CC MTG MINUTES AUGUST 6 2007 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
•
AUGUST 6. 2007
President Rheault—We have a few citizens wishing to address this evening. For the
benefit of those who may or may not have spoken before, from the time you come to the
microphone, if you'd state your name and address and you have five minutes. And the
first speaker we have this evening is Joan Linnehan. You have to click, okay,thanks.
Item I. Citizen's Speak Time
Joan Linnehan—Joan Linnehan, Agawam Senior Center Director, 68 Meadowbrook
Manor, hoping to be someday 954 Main Street, if the funding is appropriated. First of all,
I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Marilyn Curry and the Historic
• Commission as well as the Conservation Commission for their foresight and dedication to
the Thomas Smith House project. I was able to view this 1757 jewel with many other
curiosity seekers at the open house last Thursday evening. It was like stepping back in
time before the Revolutionary War. Such a marvelous thing for Agawam to fund and to
keep for the future. But the real reason I'm here tonight for Citizens Speak is to represent
six thousand seniors in Agawam. In...Under New Business, a Resolution authorizing a
loan order for constructing, equipping and furnishing a new Agawam Senior Center. I
have been at the current center for almost ten years. Time flies when you're having fun.
Prior to my working there, I took a group of seniors to the center for lunch and Bingo. It
was difficult finding it at first nestled back in between the housing units. Our location is
not only tucked away but we are bulging at the seams for room for programming and
services. And seniors and staff must move tables and chairs daily to allow for... exercise
programs in the dining room. Our hope is to more than double the size of our Senior
Center by getting funding to construct a new 25,000 square foot center right on the Main
Street corridor in the heart of our historic district. This would give the Council of Aging
and Senior Center better exposure and access to our elder population. Our elderly
population is growing at a rapid rate. In the previous decade, from 1990 to 2000,people
ages 75 to 84 increased forty percent. And the people over 85, increased fifty-eight
percent. Our baby boomers are now senior boomers and are living healthier lives.
They're remaining in town politics, business and recreation. What better way to honor
the greatest generation that have planned for their future by building a new, up to code,
state of the art senior center, to enhance their golden years? In the words of Hubert H.
Humphrey..."The moral test of government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of
life, the children, and those who are at the twilight of life, the aged." Thank you
Councilors for your continued support.
• President Rheault—Thank you, Joan. Marilyn Curry.
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Marilyn Curry—Good evening. Marilyn Curry, 123 Beekman Drive, in Agawam. I
. would just like to thank the Council, those of you that were able to attend our open house
last Thursday night at the Smith Noble House on North West Street and the citizens of
Agawam, between 250 and 300 people showed up in all the heat to see what we had to
offer. The comments were wonderful and indeed this is a time capsule and we're hoping
through our efforts, the citizens of Agawam and the children will enjoy this for many
years to come. Thank you.
•
President Rheault--Thank you. Rick Bellico.
Rick Bellico—Rick Bellico, 51 Park Edge Drive, Feeding Hills. I just wanted to clear
up,uh, it was brought to my attention as the...to the ownership of the Thomas Smith
• House and the Agawam Historical Museum, that both the Agawam Historical Museum
and the Thomas Smith House are owned by the Agawam Historical Association which is
501(c)(3). The museum is a town owned property but the Agawam, as a non-profit
operating the museum. The Agawam Historical Association again the 501(c)(3), are the
ones that purchased the Thomas Smith House will be as Marilyn had indicated at our first
• open house, will be a permanent museum in our town that will be opened up to all age
groups for educational purposed for our town as well as surrounding towns to visit a 1757
house that's unaltered since that period. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thanks, Rick. Louis Russo.
Louis Russo—Good evening. Louis Russo Highland Street, Feeding Hills. I'm here
speaking as the vice-chair of the Community Preservation Committee which has uh,
requested that the Council approve our appropriation for the Thomas Smith House. Uh,
our Committee did approve it, we have passed it on to you, but I personally would like to
give a few points as to why voted to approve it. Mainly, uh, it was to protect the
investment that the CPA and the City Council has already made to the House. We've
already invested money into it, we don't want to see the money we've invested go to
waste. And the other thing is that,the money we're asking for now is to complete the
exterior work on the house which will of course stop any further deterioration and make
the house stable for continued repair on the inside. So, uh, as a member of the CPA as a
• personal citizen in Agawam, I ask that you approve our appropriation. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Helen Chester. It is a...thank you.
