CC MTG MINUTES MAY 21 2007 O
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL May 2,1.,2007
President Rheault—Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the May
21't city council meeting.
Item 1,Citizen's Speak Time
r President Rheault—There is several citizens wishing to address the council this
evening and I am sure that some of you may have not addressed the council previous to
this evening. So the procedure is, as I call your name you come to the microphone, state
your name and address for the record and you have five minutes from the time you start
speaking and that will be held firm because we have several speakers. First speaker is
Richard Pryce.
Richard Pryce, 1710 Main St. I am here to address the transient parking in
Agawam. There are two distinct areas in this town where transient parking is being
questioned. The area down close to here at the middle school,Northend of Main St.,
Suffield St., Springfield St. and the Southend of town on Main St. across from Six Flags.
• They are notorious though similar are completely different and the biggest problem is
public safety..This area down here there are sidewalks,there are crosswalks. When th Big
E is going on there is police down here to handle it. At our end of Main St. and I live
directly across from the park. There are no sidewalks. There haven't been for the 38 years
that I have been there or for the 59 years that my wife has been there and we don't see
any reason for putting them in. There are also low crosswalks, so when people park on
the West side of Main St. on private property they meander across Main St. as if nothing,
nothing bothers them. They stop traffic. It's a state highway. So if nothing else is done
sooner or later someone down there is going to get hurt,because Main St. is not exactly a
25 MPH zone, thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. You have to excuse me with some of this writing,
is it Aveen Jodoin?
Lueen Jodooin, 1736 Main St., which happens to be directly next door to the
piece of property Mr."CireIla owns at 1744, which has been a consistent nuisance with
0 this parking. We get to watch people urinate in bushes. We get to pull dirty pampers out
of my bushes. Broken beer bottles out of my backyard. Pieces of my fence have been
ripped off. Trash strewn all over my yard.I actually had cars pull into my driveway to do
a U-turn, not just my driveway,my front lawn to do a U-turn to pull to his parking
facility. I had people actually come and picnic on my front lawn like I am a state public
• facility and there's got to be an end to it. This man has no permits for anything that he has
done to his property. He has not shown up for both permit meetings that he has applied
for because of his designs weren't ready yet and frankly I find this manipulative. As he
doesn't show up for these meetings now he proceeds to endeavor further work on his
parking facility. I have halogen lights shining into my house,my bedroom, my son's
0 bedroom, 24/7 and the park after this weekend opens full time. I am not going to tolerate
halogen lights shining into my house. I've already tolerated this already for a year and it
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has taken this town a year to even address this issue. There is something serious wrong
with this system. Something needs to be done much sooner than postponing everything to
be done month after month after month as we residents who reside there are the ones who
suffer. First they parade across our lawn, people handle our mail boxes and that's federal
property. You work on your lawn to make your house look appreciative and show that
you are pride of your property, while it can be destroyed with these people waltzing back
and forth across your property. Its uncalled for. I can't imagine anybody in this town who
would put up with this and nothing seems to be done. Its just meeting after meeting after
meeting,well it has to go to this board, well it has to go to that board and it has to go to
this board. I've talked to numerous lawyers in Western Mass. who tell me I should not
have to hire a lawyer, my town should be dealing with this. The lawyer that I have hired
is appalled that a year later we are still on the same page that we are on last year. I am
angry, I am very angry and I've had enough. Its got to end, somebody has got to put an
end to it. And it needs to happen sooner than before Six Flags closes this year and we can
start all over again next year. I need a resolution because this affects my property value,
this is my home. I take pride in my home and I am sorry I don't think this gentlemen
takes pride in anything.He doesn't even have the conscience to take into consideration
his effects on the rest of the neighbors in the neighborhood. He walks out into the traffic, •
stopping traffic to cross people. The police department is sick of hearing from us. There
is nothing they can do about it,who are you gonna call?And it really gets frustrating,
over and over and over again..Somebody needs to step up to the plate and make some
kind of resolution. This town and its system is beginning to look like a three ring circus
and that's a sad state of affairs. That's all I want is a resolution to the problem.
President Rheault—Thank you. Sam Dorie, I probably crucified that one too.
Sam Sarouin--Hi my name is Sam Sariouin,I have a business across...
President Rheault— Could you speak closer to the microphone please. Thank you,
Sam Sarouin- 14 years across the street from Six Flags. We spent$1,500 for a
sign that we did private property. The sign department enforcement officer.please remove
this sign. This time it's a stand back sign building class the nation, any place you would
see ...So I want to know what's the building code? Private property, nice sign, why it has i
to move? We can find hundred signs with your standard its illegal, ...ft. high, state
property they still did nobody is going to touch it. The other side of Agawam same
similar sign is different because my location across from Six Flags. We are losing 40%of
the business a day,the people don't go there anymore. They thought they closed their
business. I ...the building code why they remove my sign,they have to bring my sign •
back,they want my sign bigger they remove other people's too.....its state property, same
heights, its not 9 ft. high, same height move it, I have to move it my side, Agawam will
not ..
President Rheault—Thank you. Helen Krupzak.
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Helen Krupzak, 1736 Main St. I live two houses away from Cirillo. I've seen two
men relieving themselves at different times through my kitchen window. They've
smashed my mail box and they walked across the lawn and picked my flowers. And you
know they have strollers and different things going across the street and I see no reason
why they should get a permit to park the cars there,because I see trash all over the
backyard. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. 1721 Main St., Ed. I apologize.
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Edward Czelazewicz, 1720 Main St. I also like to complain about the transient
parking at 1744 Main St. There is no access for anybody-that parks a vehicle to get to
where they are all going to Six Flags. The people that park there cross my lawn,.sit on the
racks in the park, it's a dangerous situation and I am not happy with people trespassing
i my property and I hope the town takes action and gets this situation settled, thank you.
President Rheault- Thank you. James Marmo.
James Marmo, 130 Main St. Talking about the parking. They are trying to stop
T.J.s Sporthouse from parking and its very unfair. You know they say it's a safety factor.
First of all when you leave T.J.'s you walk down a path under the bridge,up over the
bridge into the park. Its state property, its not Six Flags property they are walking on. It's
a dirt path there and its no, its not a safety factor at all. Six Flags talks about safety. They
park tractor trailers in a turning zone lane and the turning lane you wait out there till the
next truck comes out. Then another truck comes down there gonna wait on the side of the
road.Now they are blocking half of the travel lane. They are also blocking the view of all
the people pulling out of all the businesses along, the restaurant, dairy store and T.J. You
cannot pull out because you can't see if any traffic is coming. They are also saying about
safety. Six Flag people walk across the street with hand trucks carrying merchandise, it's
a state highway. Also when the trucks back in to Six Flags they are backing on a state
highway, its against the law. You cannot back a_ tractor trailer up on a state highway. I
know I drove a tractor trailer for 33 years. Also Six Flags talks about safety. When the
people get out of work, they walk down the road towards the intersection. There is like a
2 ft. span beside the white lane to the curb and that's not a safety problem, that's a safety
hazard. People there park cars to recoup some of the money they lost, because people
don't come to their businesses because the traffic sometimes is so heavy that they figure
it takes them too long to get down there and just spend all your time in the heavy traffic,
so there is a chance for these people to park cars and get there. Also people don't want to
park out in a potato field that Six Flags has out there in the back, because there is more
cars stolen out of there every day. If its not the car it's a serial,the GBS or the radios.Big
r E encourages people to park cars when they have the fair. Big E also subsidize these
people in Westside because they have problems with the heavy traffic. If you are a
Westside resident you get a free parking pass for the year and you can park in Six Flags
free to any show they have except the fair [Big E?]. And if you saw the paper yesterday
the Big E gave the town of West Springfield$77,000. The only thing Six Flags does is
try to hinder the people that live here or the people that work and try to make a living and
have a business there. I just want to say that Six Flags talks about people that have
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businesses there and safety,they have more safety problems, safety hazards than
anybody,thank you.
President Rheault—Final speaker is David Giroux.
David Giroux, 1708 Main St. This is directly across from the exit gate and I am
putting a complaint in, is that Six Flags has a fork lift that wakes me up between 3, 4
o'clock in the morning coming by,it comes straight down the road and into the exit gate
and then they cut down the trees so there is you know its like.now its no privacy. Before
you had the trees you didn't see, you heard the noise but you didn't see it and now you
know you see, all the trees are gone, they took them all down and I am wondering how
bad the noise is gonna be without the trees now. And the main thing is the fork you know
its coming down every Friday, Saturday and I am wondering if its gonna be worse when
they open frill time, because he is operating 3, 4 in the morning and there is what, 3, 4
houses he has to come by to go through that exit gate. And that was my complaint for
tonight, o.k.? Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. •
Item 2.Roll Call
President Rheault—Clerk please call the roll.
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ROLL CALL—Ten members were present, one absent(Coup. Calabrese).
President Rheault-- 10 present, 1 absent we have a quorum. Councilor Calabrese
will not be in attendance this evening. She hopes to have the cast removed from her leg
by the end of the week and become a little more mobile. •
Item 3.Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance
President Rheault—Please rise for a moment of silence and the pledge of
allegiance.
•
Item 4.Minutes—Executive Session of November 8, 2006
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
Any discussion? If not voice vote is sufficient.All those in favor?
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VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
President Rheault—Opposed?
Item 4.Minutes—Regular Council Meeting of 5/7/07 •
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President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
Any discussion? Corrections? Abstained by Councilor Carr Bitzas and Councilor
Letellier. Voice vote is sufficient. All those in favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous; except 2 abstentions.
