CC MTG MINUTES APRIL 19 2016 ' REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
' Minutes dated =
April 19 2016
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' Meeting was called to order by Council President Cichetti at 7:00pm at the Auditorium at the Roberta G. Doering
School,68 Main Street,Agawam.
Item A.Roll Call
ROLL CALL—7 PRESENT,4 ABSENT
Roll Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council
President James Cichetti, Council Vice President Joseph Mineo, Donald Rheault and Richard Theroux. Absent were
Councilors Johnson,Letellier,Rossi and Suffriti. With seven present,there was a quorum.
Item is Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofA&giance.
Council President Cichetti asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item C. Citizen's Sneak Time
CeiI Goslin asked to be considered for the open CPA position as did Ron LaRiviere. Corinne Wingard reminded
everyone of the CPA Annual Public Hearing on April 27t' where residents can voice their ideas. Alex Peterson and
iDana Henry informed the Council of Rosie Robotics qualifying for the World Championships in St. Louis where they
will be competing with 800 teams across the world. Donations would be accepted and can contact him at dana@
agawam.robotics.org,
Item D. Minutes
' 1. Regular Council Meeting—April 4,2016
Motion to table made by Councilors Cavallo and Rheault and seconded by Councilor Mineo. The voice vote was
' unanimous of those present tabling the item.
Item E. Declaration from Council President
None.
Item F. Presentation o Petitions,Memorials& Remonstrances
1. TR-2016-15 -A Resolution to appropriate funds for Massachusetts Nurses Association
(Mayor)(Referred to Finance Committee)(Tabled 3/21/16)
Motion to remove the item from the table made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. The voice
vote was unanimous of those present. Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor
Cavallo. As Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, Councilor Calabrese gave an updated report stating that official
notice was received that the contract had been ratified. The committee gave a positive recommendation for passage.
The vote was 7 YES,0 NO,4 ABSENT(Councilors Johnson,Letellier,Rossi and Suffriti)approving the item.
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' 2. TR 2016-22 -A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Gary F.Janulewicx,41
Elm Street, Agawam, MA to the Agawam Veterans' Council to a term expiring April 1, 2018
(Mayor)
' Motion to approve made by Councilor Rheault and seconded.
The vote was 7 YES, 0 NO, 4 ABSENT (Councilors Johnson, Letellier, Rossi and Suffriti) approving the
' reappointment.
3. TR-2016-23 - A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Francis Curnow, 115 Forest
' Hill Road,Feeding Hills,MA to the Agawam Veterans' Council to a term expiring April 1,2018
(Mayor)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
The vote was 7 YES, 0 NO, 4 ABSENT (Councilors Johnson, Letellier, Rossi and Suffriti) approving the
reappointment.
4. TR-2016-24 -A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Beverly Sanford,92 Anvil
Street, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam Veterans' Council to a term expiring April 1, 2018
(Mayor)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Cavallo.
Item G. Report of Council Committees
' 1. Quarterly review of TO-2015-74
As Chair of the Administrative Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided a quarterly update on TO-2015-74 The Still as
' specified in that Order previously approved by the City Council. Councilor Cavallo read Code Enforcement Officer
Michael Theroux's report and thanked him for his thorough report stating it was excellent. He also thanked Ms.
Maslar of The Still for her patience and kindness during this process. All items have been completed by Ms.Maslar at
great expense and actually she did more than necessary. Police Chief Gillis provided the Council with an updated
report with no noise complaints. It is the opinion of the Administrative Committee that Ms. Maslar has met all of the
obligations.
Item H. Elections
1. TE-2016-5 - Election of an at-large member of the CPA Committee to a term expiring on
' April 30,2018
Councilor Theroux moved to open nominations which was seconded by Councilor Calabrese. Councilor Calabrese
placed the name of Ron LaRiviere into nominations. Councilor Calabrese moved to close nominations which was
seconded by Councilor Theroux.
' The vote was 7 RON LaRIVI ERE,0 NO,4 ABSENT(Councilors Johnson,Letellier,Rossi and Suffriti)electing Mr.
LaRiviere to the CPA Committee. Council President Cichetti thanked him for his service.
Item L Public Hearin s
None.
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Item J. Old Business
1. TOR-2016-2 -An ordinance to amend the code of the Town of Agawam amending the
Agawam Housing Committee(Mayor)(Two Readings Required)
.Councilor Theroux as Chair of the Legislative Committee provided a report stating his committee will ask for an
amendment when the time comes to put back in Council confirmation of appointments. Council President stated that
eight votes are necessary to vote on this ordinance and since there are only seven councilors at this meeting,the item
should be tabled. Motion to table moved and seconded.
The vote was 7 YES,0 NO,4 ABSENT(Councilors Johnson, Letellier,Rossi and Suffriti)tabling the item.
Item K. New Business
1. TO-2016-12 -Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement
Device(s) for Six Flags New England located at 1623 Main Street,Agawam,MA. (Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
2. TO-2016-13 -Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Six Flags
' New England located at 1623 Main Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
3. TR-2016-25 -A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2017-2021 Capital Improvement
Program—Suggest a Public Hearing Date of June 6,2016(Mayor)
' Next Agenda,referred to Finance Committee.
4. TR-2016-26 -A Resolution requesting the Agawam City Council Petition for the Enactment
of Special Municipal Legislation changing the process to fill a vacancy on the School Committee
(Mayor Cohen with Councilors George Bitzas,James Cichetti and Richard Theroux)
' Next Agenda,referred to Legislative Committee.
5. TR 2016-27 -A Resolution declaring approximately 2,634 square feet of are of property
located at Murphy's Pub at the Southwest Corner of Mill and Suffield Street available for
disposition and sale to Murphy's Pub(Mayor)
Next Agenda,referred to Community Relations Committee.
6. TR 2016-28 -A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Richard Bennett,29
Willowbrook Drive, Agawam, MA to the Community Preservation Act Committee to a term
expiring April 30,2019(City Council)
Next Agenda.
Item L. Any other ma ter that may legally come before the ON Council.
Councilor Cavallo made mention of Henry Kosloski's collection of beautiful photographs of CPA projects in town that
are currently on display at the Agawam Public Library. Councilor Rheault wished Rosie Robotics good luck in the
World Championship which was joined by all the councilors. Councilor Mineo congratulated Brian Burbank on being
elected to the School Committee. He also expressed disappointment on certain rumblings from people about the
process in which the new School Committee member was elected. There is no question that the process may be flawed
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however that is the process that is clearly stated in the Charter and that is the process that the City Council followed.
It's the only process there is. It's exactly what was used when Jay Cameron was elected to replace Mr. Burins several
years ago. Sixteen years ago the process was changed for the City Council however not for the School Committee.
The process IS the process and he is proud of how we, the City Council, followed that process and did exactly what
should have been done by following procedure. Councilor Theroux stated the process was certainly followed and is a
fair process. He too was pleased at how it all went and that Mr. Burbank was voted in. Councilor Cavallo made a
Point of Order to Councilor Theroux to be careful not to discuss an Agenda item. Councilor Calabrese thanked Dana
Henry, his wife Lynne and many others for the amount of time and effort they put into Rosie Robotics. She
encouraged business owners to help support Rosie Robotics attend the World Championship which is an opportunity
of a lifetime. It is a feather in our town's cap. Council President also thanked and congratulated Mr. Henry and
wished Rosie Robotics great success.
Item M. Adiournment.
1 The Motion to adjourn was moved by Councilor Rheault and seconded by Councilor Cavallo. The time of
adjournment was 8:36pm.
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