Helen Chester- Helen Chester, 320 Barry Street. He may have answered in part some of
• my comment I was going to make but, I did want to comment on this $73,877.00 for the
Captain Leonard House, part of which is for shrubbery. A couple of years ago, they were
granted$17,000.00 for shrubbery which I've yet to see. I also question the necessity for
a granite and wood fence to separate the parking lot from the house. Expenses should be
itemized and money should be disbursed as a bank would as segments of work are
• completed and not in a lump sum. The town has multiple projects going. There is a
request for an additional $112,600.00 for the uh, Smith House, thousand of dollars which
might run into millions for the restoration of the old barn on School Street,just to name a
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couple. One of you has stated that the Captain Leonard House is a real treasure and
40 indeed it is. But we have an obligation to spend to spend our extra dollars with the
utmost discretion on projects which best benefit the whole community. Not on privately
owned property. Trustees have stated as they received the money,they won't come back
for a few years. Perhaps by then, tax payers will have had enough and vote the surcharge
out. Then there will be no monies left to complete projects already underway. We are
being attacked from all sides with increases in taxes, insurance, oil, gas and electric.
With new state requirements, many of us our paying the full costs of our medical
insurance. Foreclosures have begun. I hope you will think about this when you are
giving away our dollars. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Clerk, please call the roll.
•
Item 2. Roll Call
Nine present, two absent (Councilors Calabrese and Mineo)
President Rheault—Nine present and two absent. We have a quorum. Councilor Mineo
and Councilor Calabrese both called and they both are away on vacation.
Item 3. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAlle i ance.
• Please rise for a Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 4. Minutes
There are no minutes.
• Item 5. Declaration from Council President
None.
Item 6. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials& Remonstrances
1. TR-2007-27—A Resolution Accepting the Mutual Aid Agreement for Animal
Control Between the City of Westfield and the City of Agawam
President Rheault—Resolution as attached. Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by
Councilor Magovern. Is there any discussion on the Resolution? If not, voice vote is
sufficient. All those in favor? Opposed?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
• 2. TR-2007-28 — A Resolution Authorizing the Agawam Community
_Preservation Committee to Appropriate $11.2,600.00 from the Community
Preservation Historical Reserve for the Preservation and Restoration of the Thomas
Smith House as Provided for Under the Historical Preservation Section of the
• Community Preservation.Act.
President Rheault—As Attached, moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor
Carr Bitzas and Councilor Magovem. Any discussion on this? For those, uh, did you
want to say something? Excuse me. Councilor Carr Bitzas.
i Councilor Carr Bitzas —Thank you. I attended the open house, Thursday, August 2 d at
the Thomas Smith House and uh, I had a very strong sense of how it must have felt to
live during those times. I had the same feelings that I experienced doing research for
Agawam War Veterans when I was researching for the Civil War Veterans at the Military
Archives. The Smith House is an Agawam historical treasure that needs to be restored as
i a precious part of Agawam's history. I'm in favor of it and will be voting in favor of it.
Thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Magovern.
Councilor Magovern — I just wanted to say that I've been fortunate enough to have seen
the Smith House develop from the idea that this would be a great project for the Agawam
Historical Association. I feel that they've done just an absolutely admirable job up there.
They've gone out, raised the money themselves. They've had local businesses and
individuals contributing the mortgage payments every month, and they are looking for
more mortgage contributors, if anybody would like to come up with a mortgage. The
house is pristine. I've been in and around old houses for years and years and years. It's
very seldom that you find a jewel like this which has had no modern conveniences put
into it whatsoever. And the one, one other factor I'd like to put forward, is at 1757,
which is the year that it was built, is also a very very symbolic year for Agawam. The
year, for those of you that know local history, a town could not be independent from any
other community until it had its own parish. And 1757 was the year that Agawam was
set off from West Springfield as its own parish. So you could actually say that the Smith
House was built the year that Agawam really started as its own community and not part
of another community. So I am one hundred percent behind this project. I think that the
money has been spent very judiciously and I look forward to seeing what you are going
to do with the balance. Thank you.
President Rheault—Will the Clerk please call the roil?
ROLL CALL—Nine yes, two absent.
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President Rheault — Nine yes, two absent, you've approved the transfer.
Congratulations. (Applause). Roof looks great, by the way.
