03-05-18 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated February 20, 2018
Meeting was called to order by Council President Johnson 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, Council Vice
President Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council President Christopher Johnson, Gina Letellier, Robert Magovern, Dino Mercadante, Joseph Mineo, Robert Rossi, Rosemary Sandlin and Anthony
Suffriti. With eleven present, there was a quorum.
Item B. Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council President Johnson asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Item C. Citizen’s Speak Time
The following citizens spoke:
Corrinne Wingard – spoke about potential level funding of the PVTA reducing service in the Agawam and Feeding
Hills areas
William Clark – questioned the classes necessary to use the TV Studio.
Item D. Minutes
1. Regular Council Meeting – February 20, 2018
Motion to approve made by Councilor
Sandlin and seconded by Councilor Suffriti. Voice vote approved noting the abstention of Councilor Letellier.
Item E. Declaration from Council President
None.
Item F. Presentation
of Petitions and Remonstrances
1. TR-2018-12 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Mary Jo Safford, MS, APRN-BC, CTH, 92 Juniper Ridge, Feeding Hills, MA to the Board of
Health for a term expiring the first Monday in February, 2021 (Mayor Sapelli)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Suffriti and seconded by Councilors Sandlin, Cavallo and Letellier.
Council President made mention that Ms. Safford called and had a prior commitment for this evening however she expressed her gratitude for being considered.
The vote was 11 YES, 0
N0 approving the reappointment. Council President thanked her for her service.
2. TR-2018-13 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Charlotte M. Fields, 63 Central Street, Agawam, MA to the Historical Commission to a term expiring January 1, 2021 (Mayor Sapelli)
Motion
to approve made by Councilor Sandlin and seconded by Councilor Letellier.
The vote was 11 YES, 0 N0 approving the appointment. Council President thanked her for her service.
3. TR-2018-14 -
A Resolution appropriating funds ($23,157.00) from the General, Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance (Free Cash) to the Parks and Recreational Vehicle Account (#16204-58500) (Referred
to Finance Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Magovern and seconded by Councilor Mercadante. As Chair of the Finance Committee, Councilor Letellier provided the report
stating that this item pertains to purchase of a new car for Chris Sparks, Parks & Rec Director. Mayor Cohen ordered this to be paid out of Gift Account and was not previously cleared
with the Auditor. Prior mayor did not utilize normal and proper purchase order process. Mayor Sapelli said that Chris does use his car on some nights and weekends for town functions
although he will propose that the car stay at the office except on nights and weekends when he will be using it. Mayor said he is looking into all cars staying in the parking lot at
night unless they deal with emergencies. Motion to send a positive recommendation to the Full Council by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Mercadante. The vote was 5 Yes,
0 No.
The vote was 11 YES, 0 N0 approving the item.
4. TR-2018-15 - A Resolution to appropriate and authorize borrowing in the amount of $1,100,000.00 for the O’Brien’s Corner Complete
Streets Improvement Project (Mayor Sapelli) (To be withdrawn per email dated 2/20/18 from Solicitor on behalf of Mayor Sapelli)
Motion to remove the item from the Agenda as requested
by the Mayor made by Councilor Letellier and seconded by Councilor Sandlin.
The vote was 11 YES, 0 N0 removing the item from the Agenda.
Item G. Report of Council Committees
None.
Item
H. Elections
None.
Item I. Public Hearings
1. TOR-2017-13 (PH-2018-2) - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinances to add solar energy systems (Sponsored
by Councilors Johnson and Rossi) Refer to Legislative Committee and work with Assessors and Engineering to gather list of potential overlay district areas – no vote taken yet (Tabled
2/20/18) (Referred to Planning Board - PB Public Hearing set for 3/1/18) (City Council Public Hearing set for 3/19/18)
The item remained on the table until the Public Hearing on March
19, 2018.
Item J. Old Business
1. TO-2018-4 - Voucher List of $1,730.03 for Councilors’ reimbursements for MMA Trade Show 2018 (Referred to Finance Committee)
Motion to approve made
by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Suffriti. As Chair of the Finance Committee, Councilor Letellier provided a report stating that committee made a motion to send a positive
recommendation to the Full Council which made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Mercadante. The vote was 4 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention (Councilor Calabrese). There was no
further discussion.
The vote was 11 YES, 0 N0 approving the item.
