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CC MTG MINUTES JANUARY 16 2007 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM_CITY COUNCIL January 16, 2007 • Acting President Carr Bitzas—Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I'll be hosting the meeting here for the Agawam City Council. Our president, Don Rheault, has had a little accident and he is unable to be here tonight. He is alright, nothing to worry about but unable to be here tonight. Also George Bitzas is not here, he works on Monday nights, Tuesday nights, so he is not able to be here. Bob Magovern is unable to be here tonight • and also Dennis Perry. Other than that we are all here. O.k. may we stand now and,no first may we hear from Ursula. Do we have anyone to address the council Ursula? Council Clerk—No. Item I.Citizen's Sneak Time None. Item 2.Roll Call • Acting President Carr Bitzas—O.k. we have no one to address the council tonight for any issues and so we'll stand and have a moment of silence, if oh, do the roll call please Ursula. ROLL CALL 7 PRESENT, 4 ABSENT(Coup. Bitzas, Magovern, Perry Rheault). • Item 3.Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Alle ig ance Acting President Carr Bitzas—O.k. can we all stand please and have a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance to out flag. • Item 4.Minutes—Regular Meeting of 11/8/06 Councilor Simpson— So moved; seconded by Councilor Leteilier, • Acting President Carr Bitzas I think we can just take a voice vote can't we? O.k. we will have a voice vote on that. All in favor? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. Acting President Carr Bitzas—Opposed? O.k. its unanimous. • Item 4.Minutes--Regular_ Meetiniz of 11/20/06 Councilor Simpson—So moved; seconded by Councilor Mimeo. Acting President Carr Bitzas—O.k. we will have a voice vote. Everybody in favor for that? 1 • • VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. • Acting President Can Bitzas—Unanimous. Were there any opposed?No. O.k. thank you. Item 5.Declaration from Council President • Acting President Carr Bitzas—There isn't any declarations tonight. Item 6.Presentation of Petitions,_Memorials& Remonstrances (a)Resolutions 1. TR-2007-1- A Resolution-Requesting and Authorizing the Massachusetts • Finance Agency to Finance a Project for the Benefit of DFF Corporation, or an Affiliate Thereof(Mayor), Acting President Carr Bitzas—Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Gina, not Gina,Jill Simpson.Any discussion on the issue? And being none Ursula will you call the roll. ROLL CALL—7 YES, 4 ABSENT(Coup. Bitzas, Magovem, Perry, Rheault). Acting President Carr Bitzas—7 yes and 4 absent we have approved the resolution. Item 7. Report of Council Committees None. • Item 8.Elections None. Item 9.Public Hearin&s • None. Item 10. Old Business (a) • 1. TO-2007-1 A lication for two 2 automatic amusement licenses for American Legion Post 185 FH, MA Acting President Carr Bitzas—Jill do you have a report of the license committee? • 2 • i Councilor Simpson—We did not meet on this but there is no issues that I can see unless someone else on-the committee had any problems,we are fine to do a positive recommendation. Acting President Carr Bitzas —As a member of the committee I didn't have any problem with any of them either. So do we have a motion on the floor to pass this TO- 2007-1? So moved by Jill, seconded by Gina. And also Gina welcome back we missed • you. Don't feel quite complete when one of us is gone. So what was the vote on that? Councilor Letellier— We need to call. Acting President Carr Bitzas—O.k. can we have a vote on that? All in favor of i TO-2007-1? I think she is gonna call the roll. ROLL CALL—7 YES, 4 ABSENT (Coun. Bitzas, Magovern, Perry, Rheault). Acting President Carr Bitzas—7 yes, 4 absent we approved the application. i Item 10.2 TO-2007-2-Aiplication for One(1) automatic amusement license for Alexander's 60 North Westfield St., FH MA 01030 Acting President Carr Bitzas—Moved by Jill Simpson, seconded by Councilor Calabrese. Ursula you call the roll on that please. i ROLL CALL—7 YES, 4 ABSENT (Coup. Bitzas, Magovern, Perry, Rheault). Acting President Carr Bitzas—With 7 yes and 4 absent we passed the request for that license. i Item 10.3 TO-2007-3-Renewal of Class II Dealer License for 2007, The Car Connection, 820 Spfld. St., FH, MA Acting President Carr Bitzas—Moved by Jill Simpson, seconded by Gina Letellier. Ursula will you please call the roll. ROLL CALL—7 yes, 4 absent(Coup. Bitzas, Magovem, Perry, Rheault). Acting President Carr Bitzas—That concludes our old business for this evening. Item 11. New Business (a) 1. TR-2007-2-A Resolution Confirminppointment of Anthony Pioaaia III, 20 Sharon Lane, FH, MA to the Aaawam Municipal Golf Commission for a Term Expiring December 31 2009 Ma or . • [Next agenda] i 3 Item*11.2 TR-2007-3-A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Richard Bellico, 51 Park Edge Dr., FH, MA to the Historical Commission for a Term Expiring • January 1, 2010 (Mayor}. [Next agenda] Item 11.3 TOR-2007-1-An Ordinance to amend Chapter 180 of the Code of the • Town of Agawam by Adding Art. XVI Historic Preservation Overlay District Initiated by the Agawam Planning Board). Acting President Carr Bitzas—Next agenda. Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the city council Acting President Carr Bitzas—Anyone with any matter that should come before the council. O.k. being none. • Item Adjournment Acting President Carr Bitzas—I would make a motion myself to adjourn. Councilor Calabrese—Move to adjourn; seconded by Councilor Letellier. Acting President Carr Bitzas—Thank you Councilor Calabrese and Councilor Gina Letellier. Any,there is nothing else, right. O.k. can you guess that this is my first time doing this ladies and gentlemen? Councilor Calabrese—And you are doing a great job. • Councilor Letellier—Great job. Acting President Carr Bitzas—I really didn't mind it,just a little bit nervous that's all, so thank you for watching, thank you for listening and we are going to adjourn the • meeting now. Thank you very and good evening. Adjourned at 7:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted • Ursula Retzler Clerk of the Council • 4 • REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL February 20, 2007 President Rheault—Welcome to the February 20th city council meeting. We have a few citizens wishing to address the council this evening, all regarding Rte. 57. First speaker being Richard Theroux, our town clerk. Richard Theroux, 30 Ley St. —Thank you very much and I am here this evening to speak on the priority list on the, concerning the Metropolitan Planning Commis m sio . a a member of the Metropolitan Planning Commission in my capacity as chairm of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and in that capacity I have attended the meetings that you probably have read recently in the Republican about the transportation plans that are being made for the priority list for all the public work projects in the Pioneer Valley. In attending those meetings and of course I am there as a representative of the PVTA and making sure that the public transit needs are met,however,part of that program is setting up the priorities for again these public work projects. And in this public work projects is Rte. 57. And I would be remiss in not only working for the town but living here.not taking a stand on Rte. 57. In the priority list,the flyover as we havi referred to it and you are aware of from Rte. 5 the South end bridge to accommodate the traffic for Six Flags and so forth is a very high priority. This would be a series of ramps doing away with the rotary so it would accommodate this heavy traffic volume that we have during the Six Flags season and even the Big E and they feel that this should be a high priority. However, at this point in time in the listing the completion of Rte. 57 is not high priority. At the public hearing I attended last week I stressed and I believe not only for everyone in the community but certainly everyone on the council with our knowledge that this highway constructed in the early 60's revamped about 12 years ago with the completion to Feeding Hills center off to our secondary roads in that area was not what this community wanted to see. The planning for that highway as we all know for the completion the taking of homes, the displacing of families have taken place, however, the road was never continued. Virtually it stops at one of our rural condensed neighborhoods with schools, retail and so forth. So I have asked the mayor to come here this evening and state representative Sandlin who has been working very hard on 57 to accomplish this. I am going to ask the council whether individually because of the time frame or collectively to write to the Metropolitan Planning Commission. State this community's stand on Rte. 57 and why we feel that it should be a higher priority than it is..And in writing to the commission, which will take written comments till the 24th of February I am hoping that at least this community can take a stand on where we feel this road should be taking place, should it be going, where it should be on the list and again we are all aware that this program changes constantly because of needs of other communities and the community of Agawam. However, I