President Rheault—Opposed? Approved with two abstentions.
Item 5.Declaration from Council President
President Rheault—1 just want to remind the council that we received our annual
budget and I would hope that the sub-committees schedule as promptly as possible to
fulfill their obligation and notify the remainder of the council when those dates are.
Item 6.Presentation of Petitions, Memorials& Remonstrances
I. Resolutions
TR-2007-15- A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Priscilla D.
Peterson, 51 Monroe St., Aga., MA to the Agawam Veterans' Council to a Term
Expiring April 1, 2009 (Mayor).
President Rheault— So moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor
Magovern. I noticed Mrs. Peterson up there, would you like to address the council,say a
few words?
Priscilla Peterson—Good evening. I am a WWII veteran of the Coast Guard. I
come from a very patriotic family. My twin sister was an Army nurse serving in India for
2 years. My oldest sister a lab technician in the Navy serving in Hawaii. My brother was
in the Air Force in Saipan. Recently while flagging the cemeteries we replaced the flags
which need to be replaced,we were at the Cooper St. cemetery and I don't think many of
us appreciate the fact that these inhabitants dated back to the early 1700's. Its hard to
imagine, in fact you can't imagine what conditions must have been like at that time and
the foresight and the courage that they had. In fact one stone was pretty sad, it was in
• memory of a little girl who war 2 years old who was scalded to death and I thought
wouldn't it be wonderful if somebody should put some flowers on that little grave. But
we didn't see any marker designating the name of the cemetery. So I talked to Marilyn
Curry from the historical society and she said there is no, it's the federal hill cemetery,
with the old documents it was known as the Cooper St. cemetery. You are probably
aware of the fact that the monuments are gonna be dedicated on Memorial Day on the
Veterans' Green with the names of all of the veterans whose home of record was
Agawam and this tremendous undertaking was started.by Ruth Bitzas, when she was the
veterans' agent and has now been completed by Ed Kellogg the retiring veterans' agent. I
want to thank you for extending my term on the veterans' council for two more years and
1 expect to see you all on-the Green Memorial Day,thank you.
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President Rheault—Thank you very much. I don't know of anybody more.
qualified to be re-appointed. Any further discussion?Vocie vote is sufficient. All those in
favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
President Rheault—Opposed?Unanimous. Congratulations again. Thank you for
your time. •
Item 7.Report of Council Committees
None
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Item 8.Elections
None
Item 9.Public Hearings •
(a)
1. PH-2007-4-(TOR-2007.4)(ZC-2007-4)-Newly Prepared Zoning Map for
the Town of Agawam(Ref. to Zoning Comm. on 4/17/07)(Continue Public Hearing from
517107).
President Rheault—We now continue the public hearing. I received a final copy •
of the map, it's the only copy, but every councilor will receive it. Debbie called me today
and there was one minor change that was made on a piece of property that was picked up
by the building inspector and she asked if she should be here tonight and I told her it was
not necessary, I think we are totally satisfied.Anyone who would like to comment
regarding the zoning map from the audience?If not any questions from the council. I'll. •
close the public hearing and what is the council's pleasure?
Councilor Bitzas— So moved.
President Rheault—Moved to adopt by Councilor Bitzas, seconded by Councilor •
Magovern. Any further discussion?If not voice vote, I am sorry a roll call vote, it takes S
votes.
ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 1 ABSENT(Coup. Calabrese).
President Rheault— 10 yes, 1 absent we have approved the acceptance of the
zoning map.
Item 9.2 PH-2007-3-(ZC-2007-3)-Zone Change—to include the Property known as
Rear Main St., Aga.,, MA in the Wireless Telecommunications Overlay Districts as
submitted by Mushy's Golf Center LLC (Continue Public Hearing from 5/7/07).
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President Rheault—And I am now continuing that public hearing and I have been
asked by the attorney representing T Mobile to continue to, extended it to regular
0 meeting, so I told him that I would, so I entertain a motion in that regard.
Councilor Magovern—So moved.
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Magovern to extend it; seconded by
Councilor Bitzas. Any discussion on that? If not we will continue the public hearing until
the next council meeting.
Item 9.3 PH-2007-5-(ZC-2007-5)-V & F Realty Parternship,Rear of 443
Springfield St., Agawam, MA (Conduct Public Heaving),
President Rheault—I now open the public hearing. The petitioner is without
representation because of a conflict on the schedule and asked that it be continued till the
next meeting, which I present to the council and entertain that motion.
Councilor (?)—I make the motion.
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Councilor Magovern—Seconded.
President Rheault—Seconded by Councilor Russo [Rossi]. So it will be continued
till the next meeting.
•
Item 10, Old Business
(a)
1. 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 (Coup. PgM)(Ref. to Ordin. Comm. on 4/17/07)(It Readina)(Tabled on 5/7/07).
President Rheault--Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Motion to remove from the table.
President Rheault_Moved by Councilor Perry to remove from the table,
seconded by Councilor Carr Bitzas. All those in favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
President Rheault—Opposed? The item is off the floor,off the table rather on the
floor. Did you want to say something Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Yes thank you Mr. President. In our last meeting I believe we
gave the reports of the ordinance committee or did we not? I am sure we did.
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Councilor Magovern—The ordinance committee met and we discussed the
proposed ordinance change and because we wanted more information we-chose not to
vote but to wait for the public hearing when Mr. Bolduc was invited to come and give a
further presentation as to the reasons for the expansion of the tanks. So we did not take a
vote but we did have quite a bit of discussion.
President Rheault—Alright. Councilor Perry.
Councilor Perry--Yes thank you Mr. President. At that meeting we discussed the
ordinance itself. Some of the questions that came up were safety. Increasing the gallon
storage 20,000. I did receive a letter and I apologize I do not put that in the packet, so
everyone can read it from the Agawam Fire department. It stated: Dear Mr. Perry, as per
your request for.the fire department's opinion on amending the town code Ch. 180,Art. •
XII, Sec. 180-44-E to provide for maximum storage from 30,000 to 50,000 gallons of
gasoline. Out conclusions are as following: the department has no objections to the
increase in capacity, the state fire marshall's office has no objection to the increase per
telephone conversation with David Bodian on 5/l/07. Recommend that all tanker
deliveries be done during off beat traffic hours. I'll pass that around if anybody wants to
look at that. That's from Chief-Martin. You know I was asked to put this before to the
council by Mr. Bolduc of Pride. He is looking to increase his storage at his business in
Feeding Hills center. One of the things we were looking at and was asked at that sub-
committee meetings was the fact that you know how matey deliveries are made there on a
regular basis, on a daily basis? What's the capacity of the tanker trucks themselves?
Things of that nature and I did have a conversation with Mr. Bolduc, he is present here
this evening and he has that information for us and I would make recommendation to go
into committee as a whole so we can address,he can address those issues to the full
council. Then we can have dialogue with him in regards to any other questions that some
of the councilors might have in regards to this ordinance. To I make a motion to go into !
committee as a whole; seconded by Councilor Magovern.
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Perry to go into committee as a whole,
seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
President Rheault—Opposed? We are now in committee.
Councilor Perry—Mr. Bolduc.
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President Rheault—First reading.
Mr. Bolduc—First I want to thank you all very much for hearing me tonight. I,
my comments are prepared so I will be brief,then I will be able to answer questions. First
I like to state that I am not here to, this change is not for Pride. This change is for the
town of Agawam. I know of no other and we are operating in lots of other cities and
towns.No other town or city that has a cap, a ceiling on the amount of storage. You
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happen to in this town. I am sure its nothing that any of you had anything to do with,but
it happens to'sit at 30,000 gallons. That prohibits gas station from even applying for a
larger quantity and all gas stations, like volume gas station equalized in quantity because
limits to 30,000, some cities we have 60,000. Limited to 30,000 is like threading a needle
every day to get a tanker in there at the right time and very often the tanker has to go in
there at a very busy time, which is a safety hazard. That is why the fire department has
suggested that a change, in fact an improvement,that's why the state fire marshall who is
extremely tough in.fact you should know that the state fire marshall in Massachusetts is
the toughest in the United. States. We have tougher laws here than anybody,than any
other state has. So when he recommends that the limit be raised for the same safety
reasons you are hearing it from a person who is extremely safety conscious.Now by
making this change you will not lose control. This town will not lose control, everyone
still have to apply to the license commission and still has to be signed off by the fire
department and all the other counts,.all the other departments within the town before a
license is granted. All you're doing is changing all we're requesting, is that you change
the by-law so that one can apply. I am suggesting that the 30,000 cap be changed to
50,000. I do not think that's excessive. Like I said I do not know of any other town that
even has a cap. Now the question was asked of me why do you need this?First let me
say, we don't need this because we try to increase the competition. The fact of the matter
is there is a lot of competition in this town now, a lot of competition all over now. And
we have stations in other cities and towns and I am gonna tell you competition is very
fierce. And incidentally, now you didn't like I give you a comment that the price of gas
today, I came that close to testifying before a Government committee this week should be
in Boston, should be in Washington on Wednesday. It turned out they didn't want me
because I wasn't prepared to say that the oil companies were at fault. In fact the oil
companies are not at fault. And I was told my services wouldn't be needed. The fact of
the matter is it's the world trading market, it's the trading on wall street for bringing the
price up, the oil companies are lucky beneficiary of this,but the.fact of the matter is the
• price of gas is where it is today because of the world situation,because of tightness
throughout the world, big pieces in the world economy, in Japan, China, South America
has virtually shut down so a lot of their plants.Nigeria is in a horrible state of unrest and
in our own country there are no new refineries, there is no new pipelines, we are on a
very tenuous situation of supply and demand and that the demand is increasing every
week because people still run big cars, because people drive more, we're a country that
depends on our automobiles, so you have a crunch. Demand going up, supply going
down and then every time there is a problem in the middle east or one of the other
countries then supply comes back, then its just economics 101 supply and demand and
that's why the price is there today. I am sorry to tell you we probably be in the $3 range
for some time. I think you can expect to see at least another 20 cents at the pump for the
next several months and that's it.Now in terms of our deliveries. This shows our
deliveries.....
