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CC MTG MINUTES MAY 19 2014 • REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL Minutes dated May 19, 2414 • 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 I. Roll Call • ROLL CALL— 10 PRESENT, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Bitzas) Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present. Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, James Cichetti, Council President Christopher Johnson, Gina Letellier, Joseph Mineo, Vice President Dennis Perry, Robert Rossi, Donald Rheault and Anthony Suffriti. • Councilor George Bitzas was not in attendance. With ten councilors present, there was a quorum. Item 2. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAtkgiance. • President Johnson asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Item 3. Citi en's Speak Time There were two citizens signed up to speak. Henry Kozloski spoke about the Annual CPA Public Hearing which will be on May 28'h at 7pm in the Senior Center and the • public is encouraged to attend. Donna Jago of River Road spoke regarding the rotary at the end of Rt 57 by the South End Bridge. It used to be so beautiful with flowering trees and nice grass. Lately however it seems to be a storage garage for construction vehicles. Main Street was recently beautified and it would be nice if this gateway into Agawam was kept up. • Item 4. Minutes There was a Motion to approve the May 5, 2014 Regular City Council meeting minutes made by Councilor Cichetti and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. The minutes were • approved by a vote of: 9 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention (Councilor Mineo) and 1 Absent (Councilor Bitzas). Item 5. Declaration from Council President None. Item 6. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials& Remonstrances None. Item 7. Report of Council Committees None. 1 0 Item 8. Elections None. Item 9. Public Hearings 2. PH-2014-2 (TOR-2014-4) -An Ordinance amending the Zoning Code of the Town of Agawam creating the Mixed Use Business C District (Planning Board) (Referred to )Legislative Committee) (Two Readings Required) - Public Hearing Date set for May 19,2014 i Motion to remove the item from the table was made by Councilor Letellier and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. Voice vote was unanimous to remove the item from the table. Council President opened the Public Hearing, Speaking IN FAVOR of the item was Corinne Wingard, Paul Paleologopoulos, .fill Messick, Richard Bennett, Jay Berger, George Galiatsos, Donna Jago, Debbie Dachos, Sheryl Becker, and Scott Petlock. All spoke in favor of passing this ordinance which would allow the town to apply for grants to help the Walnut Street area among other areas. They stated there was no detriment to the town if this was passed but would be a valuable tool in the town's toolbox. This would allow opportunities for Games & Lanes as well. Scott Fetlock of New England Go Carts spoke in favor and stated he is an interested party in the purchase of Games& Lanes with the desire to clean up and revitalize that area by putting in a racing business. . The following people spoke in name only in favor of the item: David Morin, Bernice Nowill, Diana Ventos, John Bennett, Elaine Carlson, Liz McKiernan, Tricia O'Grady-Howard, Brian Halla, Glen Garfield and Valerie Mulka. No one spoke in opposition to this item. Motion was made to approve the first reading of TOR-2014-4 by Councilor Cichetti and seconded by Councilor Letellier. • Councilor Calabrese stated she was on the fence but based on the public input, she would support the measure. Councilor Letellier thanked the public for attending and also thanked the gentleman interested in purchasing Games & Lanes. She stated there was no downside to this and to say no is simply short-sighted. Councilor Rossi stated that he wasn't in favor of this before and still is not in favor. There hasn't been any action down in the Walnut Street area for years and this • wouldn't fix the problem. Would be more beneficial to work with MassDOT to redirect traffic flow. The vision is nice but will never happen and would like to see concrete plans before voting for this. Council always votes for zone changes and then nothing happens with the specific area. Council President Johnson stepped out of Chair to say he had met with the Mayor and that the Mayor was fully committed to do something with the Games & Lanes area by the end of this year. If a private party didn't purchase the location, then the town would have to take steps on our own, But nothing can be done to this area without this change in zoning. The building is zoned industrial at this point. Passage of this item would create better business opportunities in the Walnut Street area and if it doesn't pass, then the town will have to come up