think its about time and I have been on this just a short period of time but I certainly made it known that this road has been in the planning stages for a long, long time and its probably one of the longest public works projects on their list and has not moved up in a fashion I believe that it should. So I am going to certainly leave the rest of the comments to the able mayor and state representative and what they have been trying to do and what I've asked them to do because I am coming very late to this process in a sense, because I've just been appointed to this board as I said earlier because of my position with the PVTA. However, I want to make it clear to not • 1 only the council but to those'that are looking for Rte. 57 to be completed that this is a very important step that we have to take to let our community's needs known to the MPO board. So I'll leave it with that. The address I have.. I'll leave it with your council clerk and hopefully we can move this priority up or at least we can let MPO board and these other officials that are on it know that we would like to see Rte. 57 completed. I thank you for your time and attention this evening. If there is any other questions that you might have or anything that you feel that I can do while I am on this board, please contact me at my office in the town hall and I be glad to entertain your thoughts and carry through with them. Thank you again for your time this evening. President Rheault—Thank you very much Richard. Next we have Mayor Cohen. Mayor Cohen—Good evening councilors. It's a pleasure to be here tonight • because I know that the concern that Mr. Theroux is the city and the PVTA representative, the Pioneer Valley transit authority and representative Sandlin's and my thoughts are shared by all of you,because it is something that I know your transportation committee and Councilor Magovern we had a meeting in my office with Trish Cogliano and all the people from Mass. highway and I believe Ruth Carr Bitzas was there and a lot of talk was done and we were left to believe that something probably would be done. Well that was approximately a year, a year and a half ago. Its something that we all been working on for a long time. What I am asking is that all of us get band together. We've had people relocated from their homes years ago, they were placed into homes,there were water situations that had to be taken care of that the city did. People were displaced. Nine businesses I believe it was, I am trying to remember, nine businesses,.eleven residents and it just should not have happened unless they were going to continue this project. I think it is important that we all push that phase II of Rte. 57 relocation to the regional transportation plan and to the transportation improvement program known as the TIP. The blanket policy the former governor was to invest, not to invest new facilities but to fix or repair what we already had. At one point this project reached at least 75%of design phase and the plans were to be completed. And I know Councilor Rheault you were here many years ago, fighting to have it done and they promised that when they by- prodated the program they would not forget to completed. Well they haven't forgotten to completed,they are just not doing it. And they know about it because we make them aware of it. But I think we need to pressure them and that's not to say that Rte. 187 shouldn't be done. That's been at a 75%phase for a long time.That doesn't mean that the Main St. improvements shouldn't be done, because that money was already allocated and is there. You can't promise and then not do it and I think we need to make sure that the programs we have been promised are done. It is wrong that they haven't been completed, it is important for safety reasons for the children in front of our Granger School. There is traffic there when people get off at the end of 57, the trucks that come through there in the morning. We have police officers out there, we put walks out there, we've put cross walks,we need everybody to ban together to get this done. Its also about regional economic development because we need to have the trucks and the access and availability to get to Southwick, to get to Agawam and to be able to do it without cutting through 187 in the center of Feeding Hills, putting our schools in danger. And I think we've been asking and we've been told yes, yes, yes, no, no, no. Well I looked at the new 2 i • regional transportation plan Rte. 57 is labeled as a very low priority. And I think that's • wrong. I think we've waited long enough and I really, I ask for your support, for economic, safety and to hold the