President Rheault—You are gonna have to speak into a microphone.
Mr. Bolduc—but as you can see these are our deliveries in one week that go into
that station at Feeding Hills station. Yes it's a busy station, its busy because there is
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extreme competition. I don't mind telling you that Stop & Shop is a fierce competitor,
they make their money inside and they use price as an enticement to get people onto their .
lot. We are Pride's policy happens to be to match the lowest prices so we do that,but I
am not the cause of this and I am not trying to run anybody out of business. We're simply
following our policy or matching prices. So you can see Monday we had two deliveries,
Tuesday two, Wednesday two, Thursday two, Friday three, Saturday two and Sunday and
sometimes those come at busy times. The problem is our dispatcher has to time them to
get there at precisely the right time. Because if she gets there an hour soon there is no
room. If she gets there an hour late we've run out. So if it happens to be a busy time and
the intersection is tight up you can still expect to see our tanker because that's what we
have to do. If we had larger storage, we would have a buffer, we could bring it in during
the off peak hours and it would improve safety.both at the intersection and on our lot. Its
as simple as that. I remind you again all you are doing is changing the cap, you are not •
giving us,we still have to jump through all of the hoops with the fire department and
police and DPW and everyone. And Mr. Perry read the approval letter from the fire
department. I have a similar one from the DPW. I can read it to you if you want but that
too says the DPW has absolutely no problem whatsoever with the change in the cap.
Thank you very much. I'Il answer any questions. •
President Rheault—Any questions from the council? Councilor Simpson.
Councilor Simpson--Thank you. I have a couple of questions Mr. Bolduc. #1 on
an estimate; I am sure it'changes from day to day, but per hour haw many gallons of gas to
do you sell?
Mr. Bolduc—You're right it changes from day to day and it changes from time to
time..If you look at a busy day where two or three loads are going through there, a tanker
is 8,500 gallons so two of those is 17,000 gallons,you divide that out its may be about
800 per hour. But that's if you divide it on a 24 hour basis. If you compress that into the
busy times it goes well up over 1,000, 1,500 per hour.
Councilor Simpson-And where, I have heard that you can't let your tanks go
below a certain amount of gas is that true because there could be problems? So what is,
what do you have in reserve?Like when the tankers comes in to fill, how much do you
actually still have in the tank?
A& Bolduc—You pick up a good paint. Based on the laws we only use less than
90%of the tank. You have to keep 10%,the top 10% is blocked out by sensors which
shut down the delivery truck and the tank when you making a delivery when you get up •
to the 90%level everything stops so there is no problem with overfill. By the same token
you can't pump out the bottom 6 or 8 inches because in case there was a contamination
there you wouldn't want to pick it up because any contamination settles in the bottom. So
you are kind of working off the middle of the tank anyway, which further reduces the
availability of the product in the tank.
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Councilor Simpson—And this one you may not be able to answer, I live in
Feeding Hills so I go through the center of town quite a bit, I go to the Pride, actually I go
• to many gas stations whoever is offering the best deal nowadays but you had mentioned
that Stop& Shop as one of your chief competitors..I don't know how they handle it, its
weird, I never see a delivery truck at Stop and Shop and many times I have been at Pride
and the delivery truck is there. So am I, do you know what Stop & Shop's schedule is for
deliveries? Are they still able to do things on off times? It just seems like any time during
• the day you never see the tanker there and I was just kind of curious what makes them
different than you if you feeling competitive with each other.
Mr. Bolduc—That's pretty simple, one we have, we sell diesel fuel and they
don't. And so one of our tanks is set aside for diesel so that reduces the amount we can
use for gas. Second we sell more fuel than they do. So between the two its busy.
Councilor Simpson—And lastly if you were to receive the additional increase in
your storage can you give us a guarantee it will.always be on off hours to alleviate this
problem?I mean are you basically saying unless there is a real run on gas that pretty
much you can go into off hours designated by us to alleviate that problem, because I do
know when those tankers are there its just, its chaos and ...
Mr. Bolduc—It's a mess that's right.
Councilor Simpson—I am just saying if this increases allotted to you can you
guarantee us that you know 98 % of the time the tankers will be thereat off time?
Mr. Bolduc—First you wouldn't allow the increase to me,you would just be
changing the by-law, so that I can apply. The license committee would do that. As for
guaranteeing, I can't guarantee it because there are some times that time just isn't going
• to work but I can guarantee that we will reduce it the majority of the time because we
don't want to go in there busy time either. Its an insured clause for as and a safety hazard,
jams up our own place and we would much rather go in there at off hours. So you have
my word that we will do our very best. That's in fact why we are expending this money.
Keep in mind to put a tank in is about$50,000, we gain nothing from that. Not gonna
gain anymore sales, nothing. We are putting it in to improve the safety ourselves. So
having put that in we are not about to keep going in at the same crazy times. We want to
move it to off peak hours.
Councilor Simpson—Thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Mineo.
Councilor Mineo—Yes the schedule that you have in front of us right now is this
for 30,000 gallons?
• Mr. Bolduc—Yes it is and that's not a schedule. That's what happen last week.
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Councilor Mineo—That's last week, O.k. so ..
Mr. Bolduc—But that's very typical.
Councilor Mineo—o.k. so if you increase to 50,000 gallons then what is the
schedule?
Mr. Bolduc—This is when we have to go in. If we have the additional storage
then we will be able to time it and go in at some of the time that you see.
Councilor Mineo---So you don't know. Know yet, haven't developed a plan yet?
Mr. Bolduc—Oh yes. •
Councilor Mineo--Do you have the increase?
Mr. Bolduc—We have a plan.
•
Councilor Mineo—Then what's the plan?
Mr. Bolduc—Our dispatcher refers to deliver early morning, late at night, at off
peak hours.
•
Councilor Mineo—How many deliveries a day?
Mr. Bolduc—And she will always do that. You still get two a day but they won't
be during peak times. That the volume will not change because we still put a full load in
there. We will just be able to put it in, see right now she is forced to put it in, its like •
threading a needle, when it runs down she has to put it in because there is no buffer,this
will give her a buffer.
Councilor Mineo—So you are still gonna have the same amount of deliveries. But
the times... •
Mr. Bolduc—Yes we will but they won't be during busy times.
Councilor Mineo- ..the times are gonna change.
Mr. Bolduc—We can change them to off peak time which is what we want to do •
also. This allows us to shift, its not gonna change the sales volume or anything else,just
means that when we are really busy we won't have a tanker.'
Councilor Mineo—Thanks.
•
President Rheault—Councilor Bitzas.
12 •
•
Councilor Bitzas — Since you opened the gas station and you seem to be
considered about the traffic in the town as you said, you probably have the gas station
41 easiest to one,we have.tax and dollars, driveway thru.
Mr. Bolduc—Yup.
Councilor Bitzas— We have Subway, we have A& T Machine; how can you do
that when you want to do that? Its really,really bad for the town to have one owner, place
like this the busiest place you have that much traffic that's unbelievable and I think my
opinion sir,by increasing the amount of gallons you are not gonna have the traffic in my
opinion, actually will do increase the traffic because you have an extra truck coming
there. You are going to be selling more gasoline, possibly less price because you buy so
• much. You are going to have people from all over the town cheapest gasoline to come
from Connecticut, Springfield, to break accounts and that's my feel. What you say about
that sir?
Mar. Bolduc—Yes sure I have several answers. First in terms of, this will not
allow us to decrease the price. I tell you we can't decrease the price anymore than we
have now and still have me standing here. The price is set by other factors and that's set
by competitive practice and you want me to say you want me to increase the price?
Councilor Bitzas—You are the business man I am not asking you that.In my
opinion I am in business myself I am worried that its already so good now and you
• continually have the same talking, and the same hours plus another at night. I mean ...
Mr. Bolduc—First we didn't say it would be the first hours plus one at night. We
said the number of-trucks won't change,will stay the same. The difference is instead of
seeing them during the day, you'll see them at night, early morning or late in the evening
• when its not busy. We can bring them in then. Now you got my word, we are not doing
this to increase the price. If anything after spending the $50,000 to put the tank in we
have an incentive to increase the price,not decrease it. The price is not set by the amount
of gas in the ground, if anything else, its set by the competition and I have ... Now in
terms of how busy the station is you had in this town, if you want to talk about
• congestion, where the Dunkin Donuts was across the street did not have the adequate
cueing for cars to come in for the drive up and it was proven that ours had been build for
that, we had 50 parking spaces in the back by code, which we put in several years ago
based on the requirements of this town and those were unused. We also have room to
stack 15 cars back there, which we do and so it was in fact an improvement for the
• Dunkin Donuts to come across the street and traffic experts agreed and the planning
department and the DPW, all agreed it was better to shift it across the street.
