CC MTG MINUTES MAY 2 2016 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated May 2, 2016
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—11 PRESENT,0 ABSENT
' Roil Call was taken with the following councilors present: George Bitzas, Cecilia Calabrese, Paul Cavallo, Council
President James Cichetti, Christopher Johnson, Gina Letellier, Council Vice President Joseph Mineo, Donald Rheault,
Robert Rossi,Anthony Suffriti and Richard Theroux.With eleven present,there was a quorum.
' Item B. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAlle_eiance.
Council President Cichetti asked for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item C. Citizen's Speak Tame
School Committee members Wendy Rua and Shelley Borgatti-Reed both spoke in favor of TR-2016-26 and asked that
the Council support the item.
Item D. Minutes
1. Regular Council Meeting—April 4,2016(Tabled 4/19/16)
Motion to remove from the table made by Councilor Theroux and seconded by Councilor Rheault. Voice vote was
unanimous. Motion to approve made by Councilor Theroux and seconded by Councilor Cavallo.
The vote was 11 YES,0 NO approving the minutes.
1 2. Special Joint Meeting—April 12,2016
Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Letellier. Voice vote was unanimous.
The vote was 11 YES,0 NO approving the minutes.
3. Regular Council Meeting—April 19,2016
Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Cavallo.
The vote was 7 YES (Councilors Bitzas, Calabrese, Cavallo, Cichetti, Mineo, Rheault and Theroux), 0 NO, 4
ABSTENTIONS(Councilors Johnson,Letellier, Rossi and Suffriti)approving the minutes.
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' Item E Declaration from Council President 1. Notice of APR project name Kosinski for property located on North West Street in Feeding\
Hills,MA.
Council President Cichetti read the following Notice into record:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AC UISITION
OF AN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION RESTRICTION
ON PROPERTY IN THE CITYJTOWN OF AGAWAM
Date of this Notice: Jad!21, 2016
iNotice of proposed acquisition is hereby given to:
( ) Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of_ or
' (X) Mayor or City Manager of the City of Agawam
Separate notice will be given by the Department to the appropriate:County Commissioners,
Regional Planning Agency,and the members of the General Court representing the district in
which the land is located.
' In compliance with G. L.c. 7C, Section 37, the Commonwealth Massachusetts,acting by and through its
Department of Agricultural Resources(the"Department'),hereby gives notice that it proposes to acquire an
' agricultural preservation restriction("APR")on the real property identified herein for the purpose of protecting in
perpetuity its superior and productive agricultural resources by preventing their conversion to other uses.
The application received by MDAR indicates that the property is owned by gene KosinskFfdohn KoAski and
consists of parcel(s)located on North West Street section of Agawam as approximately represented on the
attached map.The APR may encompass all or parts of the area shown.
The current use of the property is primarily for blueberries,vegetables,productive woodland.
Following the recording of the APR,the use of the subject property is limited to agricultural use as more
' particularly set forth in the APR document,the General Laws [Chapter 194, Sections 31],and the Regulations of
the Department[330 CMR 22.00 et seq].
rMassachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources,by:
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Barbara Hopson,APR Regional Planner
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Item F. Presentation of Petitions,Memorials&Remonstrances
' 1. 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) (Referred
to Legislative Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by Councilor Theroux. As Chair of the Legislative
Committee, Councilor Theroux provided his committee's report stating a positive recommendation for approval was
given with a 5-0 vote. He also suggested that his committee felt since this is coming onto the School Committee
Agenda that the Council should think about tabling this item until we get the School Committee report. Councilor
Bitzas strongly supports this and doesn't think it needs to be tabled. In 2000,the Council voted to change the wording
for any City Council vacancies. Councilor Rossi is in favor of changing this and believe the School Committee should
have the freedom to choose the person they want however he would agree to table until they have their vote.
Councilor Johnson does not support this. The editorial in the newspaper summed it up perfectly and agreed it
shouldn't be the sole factor. Councilor Johnson didn't favor it saying it was well written but the selection shouldn't be
automatic and does support the School Committee choosing their own replacement. Councilor Bitzas disagrees with
' Councilor Johnson and reminded Councilor Rossi that the City Council are the legislators not the School Committee.
Councilor Rossi responded to Councilor Bitzas stating that he said the School Committee should be allowed to make
their own choice in the selection process. Councilor Cavallo suggested looking into how Holyoke is doing a similar
situation and that we need to pick a system of choosing that does not become political. Councilor Theroux stated as
Chair of the Legislative Committee that the committee looks forward to the School Committee's thoughts and
comments but indeed the City Council is the legislative body of the town however Councilor Johnson made a good
point about looking at qualified candidates. This might require more discussion. Councilor Letellier moved the
question but it was not seconded. Councilor Bitzas again stated it should be kept as is and Councilor Rheault
commented that this was a lot of dialogue for nothing. Councilor Letellier agreed with Councilor Bitzas that the
resolution should be kept as is and that the Council went through this long process years ago after Kent Service passed
away. Councilor Theroux made the Motion to table the item which was seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
The voice vote was 11YES,0 NO tabling the item.