state responsible.Not in lieu of doing other projects that they've funded, but in addition that they get this done. They are doing a fly over because that benefits Springfield and that benefits Six Flags and it will benefit Agawam. But we need to do things and have them know that Rte. 57 benefits the safety of our children at Granger School and I hope that you will support us with Mr. Theroux, myself, • representative Sandlin because these are important issues and we have been trying and now we need to all band together and say we're not gonna say no for an answer or we're gonna take in lieu of other projects because they are all important, they have all been funded,they are all important. So I thank you this evening and.I hope that we can have all of you or collectively a letter signed by everybody to go to the MPO,prior to February • 24t . We just saw the list was made public in Sunday's paper,there has been a lot of debate on it and that's why we are here this evening fighting and asking you to please help us win that fight. President Rheault—Thank you. Representative Sandlin. • Representative Sandlin--Good evening. It's a pleasure to be here tonight. I am here for three reasons, one to say hello and wish you well and tell you that I have been appointed to the joint committee on transportation. As a freshman legislature we are asked to put our three top funding priorities to the speaker Delio and those three priorities • for me have been and will be Rte. 57, the senior center project and the Southwick senior center project. I am scheduled to meet with him next Thursday at 4 o'clock and I will tell him of my dismay that a plan, draft plan, this is 2007, that's supposedly to the year 2030 does not include completion of Rte. 57 as a high priority. That is unacceptable, its absolutely unacceptable. Mr. Theroux was nice enough to give me this, its open for • public comment only for four more days,but I am here tonight to urge you that I am going to be sending a letter to the MPO but most important I am going to bring you this to Governor Patrick, when I meet with him tomorrow at 12 o'clock. This is a project that has been on the table since I believe 1959. I believe that it was completed in 1996 when they by-sected it, it was to be completed in May,the money was funded. It is still being held in advance. I fully believe that the file will benefit everyone in this region but I have to represent the 3rd Hampden District and 3rd Hampden District includes Southwick and Granville. This impacts those three communities. Fact that we leave in everyone in Feeding Hills center. The fact that even if the upgrade the Feeding Hills center it's a dumping point, that we need to complete this road. I talked to the Southwick selectmen, and they are in agreement,they want to see the completion of Rte. 57. So tonight I am • here again to contact the MPO, to write letters to the governor and to support myself, the mayor and representative Mr. Theroux and ask them to make this a higher.priority. This is unacceptable that they can plan for 30 years and leave Agawam sitting there from 2030 in a low priority. • President Rheault-Thank you very much. Clerk please call the roll. Item 2.Roll Call • 3 ROLL CALL - 7 PRESENT (Coup. Carr Bitzas, Letellier, Magovern, Mineo, Perry Rheault Rossi), 4 ABSENT (Coup. Bitzas, Calabrese, Simpson, Young). President Rheault—7 present,4 absent we have a quorum. Item 3.Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance President Rheault- Please rise for a moment of silence and pledge the allegiance. President Rheault—Just for the record, Councilor Young is out of state on business. Councilor Calabrese is on vacation prescheduled, and Councilor Simpson the same and who else? Councilor Bitzas is also out of state on business. • Item 4.Special Councilor Meeting of February 5 2007 President Rheault- Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Rossi. Any discussion or corrections> i Councilor Mineo-Abstain. President Rheault—All those in favor? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous; except Councilor Mineo abstained. • President Rheault—Opposed? Abstention by Councilor Mineo. Item 4.Regular Council Meeting of February 5. 2007 President Rheault- Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Magovern. • Any discussion or corrections? If not, voice vote is sufficient, all those in favor? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous; except Councilor Mineo abstained. Councilor Mineo—Abstain. President Rheault—Councilor Mineo abstained. Item 5.Declaration from Council President. • President Rheault—Just for the record so we decide individually write on Rte. 57. 