Item 7. Report of Council Committees
President Rheault—Rules and Ordinances, Councilor Magovern?
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Councilor Magovern — Thank you, Council President. The Rules Committee has not
• had a meeting but I assure that in September the Rules Committee will be getting
together and I hope that I...I've heard that there are some rules that would like to be
looked at, so we will look at the rules and make any changes if necessary. So at our first
meeting in September, I will set a meeting date. Hopefully, we will all come to it. The,
um, major ordinance that we've been dealing with these past few months has been the
. parking ordinance for parking up by Six Flags as well as along some of the other areas
for open parking. Uh, that's our primary one. There were several ordinance and zoning
committee issues that I'm sure that Councilor Letellier will address when she gives her
report. Primarily that was our major ordinance that we passed. Thank you.
President Rhcault — Thank you. We'lI skip Utilities & Street Acceptance...That was
• Councilor Mineo's. Councilor Simpson on licenses?
Councilor Simpson —Thank you. We, uh, did not have to hold any meetings during this
part reporting period. Thank you.
President Rheault- Thank you. And Councilor Perry on Traffic & Safety.
Councilor Perry — Yes, um, my committee also did not have anything referenced to it
and held no meetings in the last reporting period. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Zoning? Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. The Zoning Committee which is comprised of
myself, as chair, Councilor Rossi and Councilor Bitzas, continues to be very busy. We
had meetings having to do with the cell tower on Mushy's, that zone change, and we also
had a number of meetings on the transient parking ordinance which also was with the
Ordinance Committee. So we remain busy. Thank you.
President Rheault— Thank you. Finance is absent this evening and uh, anything on
Industrial Relations, Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier--No nothing was referred, thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you.
Item 8. Elections
•
None.
Item 9. Public Hearings
• 1. PH-2007-9 TOR-2007-5 --An Ordinance to'Amend the Code of the Town of
Agawam, Ch. 180, Art. VIII, Sec. 180-44-E, Maximum Allowed Gallons of Gasoline
Storage
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President Rheault — The item was tabled then referred to the Planning Board. They
49 have become the Petitioner so the uh, I'm going to open the Public Hearing, ask that it be
continued and send it over to the Planning Board for their action. No the Planning Board
declined but they submit a separate petition so they became the petitioner. All right? So
the public hearing is open and I'm going to ask that we continue it so we send it over to
the Planning Board for their action. Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor
Magovem. Alright? All those in favor of continuing.the public hearing? Opposed?
0 Public hearing is continued, item will go over to the Planning Board for their proper
handling. That concluded anything on the old business.
Item 10. Old Business
• None.
Item IL New Business
President Rheault — Under New Business, we have a Voucher List of $4,732.00, next
agenda. We have the results of the Council Clerk's search, that'll go over to the next
agenda, unless some comment wants to be made after, or now. Councilor Rossi, did you
want to give the Council any input as to where that stands?
Councilor Rossi — Yes, I would. The Search Committee, Councilors Letellier and
0 Calabrese, and I have been working very hard on this. I just want to thank both of them
for all of their hard work and support. And we've narrowed the field down and we've
called for interviews which is gonna be...and I called for a meeting actually today, I
scheduled a meeting for August 14th 6:30 P.M. It will be at the Library small conference
center. I've notified the candidates that are in contention, and uh,hopefully we will have,
unless we going into a second round of interviews, we're hoping to have one picked by
the 14th, or at that 14th meeting. Also, what I am going to do at this point is that the sub-
committee has made their recommendation as to the hours that they would like to see.
We want to change those hours and I'm going to ask the Council President to put it on for
the next agenda, an ordinance change changing the hours from twenty to thirty per week.
So that'll be up for the Council review and discussion and whatever their pleasure may be
0 but that was the recommendation that was made by the committee. So unless there
are—I'll entertain questions if anyone has one at this point.
President Rheault—Councilor Bitzas.
