10-07-19 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGREGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated September 16, 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 – 10 PRESENT, 1 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, Rosemary Sandlin, Robert Rossi and Anthony Suffriti. Councilor Joseph Mineo was absent. Council President Johnson extended continued prayers for a
speedy recovery for Councilor Mineo. With ten 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
William Clark supported car chargers placed within the town and also spoke about sewer issues. Donald Moore also spoke about the construction on South Westfield Street noting there
was no room for mailboxes and that the water shutoffs would need to be moved. He also questioned where his curb cut would be located as he was previously informed it would not affect
his property.
Item D. Minutes
1. Regular Council Meeting – September 16, 2019
Motion to approve the minutes was moved by Councilor Magovern and seconded by Councilor Sandlin. Voice vote approved with Council President Johnson.
Item E. Declaration from Council President
None.
Item F. Presentation of Resolutions
1. TR-2019-55 - A Resolution to exercise the Right of First Refusal Option to meet a bona fide offer to purchase lands classified under M.G. L. Chapter 61A located at 497 South Westfield
Street, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts (Mayor Sapelli) (Tabled 9/3/19)
This item remained on the table.
2. TR-2019-60 - A Resolution accepting a devise in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($50,000.00) from the Estate of Ada E. Mahoney for use by the Town of Agawam Senior
Center (Mayor Sapelli)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Mercadante and seconded by Councilor Sandlin.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the item. Council President Johnson thanked the Mahoney family for their generous donation.
3. TR-2019-61 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of Ten Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Dollars and Zero Cents ($10,880.00) from the David M. and Marjorie J. Sherman Fund
for Use by the Town of Agawam Senior Center (Mayor Sapelli)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilors Rossi and Magovern.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the item. Council President Johnson thanked the Sherman family for their generous donation.
4. TR-2019-62 - A Resolution authorizing the appropriation of Eleven Thousand and Six Hundred and Seventy Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($11,677.50) from the Energy Management Project
Stabilization Fund (Mayor Sapelli)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Mercadante and seconded by Councilors Bitzas and Sandlin. Council President Johnson noted that this was the town’s half of the chargers.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the item.
5. TR-2019-63 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Kenneth M. Pietras, 795 North West Street, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Veteran’s Council to a term expiring April 1, 2023 (Mayor
Sapelli)
Motion to approve made by Councilors Bitzas and Letellier and seconded by Councilor Sandlin.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the item. Council President Johnson thanked Mr. Pietras for his continued service on the Veterans’ Council.
Item G. Report of Council Committees
None.
Item H. Elections
None.
Item I. Public Hearings
1. TOR-2019-6 (PH-2019-5) - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinance regarding personal wireless facilities and towers (Mayor Sapelli) (Second and Final
Reading)
Motion to approve the second and final reading made by Council Vice President Calabrese and seconded by Councilors Suffriti and Cavallo.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the second and final reading.
2. TOR-2019-7 (PH-2019-6) - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinance regarding Permitted Uses in Business A Districts (Planning Board) (Tabled 9/16/19) (First
of Two Readings)
This item has been withdrawn by its sponsor, the Planning Board.
3. TOR-2019-8 (PH-2019-7) - An Ordinance to amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinance regarding Use Restrictions in Residence A-3 Districts (Mayor Sapelli) (Tabled 9/16/19)
(First of Two Readings)
This item has been withdrawn by the Mayor.
4. TOR-2019-9 (PH-2019-8) - An Ordinance to amend Site Plan Review requirements pursuant to Chapter 180 of the Code of the Town of Agawam (Planning Board) (Second and Final Reading)
Motion to approve the second and final reading made by Councilor Sandlin and seconded by Councilor Cavallo.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the second and final reading.
Item J. Old Business
1. TOR-2019-10 - An Ordinance amending Chapter 33 of the Code of the Town of Agawam (Mayor Sapelli) (1 of 2 Readings) (Referred to Legislative Committee)
Motion to approve the first reading made by Council Vice President Calabrese and seconded by Councilors Mercadante and Cavallo. As Chair of the Legislative Committee, Councilor Magovern
provided the report stating that the Solicitor presented this item to the sub-committee. This is the ordinance portion of the appropriation for the charging stations. The Treasurer
recommends that we add a Revolving Account for these funds. Agawam retains all of the revenue from the charging stations. Eversource is funding half of the construction costs. The
rate for the electricity at the charging stations is set by us. We also discussed concerns around the liability in the event of an accident or injury. This will be addressed in the
service contract with the supplier. Motion to send a positive recommendation to the Full Council made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilors Calabrese and Sandlin. The vote
was 5 YES, 0 NO. Council President Johnson stated that for the publics’ information this is to set up a revolving fund of sorts to put money in to fund the charging stations.
