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06-17-19 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGREGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated June 17, 2019 Meeting was called to order by Council President Johnson at 7:00pm in the Auditorium at the Agawam Junior High School, 1305 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills. Item A. Roll Call ROLL CALL – 8 PRESENT, 3 ABSENT Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Council Vice President Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council President Christopher Johnson, Robert Magovern, Dino Mercadante, Rosemary Sandlin and Anthony Suffriti. Councilors Gina Letellier, Joseph Mineo and Robert Rossi were absent. Council President Johnson noted that Councilor Mineo was on his way and would arrive shortly. Councilors Letellier and Rossi were home recovering. With eight present, there was a quorum. Councilor Mineo arrived at 7:01pm. 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 people spoke about the FY20 budget: Danielle Wagoner – Oak Hill Avenue Jill Simpson – 24 Pleasant Valley Road Marjorie Savoie - 374 Meadow Street Christin Wilson – 59 Maynard Street Tara Witte – 418 Meadow Street Austin Kimball – 110 Parkview Drive Barbara Goyette – 330 North Street Shelley Borgatti-reed – 10 Shelley Lane Mary Bonavita – 8f Castle Hills Road Debbie King – 40 Mountainview Street Linda DeGray – 337 South Street Wendy Rua – 173 North Westfield Street Anthony Bonavita – 683 Cooper Street Jocelyn Foti – 1 Rising Street Kerri O’Connor – 15 Clematis Road William Clark – 26 High Meadow Road Sarah White – 117 Paul Revere Drive Item D. Minutes 1. Regular Council Meeting – June 3, 2019 Motion to approve the minutes was moved by Councilor Magovern and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. Voice vote approved. Item E. Declaration from Council President None. Item F. Presentation of Resolutions 1. TR-2019-41 - A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Operating Budget for the Town of Agawam (Mayor Sapelli) (Tabled 6/3/19) Motion to take the item off the table made by Councilor Sandlin and seconded by Councilors Cavallo and Magovern. Voice vote approved. Motion to approve made by Council Vice President Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. Discussion began with Councilor Bitzas who thanked all the speakers for coming tonight. He responded to one of the speakers who asked if the Council did their homework and Councilor Bitzas said yes, he did do his homework. He noted that small cuts don’t affect the taxes too much but they do affect the schools. Education is very important to him. Councilor Mercadante appreciated everyone’s concern and wanted to be crystal clear that the Council’s intent was not to hurt anyone. All departments need proper funding however each councilor is sworn to represent the entire town. 26.4% of the town’s population is over 60 years old. The City Council needs to do what’s best for the entire town and funds are limited – not limitless. Councilor Bitzas made the Motion to go into Committee as a Whole to continue to hear from the Mayor, the Superintendent and people. His Motion was not seconded. Council Vice President Calabrese stated that she would like to see the Police Department locker room not carried forward. Councilor Sandlin supported that item being closed out. It would put $136,000 back into the budget. Council President Johnson explained that this item was carried forward from FY18 budget and to date is still unspent – it cannot be cut – just noted. Councilor Bitzas made a Point of Information that he wanted it known he did not support a new police station and City Hall complex but did support Council Vice President’s statement. Amendment #1 Council President Johnson made the Motion to cut $100,000 from Line #16602 52425 entitled “Stormwater Management” located in the Line Items Section (Tab 30) of the FY20 Operating Budget. This would reduce the amount from about $225,000 to $125,000 which should be sufficient. The Motion was seconded by Council Vice President Calabrese and Councilor Mercadante. Council President Johnson stated that in all his years in all his areas he has served the town, this year he’s heard the largest outcry from residents about increases in taxes. As the budget currently sits, it represents a 2 ½ % increase in the tax levy. With the recent passage of the local Meals Tax option, the town looks to receive $200,000 - $250,000 in FY20 and nearly $500,000 - $600,000 the following fiscal year. This should help offset some of the tax levy. He is trying to be receptive to everyone. The budget is the primary responsibility of the City Council and we must remember what happens this evening will take effect six months from now when the tax factor has to get voted on. Councilor Bitzas stated this made sense and agreed. The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Rossi) approving the amendment. Amendment #2 Councilor Cavallo made the Motion to take $157,400 from Line #16610 58441 entitled Parks & Recreation Shea Field Parking Lot located