellier noted she tried three times to complete the survey and got all the way to the end only to receive an error message. She also congratulated the Veterans’ Council for the pancake breakfast on Saturday as well as the Rotary Club for the Harvest Festival. Great events and especially thanked Sue DeVillier for all of her hard work. Councilor Suffriti cautioned everyone to take care this Halloween and watch out for little ones. He also wished everyone good luck in the upcoming election as the Council won’t meet until the day after. Councilor Rossi appreciated the swift response regarding his concern of two blighted properties in Agawam however in their email they mentioned a ‘Blighted Task Force’ meeting to be held tomorrow (Oct 17th) – he asked Barbara to look into this and find out the details of this meeting as he would like to attend. He also expressed his condolences on the passing of Gary Janelewicz noting what a great man and highly decorated veteran he was and was happy to see so many veterans honor him at the wake. Council Vice President also sent his condolences on the recent passing of Tony Albro who was a wonderful man. Council President Cichetti reminded the Council of several upcoming events: Out of the Darkness Community Walk 10/21 @ 9:30 School Street Park, Agawam Traffic Calming Information Session 10/17 @ 5:30 at the library Soldier On Community Cookout 10/28 11-4 at Soldier On facility Grand Opening of the Cable Access Channel Studio at AHS on 10/28 11-1 Item M. Adjournment. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around. Meeting was adjourned at 7:32pm.