Councilor Bitzas—But excuse me sir when you have the parking in the back,not
going to park to get gasoline, go to park to get a cup of coffee, they have a drive thru
there, if they had no drive thru there it would be a different story. I saw people that wait
• ten minutes to get the coffee and the parking lot is empty, so if you like to help us stop
the drive thru. I blame the state, a lot of things not only you but the reception is so bad for
13
•
•
people from Southwick to get gas get left lane, try to cross to the right, the other come to
come out, its such a mess I can't even go there. I never buy gas, if you go for a dollar I •
am not going to go there. Thank you..
Mr. Bolduc—I am not sure I agree with you councilor.
President Rheault—Councilor Letellier. •
Councilor Letellier—This is the second time that you brought this before us and
each time you said this is for the benefit for the whole town. Have any other gas stations
in town joined your request to have the storage increased?
Mr. Bolduc—One, I haven't asked them, two, I don't talk to them.
Councilor Letellier- Have they ever appeared at any of the public hearings and
meetings that we had about this item?
Mr. Bolduc—No but I am not sure they are even involved in it.
Councilor Letellier—O.k. thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Rossi.
•
Councilor Rossi Yes as Councilor Letellier alluded we've had this discussion
before. I think you and I had this discussion personally about what is in the best interest
of the town, I know you made that statement before the sub-committee. I think we talked
about what in your best interest is the amount of fuel storage you have in the ground, that
certainly is in your best interest. I don't think there is any question about that. I don't
really think we are talking about a safety issue over here as everyone tries to, as this
proposes to submit,this is a real safety factor.Nothing has really changed since you have
.been in business up there. The only thing that really has changed is the fact that people
come in and out of your establishment. You have people coming in and out crossing into
traveled lanes,the red lights, people stop at the red light, which causes congestion,
especially at peak hours up there, when they should be going out to the North Westfield
St. side, I don't know, I don't remember if there was a sign there that says not to into that
street or not. I think originally there was supposed to be one there.
Mr. Bolduc—And its still there. •
Councilor Rossi—And I think people go against the sign and I think you are
aware of the fact that they do that. So lets not talk about safety here, because if we are
really concerned about the safety I think you as the proprietor up there would be one to
try to get that thing enforced. That's creating traffic hazards up there. I've gone by there •
and I have seen tanker trucks in your place and I have not seen-any hazards or any safety
issues in the street, either with pedestrians or vehicle traffic, while they in there serving
your facility. So I don't see why you are coming to us, this is strictly from your
•
14
standpoint what you can have personally in the ground, so lets be honest about that. You
are not here in the best interest of the town, you are here in your best interest, because if
• you were you wouldn't be here and you wouldn't be willing to spend $50,000 because its
in the best interest of Agawam. You have control and let me just finish my point, you talk
about your deliveries. Aren't you the person who controls those deliveries?Aren't those
trucks, those trucks belong to you? Is that dispatcher working for you?
Mr. Bolduc—Absolutely.
Councilor Rossi—So isn't it a marketing strategy or a business strategy to have
those things come at a time and it is in your best interest?
Mr. Bolduc—In our best interest...
Councilor Rossi—In the off peak hours?
Mr. Bolduc—But the problem is on busy days because the storage is small we
i have a choice, we say o.k. only bring at off peak hours. That means on a. Friday busy time
or Saturday busy time or whenever, you pick it,were gonna be out of gas. We flat out
are gonna have to say, well we can deliver now because we are waiting to lock peak
hours, that's the problem. That's what I am trying to say. Because the storage is small we
are forced to bring that truck in when we are out of fuel,which is very often at peak times
because there is no other way around it. And yeah we schedule the trucks and we don't
like doing it either but we don't have any choice.
Councilor Rossi—But that scheduling-is not a travel problem for the center. Your
scheduling problem isn't a safety issue for the center.
Mr. Bolduc—I suggest to you when that intersection is busy and we bring a
tanker in there we are adding to the confusion.
Councilor Rossi—WeIl if this council goes ahead and increases the cap from
30,000 to 50,000 gallons I think what we are really doing is we are not keeping your
playing field level here. We are allowing people who can afford to spend the 50,000 or
$60,000 to apply and put in those tanks where others won't be able to do that. Now 1
don't know what the Sunoco gas station across the street, I don't know what their
finances are and I don't know what the Stop & Shop finances are, but assuming that they
are not and you have the storage capacity to go beyond them, what happens to them?
Would you have the ability to drive them out of business? I guess you would.
. Mr. Bolduc—You are flattering me by telling me that I could drive Sunoco or
Stop & Shop out of business.
Councilor Rossi—Well I am not saying that you could I am just using that as a
� Iittle ...
15
Mr. Bolduc—Its not going to happen.
•
Councilor Rossi— What I would like to ...
Mr. Bolduc—Anybody has deeper pockets, its them.
Councilor Rossi—I don't think there is anybody that's which is within the sound
of my voice would disagree with the fact that we have too many service stations as it is
and I don't think increasing the amount of storage capacity in the ground is in the
Agawam's best interest.Now I never heard of an issue of any other service station in this
community and since I have been involved in my previous occupation and here on the
council I have never seen it brought forth by any other person who is in the gas station
business saying that they needed the increase,the capacity because it's a safety concern •
for their business.
Mr. Bolduc—I like to answer that. In fact that brings up why it is a concern for
the town because the fact of the matter is that just as the small pharmacy went out of
business,we all know by the big chains. The small gas stations are slowly closing one at •
the time and we can all think of some that weren't here years ago, were here years ago
but are not here now and so the industry is changing. And so you may very well get
another big player that will put us out of business some day and when you do, that big
player is going to,need the bigger storage also or I'll tell you they will have the very same
problem we have. O.k. and that's the way the world is changing and if people want to buy
their gas inexpensively and they seem to then they will go to the ones who are
competitively priced and law of economics will slowly mean that the small ones
eventually fade away and the big ones need the volume. So that's where its come in for
the town. This may not be the first but I won't be the last.
Councilor Rossi—Thank you. #
President Rheault—Councilor Magovern.
Councilor Magovern-I've driven by the Pride station now for quite some time
and at those peak hours that are listed I've driven by at those hours and I can see
congestion in the pump area with cars trying to get gas. I see the kids going by from
school. I see school busses, I see the track back all the way down the street and I see
tanker trucks trying to make that curve trying to get into that gas.station to put in fuel and
I believe Mr. Bolduc has spoken to them on many occasions you know about this issue
and I don't believe he is going to sell anymore gad but it just makes common sense that if •
you have 50,000 gallons of gas in there vs. 30,000 gallons of gas you are not gonna run
out at 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He'll have enough gas in there to carry you through
5, 6 o'clock so you can get in there with your tankers and fill up at a non-peak hour. And
its just simple arithmetic that you want to eliminate a tanker with 8,500 gallons of
gasoline trying to get through the intersection, give him-more capacity so he doesn't have •
to do it at 3, 4 o'clock in the afternoon. And its as simple as that. I mean he is not going
to sell that much more gasoline. He is not going to put there other stations out of
16 •
•
business. I mean he's got Stop & Shop next door to him which is a strong competitor, its
just a matter of alleviating a traffic congestion in the center of Feeding Hills, which is
already a center of too much traffic congestion. So I see no problem with increasing the
storage,thank you.
President Rheault—Anyone else? If not I'll entertain,do you want to speak?
• Councilor Carr Bitzas— Yes.
President Rheault—Councilor Carr Bitzas,
Councilor Carr Bitzas—Mr. Bolduc looking at your chart there, did I
• misunderstand you? Did you say that if you had 55 in gallons delivered to your place that
you would have the same number of deliveries?
Mr. Bolduc—Yes but they wouldn't be at those times.
Councilor Carr Bitzas— O.k. but I am looking at that, you have about 7, at least 7
I can't see one of them, p.m. designations there, so that already you have deliveries
during the p.m. I have to tell you what I am really concerned about. I shudder to think of
50,000 gallons going into that gas station, I really shudder to think of it and I look at the
ordinance here that says due to change in times the nature of gasoline filling stations,
• self-serving stations have changed. Well life for Americans has changed too and 50,000
on that corner that I drive by very often my husband and I and its constant, I can only
describe it as a nightmare. There are people corning out of your gas station on both sides.
The people are trying to go this way, that way, they are trying to get out,it's a nightmare
up there. I would, I am awful sorry but I really could not support this just for that reason.
It bothers me terribly.
•
Mr. Bolduc—May I comment. I'd like to respond to that.
Councilor Carr Bitzas—I am tired talking about safety to our community.
• Mr. Bolduc—First the 5 0,000 was suggested because it's a round number, we
don't intend putting in storage for 50,000. 1 think we would bring it up to 45 or
something like that. O.k. that's the first thing. The second its not all coming in in one
truck, there is no truck that holds 50,000,the biggest is 85, is 8,000 so its not like you
drive by and you're looking at 50,000. It just has to be there because the room on top, the
• room at the bottom,the different product, you need storage that much so you can safely
store it underground.
Councilor Carr Bitzas — So you have double deliveries?Is that what you would
do?
Mr. Bolduc--What I am saying is, it will ....
17
Councilor Carr Bitzas—Double up your deliveries?
t
Mr. Bolduc—No what I am saying there is they will be the same number of
deliveries, they just want be there at the crazy,busy times that you now see it. We would
be able to bring it during non-peak hours. When you won't have that problem, So when
you go by you may have a busy intersection but you won't have a tanker clogging it up or
trying.to make the turn in or out or congesting up traffic either. Because it already will
have been done during quiet times.That's the only reason we are doing this.
