CC MTG MINUTES DECEMBER 1 2014• REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAW"CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated December I, 2014
Meeting was called to order by President Johnson at 7:00pm at the Auditorium at the Roberta G.
Doering School, 68 Main Street,Agawam.
Item A. Roll Call
ROLL CALL—11 PRESENT
Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul
Cavallo, James Cichetti, Council President Christopher Johnson, Gina Letellier, Joseph Mineo,
Vice President Dennis Perry, Donald Rheault, Robert Rossi and Anthony Suffriti. With eleven
councilors present, there was a quorum.
• Item B. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAlleglance.
President Johnson asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item C. Citizen's Speak Time
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Richard Theroux was the only citizen signed up for Citizen's Speak Time and in the spirit of
better dialogue and opening communication for the common interest of bettering the Town of
Agawam,he invited the City Council to the annual Administrative Union Holiday Party.
Item D. Minutes
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Motion to approve the December 1, 2014 Regular City Council meeting minutes was made by
Councilors Mineo and seconded by Councilor Rheault. The minutes were approved by a vote of:
10 Yes,0 No,1 Abstention(Councilor Calabrese).
! Item E. Declaration from,Council President
1. Auditor Discussion—Executive Session(please see end of minutes)
Council President Johnson named Councilor Perry as Chair of the newly-formed Golf Course
Committee. Councilor Perry spoke about the committee and named Councilors Letellier and
Suffriti to this committee.
Motion to take Agenda out of order by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Suffriti.
The vote was unanimous. Moved on to Item 11 New Business and then to come back to Auditor
Discussion.
! Item F. Presentation of Petitions.Memorials&Remonstrances
None.
Item 7. Report of Council Committees
None.
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Item 8. Elections
None.
Item 9. Public Hearines
None.
Item 10. Old Business
None.
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Item 11. New Business
1. TO-201444 - Transfer of $150.00 from Clerk Regular Temp (#11611 51020) to
Clerk Longevity (#1161151400) (Mayor)
Next Agenda.
2. TR-2014-47 -Resolution to accept a restriction limiting "Alteration"of
"Riverfront Area"(Conservation Commission M.G.L.A.40§8C)
# Next Agenda.
3. TR-2014-48 - Resolution opposing mid-year cuts to Unrestricted General
Government Aid and Chapter 70 Education Aid (Councilor Bitzas)
Next Agenda.
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4. TO-2014-45 -An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for Buccaneer Lounge,84-86
Maple Street,Agawam,MA (Clerk)
• Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
5. TO-2014-46 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for Crestview Country Club,
281 Shoemaker Lane,Agawam,MA(Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
6. TO-2014-47 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for Ray-Mor, Inc. d/b/a The
Elbow,386 Walnut Street,Agawam,MA (Clerk)
• Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
7. TO-2014-48 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for Home Plate Sports Bar,
827 Springfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA(Clerk)
! Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
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• 8. TO-2014-49 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for Polish American Club of
Agawam,139 Southwick Street,Feeding Hills,MA (Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
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9. TO-2014-50 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for F.S.F., Inc. d/b/a
Riverboat Bar& Grill, 11 South End Bridge Circle,Agawam,MA(Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
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10. TO-2014-51 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT-for Scoreboard Bar &
Restaurant, 15 King Street,Agawam,MA (Clerk)
• Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
11. TO-2014-52 - An Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device and Weekly Amusement PERMIT for West Springfield Fish &
Game,Inc.,329 Garden Street,Feeding Hills,MA(Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
12. TO-2014-53 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
ACE Auto Body,1363 Main Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
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13. TO-2014-54 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
Paul J. LaPointe dlbla The Car Connection, 820 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills,
MA. (Clerk)
• Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee,
14. TO-2014-55 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
Elmwood-D&J Auto Sales,521 River Road, Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
15. TO-2014-56 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
LaFleur Auto Exchange,374 Main Street,Agawam,MA. (Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
• 16. TO-2014-57 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
RNK Auto Sales,28 Moylan Lane,Agawam, MA. (Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
• 17. TO-2014-58 - An Order granting or renewing a Junk Dealer's PERMIT for
David S. Camp Collectables&Jewelry,270 Main Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
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18. TO-2014-59 - An Order granting or renewing a Class 2 Dealer's LICENSE TO
Balfour Motors, 1801 Main Street,Agawam, MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
Item 12. Any other mutter that may legally come before,the City Council.
Councilor Calabrese mentioned that the Rosie Robotics Team will be having their all day
tournament at the Agawam Jr. High on December W'. Councilor Mineo mentioned that the
Agawam Jr. Women's Club of which his wife is a member is collecting for over sixty families
• within Agawam that are in need of assistance this holiday. He will be collecting money to send
from the Council as a whole. Councilor Letellier thanked the Mayor, the Council and the School
Committee members who attended the Agawam/West Springfield Rotary Thanksgiving luncheon.
Lots of food was donated to the Parish Cupboard. Next year Agawam will be the host for this
event as AHS won the football game. She also spoke about a complaint that she received at the
• new Dunkin Donuts on Main Street regarding night deliveries, etc. She will send a Memo to the
Building Inspector and will follow up. She also mentioned the letter that each councilor received
and also received numerous tails and had people stop in to her office regarding this issue. Is
there anything the Council can do? Councilor Bitzas congratulated the AHS football team on the
great win.
! Item E. Declaration from Council President
1. Auditor Discussion—Executive Session
Council President opened Auditor Discussion after stating that the majority of councilors have
spoken to him in the past with complaints about the lack of communication with the Auditor. He
• met with Cheryl St. John last week and informed her about the complaints and that he could not
control the direction of the discussion during the meeting. He gave the Auditor the option of
going into Executive Session or discussing issues during open meeting. She elected to go into
Executive Session. The language he provided is directly from MGL and sounds worse than it
actually is. Councilor Cavallo was adamantly opposed to going into Executive Session as was
! Councilor Bitzas. Councilor Cavallo felt he was kept in the dark until the last minute. He felt
that this was done unprofessionally and was personally offended at how this was presented.
Councilor Bitzas said nothing was very serious so it should be in an open meeting. This should
have been a workshop, not an Executive Session. Councilor Letellier said we should respect
Cheryl's wishes to go into Executive Session—she wouldn't want personnel issues discussed on
air either.
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Motion to go into Executive Session made by Councilor Letellier and seconded by Councilor
Calabrese at 7:24pm.
Adoournment.
• The Council returned to the dais after the Executive Session.
The Motion to adjourn was moved by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Calabrese
with all in favor of adjourning. The time of adjournment was 8:25pm.
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