1 served on the original Rte. 57 task force committee, way back. I am not gonna tell you how long but one of the conditions that we agreed to with the state that we would accept the construction to go to South Westfield St. in two phases because they had a little more environmental work to be done on the second phase and while they were constructing it • up to the South West St., Westfield St. I am sorry the environmental would be completed and the highway would then be continued to Southwick. That was former mayor 4 • D'Morrow from Springfield sat on the committee with me, former state representative Walter D. Philippi and that was the concession we made, so the commitment did come from the state and I think the very least they should hold up their end of the bargain. I will certainly write a letter in support and will decide what the council will do as well in a short time. Its totally unacceptable and I don't think I need to say anymore. Item 6._Presentation of Petitions, Memorials&_Remonstrances • (a) Resolutions 1. TR-2007-4-_A Resolution Confirming t� he Reappointment of Richard Bennet, 29 Willowbrook Dr.-Aga., MA to the Historical Commission for a Term Expiring Januga 1 2010 (MU or). . • President Rheault---Moved by Councilor Carr Bitzas, seconded by Councilor Magovern. I don't see Mr. Bennet here but I think that was served, or will serve well and is there any further discussion? Councilor Carr Bitzas. Councilor Carr Bitzas-Thank you. I just wanted to make a comment about Richard Bennet. About 12 years ago when mayor Johnson at the time asked me if I would oversee a memorial bench program in Agawam, which I agreed to do and as a result 72 benches, memorial benches were places around the town. I am happy to say that I was able to please 70 of those people, but the last two wanted theirs on locations that were not town property, so that wasn't possible. So retiring 7 years ago this year the benches have gotten to be in very bad shape and I got a call from Richard Bennet and he said that he was taking the beautification committee was taken on the project of refurbishing those benches and he had the nice courtesy to ask if I mind if they changed the color. Well I didn't mind at all, as long as they were going to be refurbished and look good that was good enough for me and I helped him to get a list to show him exactly where all of the benches were. And he did that. And if you ride through town now and see some of those • benches, they are not all in memory of veterans but most of them are and so I think that Richard Bennet is a fine person. He is a person who does what he says he is gonna do and I be happy to vote for him tonight,thank you. President Rheault-Thank you. Any other comments? I think a voice vote is sufficient, all those in favor? VOICE VOTE-Unanimous. President Rheault-Opposed? Unanimous. Would you Ursula send Mr. Bennet a proper letter. Item 6.2 TR-2007-5- A Resolution Establishing Stop Sims at Various Streets in the Town of Agawam (Mayor). - • President Rheault-As attached. Let me just read it(reading as follows: please see attached). Any further discussion on it?Moved by Councilor Letellier; seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor? 5 i RESOLUTION TR 2007--,5 i A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING STOP SIGNS AT VARIOUS STREETS IN THE TOWN OF AGAWAM WHEREAS, commercial development and activity obscures the intersection of Springfield Street, and i WHEREAS, Springfield Street carries a much greater traffic volume than intersecting streets, and WHEREAS,the opposing alignment of intersecting streets gives motorist a mis- • conception that the intersecting streets continue, NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF AGAWAM that in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 89, Section 9 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the following streets are designated as stop streets at the • intersection and in the direction indicated: Kensington Street North bound at the intersection of Springfield Street Hastings Street South bound at the intersection of Springfield Street • Dated This Day of ,2007 PER ORDER OF THE AGAWAM TOWN COUNCIL Donald M. Rheault, President Agawam Town Council APPROVED A TO FORM AND LEGALITY Vi'n­cenl Gioscia Town Solicitor • i • VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. President Rheault—Opposed? Unanimous. Item 6.3 TR-2007-6-A Resolution Accepting a$75,000_Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Chapter 122 of the Acts of 2006 Earmarked for Utilization to Construct Pynchon Point Access Trail (Mayor). President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas. Any