Councilor Carr Bitzas—Well as has been said here tonight by some of the other
councilors, I never heard of anybody, I have been on the licensing board for this is my 6`h
year on the licensing board and I never had any other gas station complain.As a matter a
fact, almost as a little pre-requisite of passing their license looks like you are going to
have deliveries at night, if I am wrong correct me here. But I specifically remember that
when we interviewed people who are applying for licenses, that we specifically bring up
the idea of deliveries, because its very important.
Mr. Bolduc--Mam' what do I do, I could say, I could sit here right now and say
o.k. we make all the deliveries at night, o.k.? I can tell you that.
Councilor Carr Bitzas—You could and we can hold you to it.
Mr. Bolduc—But what happens then when we run out at 10 o'clock in the
morning?
President Rheault--Public Hearing.
Mr. Bolduc—Because the tanks aren't big.enough to hold it,they are not big
enough to get us through the day,that's what I am saying o.k., therefore we run out of...
Councilor Carr Bitzas - ..they'll have to go to another gas station. We have plenty
of them in town, while we wait for the gas to be refilled. I just don't think its good for our
I am sorry.
President Rheault—Any new further questions? Councilor Simpson.
Councilor Simpson—Thank,you. I just, I could be way off, I just kind of put
together quickly and you probably have a better handle you should on this given some of
the numbers that you quoted to me earlier in the evening. Just doing a quick calculation
of taking an average, because I know every time a car comes in, everyone doesn't
completely fill up, some people are half full,three quarters full,whatever,topping off,
whatever. But I have here that it comes down to an estimated that you get about 75 cars
per hour,which in a 12 hour period of time is approximately 900 cars. If you take an
average of each car taking 20 gallons of gas that means in a 12 hour period you are using
about 18,000 gallons of gas, which leaves approximately 12,000 left over in your tanks.
Now I know you said you can't drain it to the bottom but is 12,000 close to where you
•
18
TOR.-2007- S
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF
AGAWAM, CHAPTER 180 ARTICALE VM SECTION 180-44-E,
MAYJM JM ALLOWED GALLONS OF GASOLIE STORAGE.
(SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR DENNIS J. PERRY)
WHEREAS; The code of the town of Agawam chapter 180 article VIH
i section 180-44-E currently states that the maximum allowed storage of
gasoline on premises is 30,000; and
WHEREAS, Due to changing times, the nature of gasoline filling stations
and self-service stations have changed; and
WHEREAS, The majority of these service stations have multiple uses, i.e.
Fast Food.services, Groceries, ATM Services, Lottery, and Drive thru
Services; and
WHEREAS, The location of many of these stations are in heavy traffic
area's; and
WHEREAS, Due to fluctuating gas prices, demand of gasoline at these
multi-purpose stations has increased; and
WHEREAS, Due to this increase in demand, tanker truck deliveries to these
locations has increased; and
•
WHEREAS, Increasing the maximum amount of gasoline storage at these
locations would reduce the number of tanked truck deliveries; and
W-HEREAS, By reducing the number of dcliveries to these locations would
greatly reduce.the potential of traffic problem and possible accidents.
NOW THEREFORE the Agawam City Council hereby amends that the code
of the Town of Agawam Article VIH, section 180-44-E be changed from:
"Provided that not more than 30,000 gallons of gasoline shall be stored on
the premises." To: "Provided that not more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline
shall be stored on the premises".
•
need to stop or could you pump more out of your tanks than when you get down to about
12,000 left.Because this is in a 12 hour period. I am sure it fluctuates. I am sure some •
days the hours is more and some days its less but I am getting you at, after 12 hour period
about 12,000 gallons should be left.
Mr. Bolduc—Well keep in mind, you have three products there, so its not all one
product. If it was all one big tank that would be easy but we have to have separated
products for the different octane's as well as diesel, so that doesn't leave enough for all of
them, that's the problem o.k. You have to...
Councilor Simpson--How much..
Mr. Bolduc—divide that my the number of products,which gets you down there •
significantly.
Councilor Simpson--Within a 12 hour period o.k. I mean o.k. back it down to 10
and you still got I am just the numbers just don't,because I am sure some days just like I
said I am sure some days you don't, may be you only get 40 cars per hour. And on other
days you may get 100 depending on the day, the time of year, holidays, vacation.
Mr.Bolduc—If you're saying that your numbers indicate that we don't have a
problem then I am saying there is something wrong with your numbers, because there is a
problem there.
Councilor Simpson--Well I am going from a number you gave me of how much
you sell in an hour. So...
Mr. Bolduc—Yeah I think those are averages that are just not working out.
•
President Rheault—I think we've had enough discussion to make an intelligent
decision, I entertain a motion to come out of committee as a whole. Moved by Councilor
Perry, seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous. •
President Rheault—Opposed? We're out of committee, thank you Mr. Bolduc.
What is the council's pleasure for the first reading as attached?(Please see attached).
Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by? Sorry. Councilor Mineo. Any further
discussion? If not if you are in favor, you want to speak again councilor?
Councilor Rossi—Yes I would. I just wanted just tough briefly here on my
thoughts on this. I don't think that raising the cap here is in the best interest of this
community. I am sure its in Mr. Bolduc's best interest and I,he is here to present his own
interest and I can't fault him for that. He is a business man and he wants to do whats in •
his best interest, but raising the cap from 30,000 to 50,000 is not in the best interest of
Agawam. If you take the gasoline stations just on Springfield Street and you started at the
19 •
E
DATED THUS------------------- DAY OF-----------------------2007 .
• PER ORDER OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCEL.
Donald M. R eault, President
•
TAPED A5 T FORM AND LEGALITY
d
• Vi cent F ioscia, Solicitor
•
•
•
•
•
•
Agawam bridge and went to Feeding Hills center,the distance of about 2 miles, 21/z
miles, you find 8 gasoline stations. I think that's just a little over the top. But 2 of those •
gas stations, in all fairness, have gone out of business now because they are just too
small to compete. And I think that's what we are gonna wind up down the road, we are
gonna wind up with a bunch of gas stations just too small to compete. You take the gas
station over there on Main St. who don't, doesn't sell gas anymore, he strictly reduced it
to a repair business,because he just can't compete anymore in the gasoline business with
some of those bigger businesses. And as far as these deliveries, staggering these
deliveries,Mr. Bolduc is a very,very good businessman, he owns those tanker trucks, he
schedules those tanker trucks and I am sure that Mr. Bolduc is not gonna allow his people
the schedule when its not the best interest to be scheduled, unless there is an unfortunate
situation. I am sure they do arise, but under the normal course of business he is doing his
best, believe me,to keep those out of there during peak times. So I don't think its going
to be in the best interest of Agawam and.I think it would be very wise for this council to
reject this.
President Rheault—Councilor Letellier.
Councilor Letellier—Yes thank you. The reason I brought up the point whether
any stations have joined Mr. Bolduc in his request I think is an important reason, is that
both times Mr. Bolduc has come before this council,he's indicated that this was for the
benefit of the town and for the benefit of his fellow gas station owners. Well if that were
the case we would have heard from the fellow gas station owners saying yes we need
this, yes please pass it. I think that's one point. Second with regard to peak and off peak
hours, I would think with the exception overnight there are no off peak hours at that
intersection. Yes there are times when there is school bus traffic but there are, I mean I
never been to that part of Feeding Hills where there hasn't been traffic, whether its
midday, after school,before school, after dinner, so I don't know how higher gallons
protect the town by having off peak deliveries, because he is gonna need two per day
anyway. He's admitted that and if you have more gallons you need more tankers to fill up
those more gallons and I don't think there really is an off peak unless he gives you
everything between midnight and 6:00 A.M. and I don't think that's possible either
because he said to us he needs two a day. So I don't see how that benefits the town of •
Agawam and I don't see how it increases our safety,thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas—Yes I be short. I agree with the previous speakers and I am
strongly against that and my opinion is as I asked before the gentleman you never going
to make it easier, make it a lot worse, because the more gas we have, ballpark,buy a lot
...sell more, you can get better prices and better.prices can attract more people from the
surrounding communities and that will bring more traffic on our streets and especially
that intersection, which is one of the worst in town and I hope, start today and the state
representative will do something about and start to put the town and the state to make the
intersection a little better, this will make it worse,thank you.
20
•
President Rheault--Councilor Perry,
!_ Councilor Perry—Yes thank you Mr. President. In listening to some of the
dialogue with Mr. Bolduc and I thank him for coming here this evening and some of the
questions in regards to the safety issues, I firmly believe it would definitely cut down on
the risk of these tankers going in and out of there. I live right up in Feeding Hills, I go by
there every day. I see the tanker trucks in there. I know what its like when they are in
there as far as the traffic. We speak about the traffic going in and out of that business
right now, when the tanker is in there its ten times worse, believe me, I've been there. In
regards to some of the comments of the business itself with the Dunkin Donuts drive-
thru, the ATM, the Sub-Way,the man is in business. He pays taxes in this town o.k., the
planning board approved all the plans. The town has allowed him those businesses inside
his business, we have allowed that our town. Our planning board has done that.The town
has created the traffic jam up there.To penalize Mr.Bolduc for this is wrong. He's done
everything the planning board has asked, the direction of the traffic,the sign so on and so
forth. He can't be held accountable for that,the town has allowed him to do that. On the
safety issues as far as the storage of the gasoline there, you have the 8,000 gallons every
. time a tanker truck is there, no matter what time. The chief, the fire chief in town has said
there is no added danger with the 20,000 more gallons of gasoline being there. The state
fire marshal has said there is no problem with 20,000 gallons more storage there from the
safety standpoint,there is no additional danger. That's from a fire chief, and a state fire
marshal. So to think that there is a problem there safety wise I beg to differ and along
with the traffic. This is a businessman in town, he is growing his business. Every business
is competition. When you are in business you do things to beat your competition,to gain
more business, is that part of it? Of course it is, I be foolish if I said it wasn't. He is trying
to grow his business. When I wrote this ordinance,this change, that's before you, I tried
to explain to you times are changing. The gasoline station, you don't have the Texaco
guys come out clean your windshield anymore and pumping your gas. That's long gone.
