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CC MTG MINUTES DECEMBER 21 2009 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THEAGAW"CITY COUNCIL • December 21, 2009 President Letellier—Good evening and welcome to the Agawam City Council meeting for Monday, December 21, 2009. • Item 1. Citizen's Steak Time President Letellier—We have one, two,three, four, five, six speakers. A reminder that you must state your name, your address and the subject upon which you will be speaking. Our first speaker is Alan Griffin. • Alan Griffin—Oh,hello ladies and gentlemen,how are you tonight? My name is Alan Griffin and I live on North Street in Agawam. The subject I am (AUDIO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES DURING CITIZEN'S SPEAK TIME) Item 2. .Roll Cal! President Letellier—Now we have roll call. Barbara, could you please call the roll? • ROLL CALL-- 10 PRESENT, I ABSENT (Simpson) President Letellier—With ten present, one absent, we have a quorum. • Item 3. Moment otSilence and the Pledge of Allegiance President Letellier—Could you all please rise? Item A. Minutes • (a) Regular Council Meeting—December 9,2009 President Letellier—Moved by Councilors Perry and Rheault, seconded by Councilor Messick. Any additions, corrections, amendments? Seeing none, Barbara, could you call the roll? ROLL CALL—9 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson), 1 ABSTENTION (Councilor Rossi) President Letellier—With nine yes, one abstention, we've passed the Council minutes. 1 • Item 5. Declaration From Council President President Letellier—I am'now going to move down to the speakers' forum, we have some awards this evening. Thank you. I am doing this so that the camera can_hopefully get a picture of the recipients of these various awards. First, I'd like to call up the Mayor, Chris Sparks, Joan Linnehan and anyone else involved with the School Street Park— Henry Kozloski from the CPA, I think Frank Mazzei was involved and if I am missing anybody please let me know. I am going to read the wording from the award and then we'll present it. The......received an award from the Stavros Center for anybody ...it's an award named after a gentleman named Paul Winstke. It's the Paul Winstke ...Award and I will read the description. The children's playground at School Street Park, Agawam. Agawam's new School Street Park is a pretty nice place but the children's playground is a lot more than nice. All of the play equipment meets the American's with • Disabilities Act grade. That means that kids with many different levels of ability can use and enjoy it. There are ramps and lower areas for playing and resting and when someone hits the ground well not to worry. That ground is covered with a rubberized surface that cushions the fall and is firm enough for wheelchairs and crutches...:I think that's a great description of the park and I can't be more proud that I was part of the Council that passed it. So I will present this to the Mayor on behalf of the Stavros Center...and the whole town for supporting the CPA and the School Street Park. All right. We also have some retiring councilors this year and we wanted to recognize and thank them. So the first retiring councilor is Paul Cavallo and we have an award presented to Paul Cavallo. Do you want to come down Paul? And this is a plaque with the Town of Agawam seal and it is presented to Paul C. Cavallo in thanks and recognition of your dedicated service to the people of Agawam as Agawam City Council from January 6, 2008 to December 31, 2009. Best wishes and good luck in the future and that's presented by the Council today. So Paul thank you. (APPLAUSE) . Councilor Cavallo —Thank you very much. President Letellier—And these are being done in terms of years of service so next we have Cecilia Calabrese. If you could join us CeCe or join me I guess. And again this has the town seal and says "presented to Cecilia P. Calabrese—and it's spelled right—in thanks and recognition of your dedicated service to the people of Agawam as Agawam • City Councilor, Council Vice President and Finance Committee Chairwoman from January 5, 2004 to December 31, 2009, best wishes and good luck." (APPLAUSE) Councilor Calabrese—Thank you. • President Letellier—And last but by no means least, we were elected the same year Bob Young. Again it has the town seal and it says "presented to Robert M. Young in thanks and recognition of your dedicated service to the people of Agawam as Agawam City Councilor, City Council Vice President and Finance Committee Chairman from January 5, 1998 to December 31, 2009, best wishes and good luck. • Item 6. Presentation o�'Pet�Memorials&Remonstrances 2 • (a) Resolutions 1. TR-2009-51 -A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Mark Paleologopoulos, 100 Paul Revere Drive,Feeding Hills,MA to the Agawam Planning Board to a Term Expiring January 1,2015.