Discussion began with Council Vice President Calabrese agreed with the highly visible locations for the charging stations and thanked everyone on the Energy Commission. She was excited
to see this coming into our town and was in favor of this item. Councilor Mercadante was also in favor and felt this was a step in the right direction to start laying the groundwork
for future infrastructure and it also helps our town with state funding as well as the Agawam Go Green Community designation. This reconfirms our commitment to going green. Councilor
Bitzas added that he thought it was a great idea and thanked the Mayor for putting it on the Agenda. It is a good investment for the town. The locations of these charging stations
are the Agawam Public Library, School Street and Borgatti Parks. Councilor Letellier mentioned she was one of the original members of the Go Green Committee and noted she had questioned
the town’s liability on this item but is satisfied with the answers she received from the Mayor and the Solicitor. Councilor Magovern said it was important to note that this is a source
of revenue for the town and is forward thinking. He also thanked the Energy Commission for their hard work. Councilor Sandlin was also in support of this item as we need to look at
limiting our carbon footprint and this is one of the first steps in becoming truly green. Councilor Cavallo added that these charging stations are not just for Agawam residents but
also for those coming to Agawam from out of town.
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the first reading.
2. TO-2019-31 - 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 Magovern and Suffriti. As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Rossi provided a report stating that
all was in order with this application and the Committee gave a positive recommendation to the Full Council with a vote of 4 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (Councilor Mineo).
The vote was 10 YES, 0 N0, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) approving the item.
Item K. New Business
1. TR-2019-64 - A Resolution accepting a grant ($201,133.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44,
Section 53A (Mayor Sapelli)
Referred to Finance Committee, next Agenda.
2. TO-2019-32 - 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, next Agenda.
3. TO-2019-33 - 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, next Agenda.
4. TO-2019-34 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for Automatic Amusement Device(s) for Polish American Club of Agawam, Inc., 139 Southwick Street, Feeding Hills, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
5. TO-2019-35 - An Order granting a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Agawam Beverage Company d/b/a Pour, 485 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
6. TO-2019-36 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for RCM, Inc, d/b/a Main Street Deli Restaurant, 141 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
7. TO-2019-37 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Kaptain Jimmy’s, 916 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
8. TO-2019-38 - An Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Ferrentino’s Inc. d/b/a Ferrentino’s Pizzeria & Pub, 1676 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
9. TO-2019-39 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for Automatic Amusement Device(s) for Ferrentino’s Inc. d/b/a Ferrentino’s Pizzeria & Pub, 1676 Main Street, Agawam, MA (Clerk)
Referred to Administrative Committee, next Agenda.
Item L. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council.
Councilor Letellier asked if anyone had helped to answer Mr. Moore’s questions. Council President Johnson stated he would ask the Mayor to have Engineering go see Mr. Moore. Council
Vice President Calabrese gave information about a fundraiser at The Axe House for Rosie Robotics. Councilor Cavallo noted how nice the properties look around Murphy’s Pub and the gas
station across the street. He commended them and others around town on their efforts to
beautify their business property. Councilor Mercadante made a plea to the viewing audience to help find a 14 year old Golden Retriever who is deaf and blind and is lost. Time is of
the essence (Update miraculously the dog was found days later severely dehydrated but alive and well () Councilor Magovern thanked the APD for keeping traffic at a minimum during the
Big E. After his recent concerns about vaping, Governor Baker outlawed vaping. He joked the the Governor must have been watching our meeting! Councilor Magovern also mentioned the
beautiful plantings around town and thanked the Beautification Commission for their funding as well as those taking care of these plantings.
Item M. Adjournment.
The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded around the house. Meeting was adjourned at 7:28pm.
Weekly Amusement Permit TO-2019-31 was approved