• People pump their own gas nowadays,when they go there. It went from a convenience
store gas station to convenience store to a multi convenience store. Now you have
supermarkets that have them. We allowed Stop & Shop right down the street to have
them. I didn't want that one there, I voted against it, check the record. As far as the
number of gas stations in town,the same ordinance that we are talking about as far as the
* storage also limits the number that we can have in town, which is 20. I checked with Nick
Urbinati, we only have 17 licenses out there now for gas stations so we reduced it by
three. Why? Because its changing. The types of stores that sell gasoline and the way
gasoline is sold nowadays is just not gasoline, its not a service station where you go in
and get your car worked on, fill your gas up and get your oil change. Its all changing
people and we have to change with the times and to grow these businesses and keep these
businesses in town I mean we have a hard enough time keeping you know getting
business here, lets keep it here, lets work with the business men. So I fully support this
this evening. I hope that you will also,thank you.
President Rheault.--CounciIor Magovern.
21
0
Councilor Magovern—I don't think that 30,000, 50,000 gallons is gonna make a
bit of difference as far as the dollar revenues of the Pride gas station in the center of /
Feeding Hills:However, the next time any of the councilors drive by that service station
between 3:30 and 4:30 and you see a bottle neck and you see a tanker truck and you see
all the cars backed up and the safety hazards associated with having a tanker truck sit
there, remember it was your vote that put that 8,000 gallons of gasoline in the middle of
the intersection because as he said if he can get the added storage tank he will not have to
fill at 3:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon,which is the worst time of the day that you could
possibly do it. So I for one would like to drive through that intersection and not see the
tanker trucks but your vote this evening can say, are you gonna see tanker trucks there
between 3:00 and 4:30 or at 6:30, 7 o'clock. And that's all I've got to say on the issue.
President Rheault—Councilor Mineo anything new?
Councilor Mineo—Yes just that I am gonna support it. I think that, you know I
think its increasing it if they can get, make the deliveries at different hours I think its in
the best interest of the town and safety. I mean he's come through all of the hoops and I •
am gonna support it. And he is in business.
President Rheault—Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas—Thank you. Just to one, to answer some of the criticism, when
you drive by there and my vote be no tonight and I forgot what councilor said to blame us 0
the no vote, I think is not to blame us it will be a lot worse and I guarantee it, because I
figure it show there and the gentleman said not going to change those hours but increase
more traffic and the more gas we have there and the more traffic we would get there, the
price will go lower to beat competition. We don't drive our, as another councilor said out
to beat the gentleman,he make enough money and God bless him I walk his business •
down there but is other business drove out of town because of some other big fish? So
lets talk about the businesses because the older companies they close to the small
companies,they work for the competition. So lets think about the Mom& Pop store
because those small store they disappear. So you can vote the way you want to vote,your
conscience, but I believe by increasing that we open a can of worms, people come from 0
all over the state, from different states for the low gas stations,the low prices and it is the
low prices,more gas, more tanks and more traffic and remember me that, thank you.
President Rheault—I think we've had enough discussion. If you are in favor of
the ordinance as amended, as attached, vote yes for the first reading, if no vote no,will
the clerk please call the roll.
ROLL CALL—5 YES (Coup. Magovern, Mineo, Perry, Simpson, Young), 5 NO (Coup.
Bitzas, Carr Bitzas, Letellier, Rheault, Rossi), 1 ABSENT(Coon. Calabrese).
President Rheault—5 yes, 5 no, 1 absent you defeated the first reading. !
22
Item 10;2 TO-2007-12. Application for sixty-nine (691_automatic amusement devices
for Six Flags New England, 1623 Main Street, Agawam.MA
•
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
Any discussion on the applications?
Councilor Bitzas—Yes.
President Rheault—Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas—Yes report then the rest of it.
Councilor Simpson—Can I go?
President Rheault—O.k. Councilor Bitzas-Simpson.
Councilor Bitzas—No I want to hear the report first before I make comments.
Councilor Simpson—Oh my gosh. O.k. at the end of our last meeting when some
discussion was brought up regarding a new company taking over the automatic devices at
Six Flags. At this point in time he said that the company is taking over and buying
everything that's listed on here. So nothing has changed as far as devices. At some point
the new company may eliminate some of the devices and bung in some new, if they bring
• in new they will come back to us with the new revised games but at this point right now
the only thing that has changed is the company that owns these devices. If you look at the
licenses under Six Flags is not under any device company. So right now everything is
status quo with this and if they add new games they will come back to us with a new
application for those. So everything that's on this list is current and what is going to be
used at the time being.
President Rheault—Do you move all 69?
Councilor Bitzas—Yes. Again a question through the chair. When was the last
time that the committee visit Six Flags to see all the 69 are the same games there, the
same machines?
. Councilor Simpson--Well that's what the police department does and goes in and
inspects and checks them off. We've never gone and ...
Councilor Bitzas—That's fine, o.k.
President Rheault—Alright.Any other questions on here? Clerk please call the
roll, if you are in favor of the application vote yes.
ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 1 ABSENT(Coup. Calabrese).
• 23
President Rheault— 10 yes, 1 absent you have approved the application.
i
Item 10 3 TOR-2007-6'An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the Town of Agawam
Zoning Ordinances by Adding a New Article XVIIL "Teniporary Parking." (Mayor)f .Ref.
to Zoning and Ordinance Comm. on 5/7/07)(0 Reading)(EMERGENCY PREAMBLE.
.President Rheault- Its been referred over to the planning board,that's where it •
sits right now. There is a correction that we need to make to amend the ...
Councilor Bitzas—Last paragraph.
President Rheault— Yes, alright if you look at your introduction to the ordinance
it says the city council by a majority of those present and voting,that paragraph needs to
be removed. Do we need to remove the whole...
Councilor Bitzas—Make the amendment Mr. President.
Councilor Letellier—I am sorry, point of information. Could you just be a little
clearer what we are placing before George moves the question? .
President Rheault—Yeah I am just looping myself here. The,we are not the
petitioner, the zoning board is. The planning board is the petitioner, they voted to be the
petitioner.
Councilor Letellier—I am sorry, point of, are you looking at the memorandum or
the actual TOR?
Councilor(?)—TOR. •
President Rheault--The TOR-2007-6.
Councilor LetelIier—O.k.
•
President Rheault--Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas—Mr. President yeah I can make the amendment and the council
needs six votes to pass the amendment but needs eight votes to pass ...
President Rheault—The ordinance.
Councilor Bitzas—the ordinance,which tonight we are not going to vote for the
ordinance,tonight we are going to vote for the amendment. Because was wrong
presented to us and see the last paragraph say now therefore the Agawam city council
hereby resolves and ordains as follows.'We have to get the city council by majority vote
hereby for the zoning amendment which will amend chapter 18 etc. What we strike out is
of those present and voting and to be the petitioner. No need to be the petitioner city
24 •
council because the planning board already be the petitioner and they have the last
meeting last week I believe and they agreed to have it together a combined public
• hearings July, June 4th. So make the amendment to strike out of those present and voting
and be the petitioner. So it reads the city by a majority vote hereby votes for the zoning
amendment, which will amend Ch. 180 entitled zoning by deleting the current transit
park in language 180-44F and even new Art. 101518 (?)temporary parking as set forth in
the attached Exhibit A. So by vote by 6 we amend it and be legally go for the next
meeting and we need 8 votes to pass it.
Councilor(?)—What did he say?
President Rheault—Everybody got that? No.
• Councilor Perry—Point of Information.
President Rheault— Clarification point.
Councilor Perry—The city council by majority you can't have that it takes 2/3's.
Its got to be the city council by 2/3's.
Councilor Bitzas---No.
Councilor Perry—This is the amendment we are voting on George. You can't
• add..
Councilor Bitzas—Excuse me councilor.
Councilor Perry—that in there. The majority would be for us to be the petitioner,
it takes 6 votes to be the petitioner, if you say majority that makes 6 votes passes it and it
can't. No ...
Councilor Bitzas—Through the chair.
• Councilor Perry-ordinance, it has to be 2/3's George.
Councilor Bitzas—No sir. Its by procedure 2/3 change the zoning. Any
amendment to any ordinance it needs only 6 votes. The amendment but pass for the final
ordinance and its 8 votes.
Councilor Letellier—Point of Information. It's the same ordinance. You are
asking to amend it.
President Rheault— Correct.
• Councilor Letellier—You need 6 votes to amend the draft.
• 25
Councilor Bitzas—Exactly.
Councilor Letellier--But 8 votes to pass the first reading and so on and so forth.
Councilor Bitzas—That's correct councilor.
Councilor Letellier. —I know I am right. So its not majority. I don't think we need
to put how many people voted for it either it passes or it doesn't. The city council hereby 0
votes to amend ...
President Rheault—Correct.
Councilor Magovern—If I am understanding that's correctly, we are voting#1 on •
the emergency preamble so that we can discuss it tonight.
President Rheault—No the emergency preamble has been withdrawn by the
mayor.