! Councilor Bitzas — Point of Information through the Chair to Councilor Rossi and to the
rest of the Councilors. Um, I think the process we're doing to select a City Clerk it is
election...the council has two positions that they work for us, the City Auditor and the
City...the Council Clerk. The position's elected by a full council. They don't require
that we have a search committee because every single councilor can put a person there
for the job. So it is not really the process we doing. I don't necessary because I can put
Mrs. Smith, we can put eleven persons here and the Council has right to vote like we do
the election for the president of Council. So, I don't know why you going to change this
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and also to change the hours and pay more money uh, even the same money, doesn't
seem to be fair because I think the Clerk job all these years were done with those hours,
set hours and could be done with a lot less hours than supposed to be. So everybody
knows, and we know, that's not need for those many hours so, this is the time we can
correct that to benefit the taxpayers, not to increase salaries for some positions and I
believe we go round circles, I think should be every councilor have people they like to go
to the job, every councilor have the right to nominate one person and the full council vote
for it. Her qualifications or his qualifications. So I don't know why we doing this, the
first year I can remember do that, but this is a elected positions. So...
Councilor Rossi - Excuse me, Councilor. Is there a question somewhere in our future
here? You said you had a question for me.
•
Councilor Bitzas—No it's a comment, sir.
Councilor Rossi -- Oh, you just wanted to make a speech. Uh, well, let me try and
answer, if I may, when we searched for an Auditor, we sent out a committee for a search
• committee and our purpose was to see if we could find the most qualified, well-rounded
person to suit our purposes here. The search committee for the Council Clerk was no
different. I understand the process, and uh, that the Council has the right to submit
people that they feel as though they want to put up for the Council to elect. Now the
search committee, all we're doing is we're trying to find that person that we feel is going
• to be the most qualified and well-rounded person for the position and submit that
recommendation to you, Councilor Bitzas, and the entire council for their vote. If you
don't see that way that the Council did...the subcommittee saw,.then you certainly
have...it's your prerogative to vote any way that you want. Now if you have someone in
mind that you would like to submit, you certainly could submit it to the committee and
• have the person come in for an interview and we would be more than happy to talk to that
person also. Or screen that person through the same evaluation process that everyone
else did. I think we're trying to be as fair as we can with this thing and uh, we certainly
can and we certainly are as I said, our recommendation is only going to be for the full
council's consideration and vote. In terms of the hours, our thought process there was to
expand the amount of hours throughout the day to make it more accessible to the people
• of Agawam. Right now, the office hours are between 8:30 and 12:30 in the morning.
Our thought process was to try and get that to expand to say maybe 9:00 to 3:00, 10:00 to
2:00, to cover the morning hours and the afternoon hours. And the amount of time the
hours would be increased would not be that much of an increase in pay. We certainly
have it within our budget and our stipends that we do now have appropriated using both
• monies. So it's not really going to cost us any money and, so...and the position status
remains the same as it was. So I don't...and again...it's only a recommendation, if this
council feels that they don't want to change those hours, that they want to keep them the
same as they've had them, that's certainly again, your prerogative. But if you have any
questions or concerns concerning the process under which we're now operating here with
• the search committee, I wish you would have called me and we could have probably
worked this out.
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Councilor Bitzas —Through the chair...
• President Rheault—I have Councilor Carr Bitzas next, Councilor.
Councilor Bitzas - ...to answer the question, Mr. President.
• President Rheault- Well, you'lI have a chance after she has her turn.
President Carr Bitzas — I just wanted to say isn't it a little late to talk about this? The
search committee was named what, two meetings ago? A several meetings have been
held. I attended one of them. It just seems that this is uh, the timing is a little strange.
You should have brought this up when they first named a search committee, rather than
• now. It seemed to make sense to me. But anyway, as I say, I attended one of the
meetings, and I was also a member of the search committee for the Town Auditor. And
we took that very seriously and had many meetings and many, many interviews. And it
was the Town Council who made the vote, we just brought her forward and said why we
chose her and what we felt she should be paid and then there was a vote of the entire
council. So this seems to be unnecessary to me.
President Rheault—Alright, Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas -- Thank you, Mr. President. I think we miss the point. I don't think
some councilor understand the process. This is...
Councilor Letellier — Point of order, point of order. This is an inappropriate use to the
Council's time, and to insult our intelligence is also inappropriate.
Councilor Bitzas - Mr. President,the process, it is not...
President Rheault - You've explained the process, I think, Councilor. We understand
what it is..
Councilor Bitzas—No, it is wrong. We doing it wrong.
President Rheault—No, it isn't wrong.
Councilor Bitzas - It is because you have a coronation, we have election, it's election.