further discussion on that?A roll call on that, clerk please call the roll. ROLL CALL— 7 YES, 4 ABSENT(Coun. Bitzas,Calabrese, Simpson, Young). President Rheault—7 yes, 4 absent you have approved the acceptance for the resolution. Item 7.Report of Council Committees None. Item 8.Elections None. Item 9.Public Hearings . None. Item 10. Old Business (a) 1. TO-2007-4-Transfer-$33 000.00 from Reserve Fund 16605-57300 to Health—Temporary Salaries (15101-51020)(Mayor). A President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Perry. Any further discussion on that?Funding to replace the nursing, roll call vote on the money, clerk please call the roll. ROLL CALL—7 YES, 4 ABSENT (Coun. Bitzas, Calabrese, Simpson, Young). President Rheault—7 yes, 4 absent you have approved the transfer. Item 10.2 TO-2007-5-A lication for two 2 automatic amusement devices for Agawam Bowl, 359 Walnut St. Ext.,Afa.,MA 6 President Rheault- Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas. Any further discussion? Voice vote is sufficient on that. All those in favor of that A application? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. President Rheault—Unanimous. i Item, 10.3 TO-2007-6-Application for three (3) automatic amusement devices for Aagwam Bowl 363 Walnut St Ext. Aga, MA President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas. Any further discussion on that? If not voice vote is again sufficient. All those in • favor? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. President Rheault—Opposed?Unanimous. A Item 10.4 TO-2007-7-Application for four(4) automatic amusement devices for Bogey's Lounge, 858 Suffield St., Aga., MA President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas.Any further discussion? If none, all those sufficient, all those in favor? VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. President Rheault—Opposed? Unanimous. Item 11. New Business (a) 1. TOR-2007-2-An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Chapter 49, Entitled Personnel, § 49-7 A (2) and § 49-7 B(4) Coun Calabrese (ist Reading). i President Rheault—Will be next agenda for the first reading. Item 11.2 TO-2007-8-Voucher List($101.91). President Rheault—Next agenda. Item 11.3 TR-2007-7- A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Paul Schafer, 134 Corey Colonial_Aga., MA to the Historical Commission for a Term Expiring January 1, 2010 (Mayor) President Rheault—Next agenda. 7 i • Item 11.E TR-2007-8- A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Edward • Iiilkowski, 55 Royal Lane, Aga.,MA to the Whiting Street and Thomas Pyne Fund for a Term Expiring December 31, 2009 (Mayor). President Rheault-Next agenda. Item 11.5 TR-2007-9-A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Gerald • Landry, 71 Country Road, Aga., MA to the Whiting Street and Thomas,Pyne Fund for a Term EUiring December 31 2009 (Mayor). President Rheault--Next agenda. Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the city council. President Rheault—And I'll start to my left Councilor Carr Bitzas. Councilor Carr Bitzas—Nothing tonight. President Rheault—Nothing. All the way down to the end to Councilor Perry. Councilor Perry--Thank you Mr. President. Just to address the issue that became before us at citizen speak time in regards to Rte. 57 becoming a low priority. I think we, all of us sitting up here on the stand it's a high priority for the residents of Agawam and I feel that and I know the people that came and spoke this evening in regards this issue and I will, I believe given the short period of time that we have, collectively put something together and get us all to sign it would be rather difficult. So I think I personally will be writing a letter you know stating my concerns as a city council representing'the people of Agawam. • President Rheault—Thank you. Question of the signature. Well if we all confirm we can... Councilor Carr Bitzas— We all confirm right now you can use our signature if we • want it on there. President Rheault—Or we can write it ... Councilor Carr Bitzas—Because you have all the background information too from ... Councilor Letellier—You can draft, I think most of us have e-mail, e-mail a draft. Councilor Perry—Sure I can do that. • President Rheault—I am sorry I missed that. 8 Councilor Letellier—I am sorry. I suggested that he e-mail a draft to us. I think at least everybody here has e-mail, confirm everybody's e-mail before we leave. Yes and I can happy sign off too. President Rheault—And if not.. Councilor Carr Bitzas—You can use my name and I be happy to have you do it. President Rheault—Councilor Letellier anything? You want to put your light