in the Capital Improvement Section (Tab 31) of the budget. Motion was seconded by Councilors Sandlin and Magovern. Councilor Cavallo said it is simply putting it off for a year by taking it out of this year’s capital improvement line item. Councilor Bitzas asked how this would affect the Park & Recreation budget. Council President Johnson said the line item was to pave the parking lot and doesn’t affect the Park & Rec budget at all. The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Rossi) approving the amendment. Amendment #3 Councilor Sandlin made the Motion to cut the sum of $250,000 from the Agawam Public Schools appropriation (Tab 28) of the fiscal year 2020 budget. The Motion was seconded by Council Vice President Calabrese. Councilor Sandlin said this cut represents only one quarter of one percent and noted the City Council needs to be responsible to all the citizens of Agawam not just the schools. She emphasized her value of education but reemphasized the need to be responsible to all residents. Councilor Magovern thanked all the teachers for coming this evening and for speaking. Be assured that he is 100% in favor of education and comes from a family of teachers. He is a firm believer of education however he supports this cut and feels it can be done without hurting the teachers. If he thought for one minute that it would impact a teacher then he wouldn’t support it in any way, shape or form. Councilor Mineo agreed with the cut as well noting that especially after approving the Meal Tax option, this cut wouldn’t affect the schools and would basically be a wash. Councilor Bitzas argued that if you supported education then you wouldn’t cut the budget – any cuts will hurt the school system. Like you said, it is such a small percent, then why cut it? It won’t even be noticed by the taxpayers. He felt it was a political maneuver and would not tell everyone how to vote but $250,000 is nothing in such a big budget – it is a fraction of a penny – so why cut it? Councilor Cavallo agreed with his colleagues stating that there was room to cut in this budget. The Mayor won’t cut teachers – there are always places to cut and the school budget is the biggest part of the operating budget. He empathizes with the teachers who spoke this evening but we have to also think of the town side and the entire town. He has concerns with the school budget this year. The vote was 8 YES (Councilors Calabrese, Cavallo, Johnson, Magovern, Mercadante, Mineo, Sandlin and Suffriti), 1 NO (Councilor Bitzas), 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Rossi) approving the amendment. The vote for the main Motion as amended was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Rossi) adopting the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget as amended. 2. TR-2019-45 - A Resolution authorizing the reservation and appropriation of funds from the Community Preservation Fund (CPA) Motion to approve made by Councilor Mercadante and seconded by Councilor Sandlin. The vote was 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilors Letellier and Rossi) approving the item. Item G. Report of Council Committees None. Item H. Elections None. I tem I. Public Hearings None. Item J. Old Business None. Item K. New Business 1. TR-2019-46 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Kenneth Largay, 187 Edgewater Road, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Liquor License Commission to a term expiring the first Monday in June, 2024 (Mayor Sapelli) Next Agenda. 2. TR-2019-47 - A non-binding Resolution encouraging the Mayor to enhance spending for road and sidewalk repairs with Local Option Meals Tax funds (Councilors Bitzas and Johnson) Next Agenda. 3. TR-2019-48 - A Resolution authorizing the adoption of Orders of Taking for the Feeding Hills Right-of-Way Project under the authority of Section 14 of Chapter 40, Chapter 79 and Chapter 84 of the Massachusetts General Laws for the construction and maintenance of Mass DOT Project #600513: Transportation Improvement Project South Westfield Street (Route 187) (Mayor Sapelli) Next Agenda. 4. TR-2019-49 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Mary Lee Bertrand, BSN, 926 North West Street, Feeding Hills, MA. to the Board of Health to an unexpired term expiring the first Monday in February, 2022 (Mayor Sapelli) Next Agenda. 5. TO-2019-25 - Budgetary transfer of $58,395.29 from DPW Ice Control Materials (#14203-52210) and $66,366.62 from DPW Snow & Ice Overtime (#14201-51031) for a total transfer of $124,761.91 to Equip Rentals – Snow 14202-52071) (Mayor Sapelli) Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda. Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilor Suffriti thanked everyone on the Council for the small debate and the efforts to keep everyone fiscally responsible. He thanked everyone for their mindfulness. Councilor Mercadante also thanked the City Council for trying to do the right thing for the residents of Agawam. Item M. Adjournment. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded around the house. Meeting was adjourned at 8:07pm.