I'm going to submit my person if I have a person, to search committee for questions, no I
• can put it like every time going to the council here and have a questions, that's what
elections for. That's a free country. You don't get a coronation to have somebody, that
you want to put it down there and send them money and include the salaries, and just to
the last minute, say okay I have this person. No. This is not correct, Mr. President.
President Rheault— Look it. First of all, this is the first time this has happened because
I was on the original one when we hired Ursula. So this is not an unusual procedure. We
know what the procedure is. What we're trying to do is to establish the fact with the
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most qualified person for the job. If you don't., you can bring you candidate to the floor,
just like anybody else does, but the committee will come back with a recommendation
with what they've seen...
Councilor Bitzas - The committee has right, Mr. President. But I have the right as you
have the right to put anybody on the floor for election.
President Rheault-That's right.
Councilor Bitzas - It is election. Look at the rules.
President Rheault - I just said it is an election. You've got a right to bring him. Are
• you listening? I think we're making a mountain out of a molehill.
Councilor Bitzas - It's not...it's the process we're doing with the coordination...to find
somebody. I'm not going to keep, as Councilor Rossi, the names of my intention of one
or two persons to the committee, the search committee. No, I'm not going to do that for
it not proper
President Rheault-Bring it to the floor.
Councilor Rossi — Well, I would think that if Councilor Bitzas has somebody that he
• wants to submit, he simply submits them and if the people on the Council want to vote
that person in, well then they vote him in. If they want to vote the people that the
committee recommended, then they vote that person in. I mean that's the process, but I
understand and I've heard, that Councilor Bitzas had this concern for quite some time
now and I'm just wondering why he hasn't brought this up to me privately rather than
• publicly. I think we could probably resolve this whole thing very simply.
Councilor Bitzas - Through the chair...The last point. The Democratic way to do
publicly not in privately. And how we did with uh, Mrs. St. John, mentioned before, Mr.
Rossi, Councilor Rossi, what we have many other qualified people with a lot...but this
Council choose to vote this person, I have nobody intended to put for the Council. I have
• nobody, but I have the right to bring somebody if the person comes to my and says I'm
qualified can you put my name there. So as far, I have nobody. Thank you.
President Rheault - Everybody has the same right. Alright. I don't see...it's a lot of
discussion for nothing. Uh, any others? That will go to the next agenda. Tit-2007-29, A
• Resolution for the New Senior Center; TR-2007-30, authorizing the Town of Agawam to
designate surplus land, it's next agenda; TR-2007-31, is a resolution to spend $73,877.00
for the Captain Leonard House on the next agenda.
Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council.
•
President Rheault—Dennis, do you want to start? Or do you have anything?
•
Councilor Perry -Nothing this evening. Thank you.
! President Rheault—Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, I'd like to talk about the process the council search
committee is using and why I think it's an appropriate one. This is the first time in over
twenty years that the position has been open and I couldn't disagree with George more
i with him saying it's a coronation. I think the process.ensures that the right applicant is
chosen and that it's about qualifications and not about personalities or politics. We are
looking out for the best interest of the town. We are reviewing people's qualifications.
We are checking references. These things cannot be done on the council floor, the night
a name is put in nomination. And yes, we certainly all have the right to put a name in
0 nomination and I welcome additional nominations, but I think the best way to hire
anyone for any job is to have a process that is open, that its meetings are published, that
people have the right to submit referrals. People have submitted resumes to us, cover
letters. We have asked for references. We've spoken to references. We've narrowed it
down from I believe twenty seven or thirty applicants to four people we asked to...six
• people whose references we checked. Four people we asked to interview, and of that
four, one person called and indicated that he or she no longer wished to be considered for
the job. So I think in doing that, we can present a recommendation that's well thought
out,that's not spur of the moment,that's not based on politics or personalities, and that's
based on someone that understands the needs of the job, who has the skills for the job and
whose skills have been verified by talking to references. So while yes, we all have the
opportunity to bring someone to the floor, I would hardly suggest that anyone that's
anyone that's interested, although the deadline has certainly passed, and it was a
published deadline and there was plenty of notice. If someone feels that they're
appropriate for the job, they can certainly forward their resume on to the Council so it can
0 be properly reviewed. I think to pick someone off the floor on a night without having
reviewed their resume, without having checked their references...Cuz let's face it,people
puff on their resumes...they don't always tell the truth. You know, that's why you check
their references. That cannot be...unless you want to call a recess, have everybody get
their cell phone on and start calling references...I don't think that's a good use of the
