CC MTG MINUTES JANUARY 16 2018 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
January 16, 2018
Members Present: Gina Letellier—Chair
Joseph Mineo (arrived late)
Cecilia Calabrese
Dino Mercadante
Paul Cavallo
IAlso Present: Councilors Suffriti, Sandlin, Magovem and Rossi, Mayor Sapelli,
Laurel Placzek, Judy Clini, Henry Kozloski, Jennifer Bonfigho, Marc
Strange and Doug White
Called to Order: Meeting was called to order by Chairman Letellier at 6:20 P.M. in the
rear of the Auditorium at the Roberta Doering School, 68 Main Street,
Agawam, MA.
AGENDA
1. Approval of minutes dated December 18, 2017
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Calabrese.
Vote 5 yes, 0 no.
2. TR-2017-70 - A Resolution appropriating ($15,000.00) from the Community
I Preservation Fund and authorizing the expenditure of Community Preservation
Funds to fund the Agricultural Preservation Restriction on farmland located at
North West Street and to accept an interest in real estate (CPA)
' After a discussion about this land already being in 61A and paying the reduced 61A
tax rate, it was noted that this is already part of the Open Space plan and will preserve
this land as open farm land for the foreseeable future.
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor Calabrese.
The vote was 4 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (Councilor Mineo)
3. TR-2017-71 - A Resolution appropriating $26,237.70 from the Community
Preservation Fund and authorizing the expenditure of Community Preservation
Funds for the replacement of benches on town-owned land (CPA)
These benches are similar to the benches you see at Phelps Green or on Main Street
where a citizen has dedicated a bench for someone. These funds will help complete
the benches on Federal Street, Elm Street, Main Street, Saint John's Field and at the
police station. Three quarters of the town has been done and the next phase will
complete the work_
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor
Mercadante. The vote was 4 yes, 0 no, 1 absent(Councilor Mineo)
4. TR-2017-72 - A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of Twenty
Thousand Two Hundred and no cents ($20,200.00) from the Osterman Family
NFoundation for use by the Town of Agawam Public Library's Enhance the Youth
Experience at the Library Project (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen)
1 Librarian Judy Clini explained that this grant will be used to purchase 1Pads in the
library which will also be available for people to borrow keeping in mind that like
laptops that are lent out, they are subject to fines for replacement and/or damage.
They will also be purchasing an early literacy computer for the library with these
funds and more at various school libraries.
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor
Mercadante. The vote was 5 yes, 0 no.
5. TR-2017-73 -A Resolution accepting a grant in the amount of$207,970.00 from
the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources under the Green
Communities Designation Grant Program (Sponsored by Mayor Cohen)
This grant is because we are now part of the Green Community designation. This is to
replace the furnace at the Doering School as well as LED light replacement and other
energy improvements. The LED light replacement at Clark School has been
completely done. This work is exempt from the bidding process. Treasurer Placzek
shared that the town received a $49,000 energy rebate. The Mayor will be setting up a
Capital Improvement Energy Stabilization fund for monies such as this which will be
earmarked for future energy improvements.
Motion to approve made by Councilor Cavallo and seconded by Councilor
Mercadante. The vote was 5 yes, 0 no.
6. Any other business that may legally come before the Committee.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was moved and seconded and approved unanimously at
6:41 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gina M. Letellier, Chair
Finance Committee
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