with the money to clean up that area. There is no downside to passing this item. Councilor Cavallo said the business owners all support this and he will support this as well. Councilor Mineo is also in favor and commends the gentleman interested in the project--this will help the businesses in that area. Councilor Rheault voted against it last time and still not in favor of it and sees the history of the Council and zoning amendments history of promises and he is not sold on what the future holds for this area. Not sure yet how he will vote. Councilor Perry supported this the first time and will continue to support it. It's a great opportunity for Agawam. Without this zone change, the vision won't be there in that area and the potential purchaser of Games & Lanes wouldn't be able to do • anything without this. Council has to look to the future, Councilor Cichetti thanked everyone for their interest in our town. H stated that we received a paper with 16 other businesses in favor of having this in our town. We need to support our businesses and he will support the measure. Councilor Rossi again spoke and after listening to the passion of the Council as well as the 2 0 members in the audience, he is willing to go along with this and vote in favor of passage. Councilor Suffriti frequents restaurants in that area and owners and guests constantly complain about looking at the eyesore of Games & Lanes. If the business owners want to move forward with this,then we should support them and show them that we are serious. The vote was 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Bitzas). 3. PH-2014-3 (TR-2014-20) - A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Program (Referred to Finance Committee) (Mayor) —Public Hearing Date set for June 2,2014 This item was tabled until June 2, 2014. Item 10. Old Business 1. TOR-2014-3 - An Ordinance to Amend the Chapter 114 of the Agawam Town r Code entitled `Junk and Secondhand Dealers"(Mayor) (Two Readings Required) Motion made to leave this item on the table by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Perry. . It was unanimously approved by a voice vote. Council President re- referred this item to the Legislative Committee for further discussion. 0 2. TO-2014-11 - An order approving the Site Plan for the Class 2 Dealer's License of Dino Carando d/b/a Euro Imports at 325 Main Street, Agawam, MA(Council) Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Cichetti. The vote was 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Bitzas). Item 11. New Business 1. TR-2014-24 - A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget for the Town of Agawam (Suggest a Public Hearing Date of June 23, 2014) (Mayor) Council President cleared up the confusion regarding dates of the budget presentation and Public Hearing. There will be two presentations from the administration — one of June 0 2"d immediately following the Regular City Council meeting and the other on June 9th at 7:00pm. Both will be televised. The Council also agreed to cancel the regular City Council meeting originally scheduled for June 15th and re-schedule it for June 23rd at which the Public Hearing will be held for the Annual Operating Budget. 2. TO-2014-12 - Transfer S30,000.00 from Overtime (312201-51030) to Fire ' Protection and Safety (012203-52410) for the purchase of portable radios (Mayor) Next Agenda. Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council. Councilor Letellier loved the number of citizens that showed up this evening — democracy in action — and she is proud to be from Agawam. She also thanked the 3 i • gentleman interested in Games & Lanes for coming forward and wished him well. Councilor Cavallo stated that his School Budget Sub-Committee voted 3-0 (with Councilors absent) to send a positive recommendation to pass the School Bgdget. Councilor Suffriti thanks everyone for coming out and glad to see Agawam is moving forward. Councilor Rheault intended to vote no for the Mixed Use Ordinance however listening to some of the positive attitudes changed his mind but will hold the Mayor to the fire regarding Games & Lanes. Councilor Mineo requested a Finance Meeting be scheduled to again review the CIP budget. Councilor Cichetti enjoyed the joint music presentation at some of the area elementary schools and also requested a meeting of the Legislative Committee to review the Junk and Secondhand Dealer Ordinance. Councilor • Rossi thanked everyone for their participation in Agawam's Relay for Life event which surpassed their goal and raised over $70,000. Council President Johnson congratulated the Agawam Lion's Club on their 70`h anniversary. He presented the club with a Citation from the City Council. Adiournment. The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded all around the house with all in favor of adjourning. Time of adjournment 8:06pm • • • • • 4 •