Council time. So yes I understand the process. I think we all know it's an election. It's
0 been an election for as long as any of us have been here. But I think this is the first time
the position's been open and I fail to see how it's not in the town's best interest and the
taxpayers' best interest, to have a process by which you try to get the best applicant for
the job. And if the applicant recommended or voted on by the Council is not someone
that works out, let's not forget we have to do this again in January. So let's hope that the
person the Council chooses, whether it's our recommendation or not, works out well so in
January, it's an academic exercise and we re-nominate the person if he or she wants the
job. But to suggest that the more appropriate way from the council floor without
reference checks, without resumes, I fail to see how that's in the best interests of the
Town. Thank you. And I'm not going to discuss it any further. I want to talk about the
special meeting notice that was handed to us. I'm sure you all recall on a Wednesday, the
Agawam Police came to our door to hand deliver a meeting notice for a meeting that was
more than a month away. Now, this was done, even though the next day council packets
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were already delivered. I hate to think that the best thing that police officers have to do is
0 to drive around town looking for councilor to hand deliver notices to them. I know my
father was a police officer for over thirty years, Councilor Rossi was an officer, they have
better things to do with their time, than deliver meeting notices when the exact next day,
less than 24 hours...I was delivered my notice at 7:30 about on a Wednesday night. And
less than 24 hours later, I have a packet delivered to my door. So why the police had to
do this, particularly with a month's notice, is beyond me. Secondly, that item could have
been put on new business for tonight's agenda and then discussed on the September
meeting. Again, why a special meeting is necessary is beyond me. Not only that, but by
calling a special meeting, the Mayor has made public speak time unavailable because
there is no public speak time on a special meeting. So therefore, I think it would have
been in his best interests to (1) not have wasted police time and (2) put it on the agenda
for due course. The only difference would have been one week and it would have
allowed for more public exchange of discussion. So I hope that this is not a practice that
is continued. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Magovern.
•
Councilor Magovern — I'd just like to close on a more positive note and thank the
councilors for their support for the Thomas Smith House. I think that everybody in the
community and take a look. It's going to be an absolute jewel for the City of Agawam.
That's the only thing that I've got to say and hope everybody's enjoying their summer.
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President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Carr Bitzas.
Councilor Carr Bitzas — I agree with you, Mr. Magovern. I really enjoyed going
through that house. Any truly, when you walk through it and saw everything just as it
was, it's just kind of surreal. You just uh, you can't help it. But feel that it's something
good for the town. I mean I walked outside. I went all around and I could see the
foundation crumbling, it was all cracked and broken. And the roof, the brand new roof
was beautiful. So the....I went upstairs to see how they were shoring up the rafters and
everything. So the money's been put to good use and it's been put to good use for the
whole community. I think it's a great thing and I'm glad that we had a unanimous vote
tonight.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas — Yes two points, Mr. President, about the meeting the 27'h meeting, I
• hope full council will be here for that, very important issue. It's over six million dollars
and the Mayor did the right thing to call a special meeting so we can vote the whole
meeting that important issue...many many people coming and speaking, if we have to
combine it with regular meeting-we have so many issues-public hearings...we have
people stay-for 2, 3,4 hours-that's not fair at time of week. So it's perfect, the 27a' and
the whole meeting just for this very important issue to benefit the whole citizens of
Agawam, future seniors and present seniors. And the reason that the Mayor delivered the
notices by hand, of course Mr. President, you know, in the past it was very very
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important meeting and if didn't do that-it was against some kind of illegality. Somebody
• have a mayor have a special meeting called...they had to be delivered by hand to
individual councilors. I asked that because it came to me and I didn't see it before and I
remember that's what happened, that's why he delivered that notices. So I hope you all
come and enjoy the meeting to devote the important issue to the whole day for the senior
center. And the last thing to do, every year every new council get elected. They have
two elections again to make clear some councilors, elections for the City Auditor and for
the City Clerk. There is no date line...deadlines for those council elections. If anybody
out there, listen to us, they have qualification to be clerk, they can come half hour before
meeting, submit name there, and we may be able to put the name in the hat for election.
So this is a plain election. Thank you, Mr. President.
• President Rheault—Councilor Simpson.
Councilor Simpson—Nothing, thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Rossi.
Councilor Rossi—Nothing, thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Young?