2. 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)(Referred to Community Relations Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilor Rossi. As chair of the Community Relations
Committee, Councilor Bitzas gave a report stating his committee discussed the item and made the Motion to table the
item to get better language. The committee vote was 4 YES, 0 NO, I ABSTENTION to table. Councilor Letellier
made a Point of Privilege stating why the language needed changing.. The way the Law Department wrote it is
completely wrong. The resolution can only declare the availability to sell the parcel not actually state who it's being
sold to. The law has to be followed.
' Motion to table made by Councilor Bitzas and seconded by Councilors Theroux and Cavallo, The vote was 11 YES,0
NO tabling the item.
' 3. 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)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Theroux and seconded by Councilor Cavallo.
The vote was 11YES,0 NO approving the item.
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Item G. Re port of Council Committees
' None.
' Item H. El c Q
None.
' Item L Public Hearings
1. TR 2016-25 -A Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2017-2021 Capital Improvement
Program Public Hearing Date set for June 6,2016(Mayor)(Referred to Finance Committee)
' Motion to table the item until June 6,2016 made by Councilor Johnson and seconded by Councilor Mineo.
The vote was 11YES,0 NO tabling the item until June 6,2016.
' 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) (1 of 2 Readings) (Referred to Legislative Committee)
(Tabled 4/19/16)
Motion to remove the item from the table made by Councilor Theroux and seconded by Councilor Calabrese. The vote
was unanimous removing the item from the table. Motion to approve made by Councilor Calabrese and seconded by
Councilor Theroux. As Chair of the Legislative Committee, Councilor Theroux provided a report stating his
committee discussed and sends a positive recommendation for approve with the amendment to have the Ordinance
read the same as the original Ordinance creating the Housing Committee which was previously passed by the City
Council. Councilor Johnson made the Motion to Amend Paragraph/Section (4), (5) and (6) by adding at the end,
' "subject to confirmation by the City Council." This was seconded by Councilor Rossi.
The vote was 11YES,0 NO approving the first reading as amended.
2. 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)
(Referred to Administrative Committee)
1 Motion to approve made by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Suffriti. As Chair of the Administrative
Committee, Councilor Cavallo provided a report stating his committee discussed both item and voted 4-0 to send a
positive recommendation for passage to the Full Council.
The vote was 11YES,0 NO approving the item.
3. 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) (Referred to Administrative
' Committee)
Motion to approve made by Councilor Suf-riti and seconded by Councilor Bitzas. (see Item #2 above for
' Administrative Committee report)
The vote was 11YES,0 NO approving the item.
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Item K. New Business
' 1. TR-2016-29 - A Resolution authorizing the lease of a portion of 1000 Suffield Street to the
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency(Mayor)
Next Agenda, referred to Legislative Committee.
2. TR-2016-31 - A Resolution authorizing the reservation and appropriation of funds from the
Community Preservation Fund (CPA)
Next Agenda,referred to Finance Committee.
3. TR-2016-32 -A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of$7,500.00 from Executive
Office of Public Security and Safety to the City of Agawam Police Department for traffic
enforcement(Mayor)
Next Agenda, referred to Finance Committee.
4. TO-2016- 14 -Order granting or renewing a PERMIT for Weekly Amusement for Agawam
Bowl located at 359 Walnut Street Ext.,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
Next Agenda, referred to Administrative Committee.
5. TO-2016-15 -Order granting or renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement
Device(s)for Agawam Bowl located at 359 Walnut Street Ext.,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
' Next Agenda,referred to Administrative Committee.
6. TO-2016-16 -Budgetary Transfer of$50,000.00 from Fire Permanent(#12201-51010)to
Overtime(#12201-51030)for unexpected expenses due to staffing shortages(Mayor)
Next Agenda,referred to Finance Committee.
Item L. Ank other matter that may le-eedly come before the City Council
Councilor Letellier asked when the bud Ket would be received (Barbara Bard stated that we should receive it from the
Mayor's Office on Thursday, May 12 and I will place it on BoardPaq. Councilor Theroux mentioned that his
committee will be looking into a Noise Ordinance and changing the use of CPA funds to allow them to be used for the
maintenance of CPA projects. Councilor Cavallo applauded the School Committee and Superintendent for allowing
the use of Narcan in the schools. Councilor Bitzas drove by the Agawam Motel and noticed there was no activity but
that it had been cleaned up which happens prior to it being torn down and congratulations to Rosie Robotics on a job
well done at the World Championships. Councilor Suffriti wished a very Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out
' there and also asked Administrative Assistant if there would be a report from Engineering on the pole placement (a
Memo has been sent). Council President Cichetti also wished a Happy Mother's Day to all.
Item M. Adjournment.
The Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded. The time of adjournment was 7:46pm.
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