on please. Councilor Letellier—I am sorry. On the salary ordinance for the increase for the different salaries, I noticed that 1. its stamped draft and 2. there is no sponsor listed althought it looks like under new business its Councilor Calabrese. President Rheault—It is. Councilor Letellier—Is that going to go to the finance committee for their i discussion or is there ... President Rheault—The finance chairperson, I haven't had a chance to speak to her on it. • Councilor Letellier—OK President Rheault—But if she feels, well its gonna only be the first reading anyway. Councilor Letellier—And how many readings is it going to need? President Rheault—Two. Councilor Letellier—Two, once again, still not in the council rules. Just want to bring it up. President Rheault—I'll speak to the chair person of that pretty soon. Councilor Letellier—Alright. And then we need to set up zoning meetings. We already had the zoning meeting on the historical ordinance and Ursula we have two more zone changes coming up, one is a public hearing on the 51' and one is a public hearing on the 19th. Neither of them looks like they are generating any buzz, I haven't gotten any calls. I am gonna suggest that we do them at 6:30 on the night that they actually have the public hearing, so the May 5t'zone change public hearing we'll do at 6:30 the zoning review meeting and the May 19'h one we'll do at 6:30. Councilor Clerk-I think the public hearings are at the next meeting, which.. 9 • • Councilor Letellier—There are two at the next meeting are the historical overlay district I believe. Council Clerk—That would be March 50'. Councilor Letellier—Right and then also one of the two other new zone changes • March 5`h and then we moved the second zone change to the 190'because we didn't want to have three public hearings on the same night, so all I am suggesting because I haven't gotten really any heavy public comment and because councilors have different schedules, we can do 6:30 that night so everybody can come if they want to. i Council CIerk—So you want all three. Councilor Letellier—No. Council Clerk—Just the two. • Councilor Letellier—The historical overlay district we already had our zoning meeting so the other zone change its on for May, March 5th and I don't know if it's the cell tower one is the 5th,put that one on the 5th at 6:30 and the one that is the 19`h put that one on the 19`h at 6:30 o.k. and if you are not sure call me tomorrow. Thanks Ursula. President Rheault—I think the cell tower is the 15th or the 19th whatever. Councilor Mineo. Councilor Mineo—I also would like to thank everybody who came to speak in favor of Rte. 57. Back in July I did write a letter to former governor Romney and all the candidates that were running for governor letting them know my position on Rte. 57 and I know during the election season that was high priority for Rosemary and Bob, we all that was definitely one thing that we all did agree on and I think when Richard Theroux came before us tonight and the mayor and Rosemary about banding together, I think this is one important project and we are getting short changed so this is very important, thank you. President Rheault—Councilor Rossi. Councilor Rossi--Yes thank you. I also, you can attach my name to that also Dennis. Being quite familiar with Rte. 57 and the procedures and process that has taken place over the years, I know that all the letters and concerns have been addressed, many, many times and I think the needs have been demonstrated over and over to the state on this and as Rosemary said earlier in her presentation I believe that% of the funding is, has been appropriated for this. All of the land has been taken in this. The people from the state have all guaranteed us that this project will go forward and.I don't really understand what happens as to why Agawam Rte. 57 was taken off of the priority list.Now I don't know if that was an oversight or whether there is some bureaucratic wonder, I really don't know, but it certainly shouldn't have and I think we should bring that to i 10 1 somebody's attention that why when something was so far going forward then all of a sudden its been totally eliminated. It just boggles my mind. But anyway I will do whatever I can to support that endeavor in any way that I can. The other thing I wanted to touch on. I noticed and I would like to have just a little brief notice send to the DPW superintendent and I am just curious as to why the sidewalks haven't been plowed on Springfield St. I mean I've driven the entire length of Springfield St. and all but a few very short stops there have been absolutely no plows that have hit those sidewalks and