•
Councilor Magovern—O.k. so how do we move it from new business to old
business so that we can talk about it?
Councilor Letellier—It is under old.
•
Councilor Magovern—.Oh it is under old o.k.
Councilor Rossi—Can I have a little clarity here please.
President Rheault—We don't have a preamble because you would have skipped •
and it would have been adopted that same night 2/3 approved it. Councilor Rossi.
Councilor Rossi—If I may. Why do we even need this? Originally the city council
was gonna vote to be the petitioner on this.
President Rheault—Right.
Councilor Rossi—We are not going to be the petitioner, the ..
President Rheault—That's correct.
•
Councilor Rossi-planning board has voted to be the petitioner. Why do we even
need this?
President Rheault—I don't see where we do.
Councilor Bitzas—May. I clarified?
26
Councilor Rossi—I don't know why we even need it.
Councilor Bitzas—Yes we need because as ... Councilor saying we have to,
that's why I asked to amend to take the petitioner out and leave to vote for zoning
amendment which will amend Ch. 18. Otherwise you can't change the, its an ordinance,
We can't, we cancel then the ordinance.
Councilor Rossi—I understand that but this TOR-2007-6 was for the city council
to be the petitioner. We are not going to be the petitioner on this, this makes this moot, it
means nothing.
Councilor Bitzas —Correct.
Councilor Rossi—It means absolutely nothing so what are we amending?
Councilor Bitzas—To take it out the word of the petitioner so we can win time,
you have to do it again, because otherwise you put the same thing on the paper here next
week it be under new business. If you want to do that fine can do it. But tonight we can
leave it by adding, by deleting that to be all set. It's so simple. So we amend this, take out
the petitioner, otherwise you do it over again ...
President Rheault—Councilor LetelIier has the right, I think Councilor Letellier
had the right language, surely.
•
Councilor LetelIier—For point of clarification would you just like me to read
what I think it should say?
President Rheault—Yes.
•
Councilor LetelIier—O.k. so you are looking at the last paragraph, you are
keeping the city council o.k., you are then deleting by a majority of those present and
voting, between the two commas delete that, o.k. you are keeping here votes to, keeping
those three words and then you are deleting be the petitioner for the zoning amendment
which will.
Councilor Bitzas—That's correct councilor.
Councilor Letellier— So it reads the city council hereby votes to amend, Chapter
• yes.
President Rheault—Correct. We don't need the petitioner or anything in there?
We don't need...
Councilor Rossi—Point of Order.
•
President Rheault—Yes your point.
i 27
Councilor Rossi—This thing was sent back to the planning board to be the
petitioner.
President Rheault—That's correct.
Councilor Rossi--And until we hear from the planning board this council can't
take any action on anything.
President Rheault—That's correct.
Councilor Rossi—We cannot take any action. This we can't take back on that,we
can't take on anything until we hear from the planning board,this is moot. i
Councilor Letellier—Point of Information. We can discuss it,however we cannot
vote on it.
Councilor Bitzas—Exactly. •
President Rheault—Right, well...
Councilor Rossi—Well my point is it was send back to the planning board for
them to act as the petitioners and until we hear back from the planning board this council
can't take any action on this measure.
Councilor Bitzas—And point of information Mr. President. We are not asking to
take any action tonight to change the ordinance councilor. Tonight we do correcting the
language that Councilor Letellier as a lawyer corrected down here by deleting o.k. so its
so simple. We are not going to action into the ordinance, because we have to go public
hearing for ...action but we do we amend it to make it correct, because this is send to us
wrongly. The wrong language there.
President Rheault—That's correct.
•
Councilor Bitzas—Thank you..
President Rheault—It is wrong from our law department.
Councilor Rossi—Mr. President this is still on our agenda under old business, so •
we are not losing any ground here.
President Rheault—No.
Councilor Rossi—All we need to do is just continue to table this thing until we
hear from the planning board. Why do we need to do anything?
28
Councilor Bitzas—We amend it then table.
'President Rheault--And I...
Councilor Letellier—Perhaps we can consider a suggested amended proposal for
the planning board so that we can get beyond that and now talk about the substance so
these people get some sense of what we're thinking.
i
President Rheault—So what do you want to do?
Councilor Letellier—There is no need to make a motion because we are going to
continue it and we can't vote on it but I think that President Rheault can certainly bring
back to the law department the changes that we believe need to be made for us to vote on
it. But we can't vote on even the amendment tonight,we can discuss things and I think
these people should at least be entitled to hear what our initial thoughts are on some of
this stuff because we can discuss it just not vote on the first reading until we get the
planning board item. Its not a public hearing, its an ordinance. If it was a public hearing
that would be one thing,you don't want to tell a public hearing until you hear from the
planning board, but we can discuss the way its written now and the planning board can
have some sense of what our thoughts and concerns are.
President Rheault—Well,they,I haven't got any in writing from the planning
board whether they approve this or not or from what I understand in my discussion with
• the mayor today they have approved but I haven't got anything in writing.
Councilor Bitzas—Point of Information Mr. President.
President Rheault— Secondly they are looking for a joint public hearing for June
4'h between the planning board and the council to expedite this and I don't know if the
time frame fits. Pardon?
Councilor Letellier- ...speaking w/o a microphone.
0 President Rheault—That's what I said I don't know if the time frame fits.
Councilor Bitzas—Mr. President I agree with you. I believe I have a ...session ...
we met today in the morning and the mayor said to us the planning board they approve it
and they suggest that we have together public hearing so the council can combine public
0 hearings. So what we do today here is not to vote, may be be yes, vote may be no,vote in
the future, we know, we have to discuss this thing. Cannot take a vote before the public
hearing. What we are doing today we are correcting the ordinance, we don't vote for the
ordinance, we vote for the correction,because the council feels correct to be the
petitioner, that's what we are doing,to correct the ordinance.
0 President Rheault—The council will be sending it back to the law department,
have it done correctly, why should we guess back and forth.
r 29
Councilor Magovern—I like to ..
President Rheault—Councilor Magovern.
Councilor Magovern--and that is when we send it back to the law department so
that we have everything in a row for the next meeting, is there anything we can do to try
to alleviate the problem with these residents sitting out here and try to get that parking lot
up there so that they are not parking cars?
President Rheault—The procedure...
Councilor Magovern—I know we are trying to make a new ordinance...
President Rheault--That sounds good but we've got procedures to go by
unfortunately.
Councilor Magovern—Under the old ordinance is there any way of interpreting it i
so that we can mediate some of these problems that these people are going and there's got
to be some ordinance that says people cannot urinate in your front yard.
President Rheault—They are being, from my understanding is that the owner of
that property are being fined and we had a discussion last Friday and legally that's the i
procedure that we are following. Until this new ordinance is drafted then it.gives the
police the authority to enforce.
Councilor Magovern—I empathize with these neighbors as far as the destruction
to their property.
President Rheault—We all do, unfortunately we are bound by laws and
procedures to follow and yes Councilor Simpson.
Councilor Simpson- Thank you. Actually did you have your light on before me?
Would you like to go before me?
Councilor Rossi--Go ahead.
Councilor Simpson—O.k. I have an issue which I was going to bring up at our
other speak time but since we are discussing this now I am going to bring this up now. 0
When the citizens out there spoke about the issues and the problems that they are having,
it came back, flooded back to my memory back in September when the transient parking
issue reared its head and the little red church as we all know across from the high school
was sent a letter saying if they allow students to park there was transient parking and they
would be fined$100 a day if... •
President Rheault—That's correct.
30 •
M
Councilor Simpson--they do not comply. Why is this guy not being fined 100
bucks a day if the church was sentenced with the same problem and caused the class of
2008 not be able to park why is he getting away and not being fined?
President Rheault—I believe he is.
Councilor Simpson—Is he paying the fine?
President Rheault—I don't know.
Councilor Simpson- So this guy is willing to spend out$100 for every day that he
is parking there, starting next week they will be open every day.
President Rheault—Do the math.
Councilor Magovern - $100 a day is operating expenses.
• Councilor Simpson— So my problem is right now and I be very brief because we
have been here for a while, while discussion is,there is a lot of disparity that he is
allowed to do that and fined and the class of 2008 was given a disservice too because the
church couldn't afford 100 bucks a day and those kids locked out but yet this guy can
cause havoc down there and nothing is done about it. So I have a really big problem right
• now and I say something if there is problems with people isn't and we have an ex police
officer, public urination isn't that against the law?
Councilor Rossi—That's right.
i Councilor Simpson—'Yes there is a lot of things going down there that our police
department needs to go down there and take care of and yet the church was threatened
and threatened many times and its not fair.
President Rheault—Councilor.
Councilor Rossi--We have on our books right now an ordinance about parking,
open air parking and you are absolutely right the fine is $100 a day. What we really need
to do to correct this problem is just increase the fines. We can increase it to $1,000 a day,
we can increase it to $100 per car a day, we can do anything we want for the Iicensing
authority, we make the laws in this community. But besides that beyond all of that the
town just issuing these guys the civil infractions and I use that term,the civil infractions
and not doing anything about it, these guys gladly paying the $100 because he is making
far, far beyond $100 a day. What we need to do is grab this guy and get him into court
because there is a contempt there. I mean it's like a parking meter. You go and get a
ticket, you can't continue to leave your car there. I mean after a while there has to be
• some enforceable action, but apparently no one wants to take that kind of action up in
that law department but I think we can solve all of our problems very simply and we
• 31
don't really need and do a lot of ordinance changes and everything, all we simply do is
create a bigger penalty. Make it not so attractive for this guy. If this guy is parking 100
cars over there and I am using that as a figure, may be its 50 and he is paying$100 for
every car, I don't think he is gonna want to be parking there very long. I think sooner or
later at$100 per car per day,he is gonna get the message he can't park there.Now, I
don't know what his zoning is but I see T.J.'s Sporthouse was represented here today,
they are a business zone. They can apply for business under Business A open air parking.