• Councilor Young—Uh,just uh, can I assume or ask that we'll see the information on the
Clerk nominees before the meeting so we're not surprised what we're looking at? 1,
again, I appreciate the time and effort the search committee put in but I would like some
time to prep before we get here, otherwise, it's all for naught, cuz we'd be, we'd be just
as surprised as if we hadn't, if you hadn't done it. The question, I guess, and I'm not sure
who to ask. When might we see the financial analysis on the Senior Center? Will we
! have that before the meeting on the 27th? Thank you.
President Rheault—Who answered that question?
Councilor Rossi — I don't know. The Deputy Mayor answered that questions
• apparently. Just for the council. If it's the council pleasure, I'd be more than happy to
Photostat them. I don't see anything..reason why we can't notify the council of the
finalists...would you think, Gina?
Councilor Letellier - I'm just thinking out loud. I don't know if we want to make
eleven sets of thirty applications.
Councilor Rossi - Oh, no, no, no, I'm just talking about the finalists.
Councilor Letellier - ...but maybe the three that agreed to be interviewed, I think
r probably would be the best.
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Councilor Rossi -- For the Council's pleasure, I will be more than happy to Photostat
them and have them delivered in the next council packet for you to review. Is that a...?
Or I could have the police...the police could probably deliver that too I suppose.
Councilor Young - If I may, through the Chair, it we could. As we recall, for the
Auditor, we also provided to the full council the criteria, the job requirements, the rating
• criteria and the measurement. How you deduce, you know, you came down to the final
however many and what the foundation for your recommendation'would be. That would
be helpful as well. Thanks.
President Rheault - The um, I guess probably for the benefit of the audience as well as
the council. As you know, I responded to once I found out that Special Meeting was
• called, by letter to the Mayor. That's now, let's see, that was dated July 26`h, so that's
exactly one month which I agree with Councilor Letellier, he had plenty of time to put
the item on. The charter dictates it is hand delivered by the police so he's in compliance
with the Charter, in that regard. Item Sec. 35 "Special Meetings" - `by causing a notice
of such meeting to be delivered in hand or to the place of business or residence of each
member of the town counciI.' So I have no argument with that. And he can call a
meeting and we discussed this today. He can call a meeting for any purpose that he
chooses, but where I disagree with him is that he doesn't have a right to circumvent the
Council rules once we get to the chambers. And the council rules very clearly stipulate,
Item 5 "Speak Time shall (mandatory) be only extended by a majority vote of council
members present. I'm sorry...be only at the regular meetings of the council." So there
was an opportunity, in my opinion,to have speak time, if the timing...uh, cuz I asked that
questions at the meeting. Why would a six day delay have any bearing...real
bearing...what's the crisis? And they chose to go with a special meeting, which I have
no argument with. Um, so the Chair has rendered that decision.
Councilor Bitzas - Point of Information...
President Rheault- What's your point?
Councilor Bitzas - The point is that also the council have the right to postpone the rules
and allow the public citizen speak time. So it's up to six councilor to vote in favor to let
people heard that day. Thank you.
President Rheault - Right. My argument is that is should not have been posted and I
asked him to repost because that prerogative is...still exists but I don't believe it should
• have been posted that speak time is available.
Councilor Bitzas Mr. President. I ask the question the Mayor, he said—he
thinks...because it's his agenda he have the right to post the speak time. I...I...
President Rheault - Wrong!
Councilor Bitzas - I took his word but as I said, maybe you wrong. If in case he's
• wrong, we have to make the wrong, right, but I personally I would suspend the rules to
ask and I hope somebody second it, have the seven votes the council requires to allow
citizen speak time. You cannot shut off the people...
President Rheault- We're not shutting them off, Councilor.
Councilor Bitzas - Thank you, Mr. President
President Rheault- Alright. Anyhow,uh,
Councilor Letellier—Point of...and I'm not trying belabor this, but Councilor Perry and
• 1 again double checked the Charter. It does not have to be delivered in hand by the
police, it could have been delivered in hand with the regular Thursday packet.
President Rheault — Yes, well, I think he probably just covered his base by
put...sending the police. I was surprised by seeing it that way myself. As a matter of
fact, they wouldn't even give it....otherwise to myself directly. But, that's all done and
that's history, so. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Moved by Councilor Bitzas,
seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas. All those in favor? Opposed?Adjourned.
Adiournment.
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