I don't know if it was an oversight, if we had a shortage of manpower,but I certainly would like them to have that addressed. And also Ursula if you would another brief note to the law department, I asked for some clarifications on that ordinance that's before us on historical commission and I haven't received anything from him. And a reminder that its coming forward for a public hearing at our next meeting and I would like to have that information and that's all I have thanks. • President Rheault—Thanks. Councilor Magovern. Councilor Magovem—I too would like to reiterate the comments made by our speakers made earlier this evening about Rte. 57 and as the mayor indicated I met with John Cagliano, our commissioner of highways in his office. We had some very good meetings. I met with Mr. CagIiano, commissioner Cagliano personally in Boston on a couple of other occasions. I spoke with him on the phone several times. I have spoken to governor Mitt Romney about it and I think what happened was that Mitt Romney that I am sorry but he deep sixth it. He had a philosophy that he didn't want to see the inner city flame,the inner city of the suburbs and he felt that I think that completing Rte. 57 was going to (a) the inner city from flame the inner city and moving on to the suburbs was against his philosophy of trying to rebuild the inner city and I think that's what killed it and also the MPO didn't move it forward and I think that's where it got killed,but everybody was right, I mean houses were taken,the people were displaced,they were 0 torn down,they spent the money,the money is appropriated and I think we have to make a unified approach to send a letter down. Of course I'll go on that letter but was the city council president gonna write that letter or was Dennis Perry, Councilor Perry gonna write that letter? President Rheault—I be happy to or if you want? 0 Councilor Perry—I be happy to. President Rheault--Yes he is chair of the traffic committee. • Councilor Magovern—As long as the letter gets on,.whoever writes it I think that its imperative that it get out the next couple of days. I think in the letter we should point out that Westfield has gotten 60 million dollars that was just approved for the bridge to be build over at Westfield. They've had several other highway projects for multi million of dollars that had been approved and gone and spend in Westfield and haw Westfield can get all these millions of dollars from the state and Agawam has gotten nothing when this road was started in the late 50's and 60's and 70's and we've had three accidents, namely 11 '� • • the one last June that was very serious and it got boo boo'd I think for everybody but the child's spleen got ruptured and that is not a minor accident and it was never really picked • up and for the safety of our students this road has to be completed. I think whatever we have to do to go down and try to get it down. Hopefully governor Patrick will be a little bit more caring of some of our ills or as far as getting that road completed. So that's my main thrust for this evening. Thank you, • President Rheault—Councilor Carr Bitzas. Councilor Carr Bitzas—Mr. President I would like to suggest that we get a salary comparison report for nearby communities before 2007-2 comes up next meeting. • President Rheault—Alright. Councilor Can Bitzas—I mean I won't be ready to vote without a comparison report. 40 Councilor Magovern—That comparison report I know Councilor Calabrese has... Councilor Carr Bitzas—Oh good. Councilor Magovern—because I got it the last time I gave it to her,I know she was updating it. So she does have that comparison. Councilor Carr Bitzas—She can bring us a copy of it. President Rheault—Ursula would you remind Councilor Calabrese to have that salary comparison? Thank you. I just want to comment for a moment on our • superintendents SOS letter. I thought it was pretty informative and creative and who else was responsible. Its nice to know what is going on in the schools and where some of our, such talent that we have I know Joe Freegos pursuing his own business was highlighted in there. I thought it was pretty interesting and I want to commend the superintendent on the, sharing that information with us, having the visions of putting that kind of 0 informative newsletter out. Item Adjournment President Rheault-And in that light I entertain a motion to adjourn. Moved by the council to adjourn. All seconded by the Council. All in favor? VOICE VOTE--Unanimous. • • 12 • President Rheault—Opposed? We're now adjourned. Good evening. Adjourned at 8:05 P.M. • Respectfully submitted Ursula Retzler Clerk of the Council • • • • • • 13