You can go to the board of appeals and apply to have parking.Now I am guessing to the
person that we are talking about here is in Residence A.
Member of audience— Industrial A.
Councilor Rossi—Industrial A. So I think those are all the issues you need to look
at. What is his zoning, does the zoning and I think we need to look at those kinds of
things and look at the enforcement end of it. Yes I think there is things that should be
done, I think there is things that can be done.
Councilor Letellier—My light is on,I'll address that.
President Rheault—Councilor Letellier.
Councilor Letellier—Yes thank you. This matter first came to us in ordinance
form last year during the Big E and it was the consensus of the council that the council
was in favor of civic and charitable groups able to raise money by having parking at the
police station,the middle school,the Rocky parking lot. So when this came before us
during the Big E last year we sent it back and said no, we don't want transient parking,
what we want is something that allows civic and charitable groups to continue to have the
Big E parking. My really clear recollection and I'll try to find my notes is that we didn't
want transient parking for all the reasons that the people on Main St. are complaining
about but we wanted to crack an exception for the civic and charitable groups that were
parking at the Big E. Then this comes to us on an alleged emergency when they had 8
months to look at this since the Big E last year and I am going to have a hard time
supporting any transient parking. If there is gonna be some special permit,there has to be
in the special permit by-law ordinance some sort of mechanism if there are complaints
and the complaints are found to be valid that their special permit gets pulled because we
are not protecting these people at all and someone is going to get hit and its gonna be our
fault. Never mind the damage to their personal property and public and never mind the
damage to their real estate values. So my suggestion is the same suggestion we made last
year that if you want to have transient parking.you do it for civic and charitable reason
that allows you to have the Big E with all of the groups to have their parking and we
don't allow transient parking or if we do we do as Bobby says and you make the violation
per car.
President Rheault- That's in the ordianance.
Councilor Letellier—No not per day,per car.
32
i
President Rhea-alt--Its in the ordinance per vehicle$100.
•
Councilor Letellier—Well then we need like Jill said we need support.
President Rheault—In the new one change proposed.
! Councilor Letellier—But I am still a whole lot in favor if we do transient parking
if we do transient parking that we do like we said last year, which is make it for the Big E
and make it for civic and charitable organization. Because there is no ordinance that we
are going to draft that is gonna keep people, unless we have a police officer standing in
front of that address,making sure people aren't urinating, making sure people aren't
crossing the street, making sure aren't disposing the trash. How do we enforce it?How
do we enforce it?
President Rheault—The, well,we're back to square one. To want to amend this
language now or do you want to send it back to the law department let them draft it back
! in proper form? Its not gonna change anything, its gonna change on the agenda,right
where it is as a first reading so we need to move to table this. Councilor LetelIier moved
to table, seconded by Councilor Rossi, Councilor Magovern. All those in favor?
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
President Rheault—Item is tabled until next meeting.
Item 10.4 ' TO-2007-13-Renewal of Junk Dealer License: John Rosati d/b/a John's
Trucker of Agawam. Inc. 415 Silver St., Aga., MA and T's Jeweleer—Zinoyy G.
Tokman, 559 Springfield Sty FH_MA.
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor LeteIier; seconded by Councilor Perry.
Any discussion? Clerk please call the roll.
ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 1 ABSENT (C.oun. Calabrese).
•
"President Rheault— 10 yes, 1 absent, approved, renewal for both.
Item 11. New Business
(a)
! 1. TR-2007-16- A Resolution Adopting the Fiscal Year 2008.2012
Capital Improvement Program (Set Public Hearing Date=Suggest June 18,
2007)(Mayor).
President Rheault—Anybody with a problem with that? We don't have any
. choice that's our deadline,
33
•
I_tem.11.2 TR-2007-17-A Resolution Adopting the Fiscal Year 2008 Annual
Operating Budget for the Town of Agawam.„(Sat Public Hearing Date—Suggest June 1$ •
200 Ma or .
President Rheault—Everybody has the instructions to get all your committees
together and do our groundwork on that. That's public hearing suggested as June 18t`.
•
Item 11.3 TR-2007-18-A Resolution to Present to the General Court Proposed
Amendments to the Communes Preservation Act_ Coun. Bitzas).
President Rheault—Next agenda.
Item 11.4 TR-2007-19- A Resolution Authorizing the Agawam Communitv
Preservation Committee to spend$248,757.00 for the Acquisition, Preservation,
Rehabilitation and Restoration of Historic Resources and for the Acquisition, Creation,
Preservation and Su art of Communily Housing as Provided for under the Communi
Preservation Act.
•
President Rheault—Next agenda.
Item 11.5 TR-2007-20- A Resolution Authorizing the Agawam Community_
Preservation Committee to spend$3,000.00 for the Acquisition, Preservation,
Rehabilitation and Restoration of Historic Resources as Provided for under the Historic •
Resources Section of the Community Preservation Act.
President Rheault—Next agenda.
Item 11.6 TR-2007-21=A.Resolution Confirming the Reaptpointment of Francis J. •
Curnow, 115 Forest Hill Rd., FH, MA to the Agawam Veterans' Council to a Term
Expiring April 1, 2009(Mayor).
President Rheault -Next agenda.
•
Item 11.7 TR-2007-22- A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Lease
Agreement for use of Pro Located at 733 Main St. Agawam, MA by the Head Start
Pro rgram.
President Rheault—Next agenda.
•
Item 111.8 TR-2007-23-A Resolution to Accept an Easement from Jennifer C.
Beane for Property Located at 33 Liberty Ave. Aga., MA to Provide Water Service to
the School Street Park Mayor).
President Rheault—Next agenda. ;
34 •
r
Item 11.9 TOR-2007-3-An Ordinance to Amend Sec. 49-7 of Ch. 49 of the Code of
the Town of Agawam (Pres.RheaultL
•
President Rheault—That should go to the finance committee and show back on
the next agenda.
Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the city council
•
President Rheault—Just before I start I want to remind everybody that Memorial
Day is coming and all those that are going to march please show up at the, what is it
Southwick Paper. I think its 3/ 10. There will be Cadillac's waiting for everybody.
Councilor at the furthest end, Councilor Young. Anything?
•
Councilor Young—Nothing this evening thanks.
President Rheault—Councilor Rossi?
Councilor Rossi - ...
President Rheault—Councilor Simpson?
Councilor Simpson—Nothing.
President Rheault—Councilor ...
Councilor Bitzas—Nothing thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Carr Bitzas.
i
Councilor Carr Bitzas—Although there won't be Cadillac's waiting but there will
be a 2,500 named honor roll on Veterans.Green. As you know many people in town
especially the veterans are aware that veterans council, my office, Dianne Moreau and I, I
had the idea of the honor roll. We did all the research, we had a committee, we had all
• kind of dinners, golf tournaments, sold candles, had breakfast at the senior center and
99% of the money was raised by our group, veterans council. So hopefully you all come
out on Monday, the big veterans parade on Memorial Day and honor our veterans and
also honor all the veterans who entered the military from Agawam and you'll see their
name. Hurry up and come with us now.
•
President Rheault—Councilor Magovem.
Councilor Magovern—I just wanted to reiterate what Councilor Bitzas, Carr
Bitzas just said about the memorial plaques on the veterans green. They are indeed
. impressive. I stopped by last night, took a look at them,to see all the names there,you'll
recognize a lot of names that are still around town and had fought in the early wars and
its very impressive. As far as coming to the parade,I can remember when I was younger
• 35
•
it was one of the very first memories of Agawam with the Memorial Day parade and I
think as you come bring your children and you never know what kind of impression you •
can leave on a younger generation for caring for the town of Agawam by participating in
a Memorial Day parade, thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Mineo.
•
Councilor Mineo—Nothing tonight. '
President Rheault—Councilor Letellier.
Councilor Letellier—I have a couple of items. First I like perhaps the council
president to ask the mayor to make sure that he is present for the budget public hearing
and the capital improvement plan public hearing.
President Rheault—You mean on the adoption?
Councilor Letellier--At the public hearing on the 1 Sth yes. And I am just
wondering its been a while since we had an industrial relations committee meeting or
anything has been referred to them. The last time was in fact Six Flags and how people
complain about noise. I am wondering if it makes sense to have our industrial relations
committee meeting may be get together with somebody from Six Flags and the
neighborhood and see if we can allay some concerns before the season heats up too
much. But I don't want to do that without your permission,you are the president.
President Rheault—You don't need my permission.
Councilor Letellier—Alright so I am gonna set up an industrial relations •
committee meeting. I don't even remember who is on the committee, I have to look at the
list. O.k. all the three of us right here?Alright so we'lI pick out a time, it will be an
evening meeting so that we can have maximum attendance. Thanks.
President Rheault—Councilor Perry.
Councilor Perry--Nothing this evening.
President Rheault—Well that concludes our exiting evening and I'll entertain a
motion to adjourn. •
Item.Adjournment
Councilor Magovern—Move to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Letellier.
President Rheault—All those in.favor? •
VOICE VOTE—Unanimous.
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President Rheault—AlI those opposed? We're now adjourned. Thank you and
good evening.
Adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
• Respectfully submitted
Ursula Retzler
Clerk of the Council
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