2. TOR-2018-1 - An Ordinance to amend Section 49-7(C) of the Code of the Town of Agawam (1 of 2 Readings) (Mayor Sapelli)
(Referred to Finance Committee)
Motion to approve the first reading made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilors Letellier and Suffriti. As Chair of the Finance Committee,
Councilor Letellier provided a report stating that these Emergency Management positions fell through the cracks over the years and were not under any ordinance or any collective bargaining
and they need to be placed within an ordinance and agreed upon a salary range. The Committee made a Motion to send a positive recommendation to the Full Council which was made by Councilor
Mercadante and seconded by Councilor Mineo. The vote was 5 Yes, 0 No. There was no further discussion
The vote was 11 YES, 0 N0 approving the first reading.
Item K. New Business
1. TR-2018-16 -
A Resolution to amend the Rules and Regulations of the Agawam City Council (Councilor Johnson)
Referred to the Legislative Committee, next Agenda.
2. TR-2018-17 - A Resolution confirming
the appointment of Ronald Wieners, 122 Leonard Street, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Energy Commission to a term expiring on April 1, 2019 (Mayor Sapelli)
Next Agenda.
3. TR-2018-18 - A
Resolution confirming the appointment of Leston R. Tingley, 18 Portland Street, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam Energy Commission to a term expiring on April 1, 2021 (Mayor Sapelli)
Next
Agenda.
4. TR-2018-19 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Mark Morris, 34 James Street, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Energy Commission to a term expiring on April 1, 2021 (Mayor
Sapelli)
Next Agenda.
5. TR-2018-20 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Leslie Joseph, 71 Ridge Avenue, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Energy Commission to a term expiring on April
1, 2020 (Mayor Sapelli)
Next Agenda.
6. TOR-2018-2 - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam by Adding Section 103-1A (Councilor Johnson) (Two Readings Required)
Referred
to the Legislative Committee, next Agenda.
7. TO-2018-5 - Budgetary Transfer of $22,950.00 (as shown below) (Mayor Sapelli)
From:
Mun Golf Eq Rep, Maint & Repl
$3,000.00
65262
52030
Mun
Golf Telephone
$1,400.00
65262
52150
Mun Golf Prof Services
$500.00
65262
52190
Mun Golf Miscellaneous
$225.00
65262
52990
Mun Golf Prop Liab Ins
$11,605.00
65262
57500
Mun Golf Office Supplies
$220.00
65263
52230
Mun Golf Pro
Shop Supplies
$6,000.00
65263
54200
To:
Mun Golf Regular Temp
$8,500.00
65261
51020
Mun Golf Overtime
$3,000.00
65261
51030
Mun Golf
Water Purchase
$6,450.00
65262
56670
Mun Golf Chemicals &Lab
$5,000.00
65263
52310
Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda.
8. TO-2018-6 - Budgetary Transfer
of $9,500.00 from Blighted Property Expense (#16602-57710) to Professional Services (#16602-52190) (Mayor Sapelli)
Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda.
9. TO-2018-7 - Budgetary
Transfer of $299.25 from Reserve Fund (#16605-57300) to Community Development/Regular Permanent (#11801-51010) (Mayor Sapelli)
Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda.
Item L.
Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council.
Councilor Rossi reminded his Administrative Committee of the meeting the following night at the library at 6:30 regarding
sewers. He also mentioned that he and former Councilor Rheault had done research on the use of town vehicles however the previous Mayor was not interested. Councilor Rossi offered
to give the research to the new Mayor. Councilor Suffriti noted the demolition of Caesar’s and thanked Councilor Rossi for opening up the dialogue on the sewer situation. Councilor
Letellier commented on Ms. Wingard’s comments on cuts to PVTA – she noted that HAP/Wayfair Housing will be coming within two years and this will place an added burden on the bus schedule
creating an even stronger reason to push for this to be fully funded. She hoped the Housing Committee could write to our legislators. She thanked Mayor Sapelli for initiating an audit
of the golf course which is most important. She also expressed gratitude at his willingness to attend our meetings and answer any questions. Councilor Sandlin commended Ms. Wingard
for her excellent presentation and agreed there need to be greater equity with the Boston area noting that Metro-West won’t receive the amount of cuts that PVTA will receive which is
unfair. Council President Johnson commented that Barbara is working on cleaning up the Council website. He is also making modifications to the solar ordinance and get it out to everyone
prior to the Public Hearing next meeting. He reminded the Full Council of the March 26th Needs Assessment meeting. Council President also invited Mr. Nettis to attend our April 5th
meeting at 6:30 to answer questions on the ALICE program.
Item M. Adjournment.
The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around. Meeting was adjourned at 7:25pm.