(Mayor) (Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—I don't think he's here. Oh he is here, I'm sorry Mark, did you want to say anything? No, okay. Do I have a motion? Moved by Councilor Calabrese, seconded by Councilors Cavallo and Rheault. Any discussion? No? If you wish to vote for Mr. Paleologopoulos, please state his name when the roll is called. Barbara, could you call the roll? * ROLL CALL—10 MARK PALEOLOGOPOULOS, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—Congratulations and thank you for serving again. r 2. TR-2009-52 -A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Violet Baldwin,1245 Main Street,Agawam,MA to the Agawam Planning Board to a Term Expiring January 1,2015. (Mayor) (Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—Do we have a motion? Moved by Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilors Calabrese, Perry and Mineo. Ms. Baldwin couldn't be here but she issued a statement to read. She has indicated that she has a prior commitment and she would appreciate being considered for this position. She feels that it is an honor and a privilege to serve and would love to continue. So she would be most appreciative of your vote, she says. If you wish to vote for Ms. Baldwin,please indicate when the roll is called. Barbara? ROLL CALL— 10 VIOLET BALDWIN, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—That's ten to appoint Vi Baldwin. Item 7 Report of Council Committees (a) Council Sub-Committees(Tabled 1219/09) Rules& Regulations—Councilor Calabrese Councilor Calabrese—Yes,thank you. The Rules and Regulations Committee did not meet this last quarter but I do want thank my fellow council voting members on this committee. We did a lot of work during our term these past two years and I really appreciate the input by everyone on what did come before our committee. It's been a privilege and...Thank you. r Utilities& Street Acceptance—Councilor Mineo 3 0 f Councilor Mineo—Yes,we did meet once and that was for the passing for the easements for the upgraded grid and that was successfully passed. Thank you. Licenses—Councilor Rossi Councilor Rossi—Thank you. The Licensing Committee continues meet ongoing and as needed. Currently we are in the process of reviewing and evaluating all automobile and entertainment licenses that are subject to renewal as of January 1, 2010. ...Our Committee is current with all of these applications and continues to send recommendations to the City Council for approval in a timely manner. My Committee includes Councilor Simpson and Councilor Cavallo. Thank you. President Letellier—Thank you and I just got an email from Councilor Simpson indicating that she can't come tonight. So I'm just gonna say it now before I lose this screen. It says sorry this is late but I will not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Please pass on my Christmas wishes to all and tell CeCe, Paul and Bob that you'll be missed and good luck in your next ventures whatever they maybe. So, I thought I would just jump in while I saw it on my screen. Public Safety—Councilor Perry Councilor Perry—Yes,thank you Madam President. The Public Safety Committee met three times in this past quarter. The first meeting was October 8,2009 and that was to discuss some of the safety issues on parking down at Six Flags. Present at that meeting were committee members Councilor Rheault and Councilor Rossi, Councilor Messick was also present, Councilor Cavallo, y the Police Chief was there,Larry Litton from Six Flags and a handful of residents. It's definitely an issue that we didn't resolve that evening obviously but it will be an ongoing challenge for this committee to continue to look into this issue in regards to pedestrian traffic along Main Street and our committee will continue in January investigating ways to resolve that. We also met on November 6'h and that was on TO-2009-37 which is on our Agenda this evening. At that time, present at that meeting were my committee members Councilor Rheault,Councilor Rossi and myself. At that point in time we did not have a recommendation from the Planning Board in regards to the License so therefore at that meeting no vote was taken on recommendation to Pull Council. We also met on December 16th on the same agenda item and I can give you my report now or wait until the agenda item comes up to give that report. President Letellier—Why don't you wait and it will be more cohesive later. Ordinances—Councilor Rheault Councilor Rheault—Yes,the Ordinance Committee met in November regarding the Code and the increase in the fee with the Conservation Commission and there was only two of us present i and by a 2-0 vote we approved to pass back to the Council a positive vote. Zoning Review—Councilor Messick Councilor Messick—Thank you. Nothing was referred to the Zoning Review Sub-Committee this quarter but I would like to thank Councilor Bitzas and Councilor Rossi for serving on the -committee. We did have some very interesting things come up this year and they were a big help so thank you. 4 i Finance—Councilor Young • Councilor Young—Yes,thank you. First again I would like to thank my committee members for the past two years—Councilors Calabrese, Rossi, Perry and Mineo—we certainly met oh boy probably fifteen times over the last two years and this quarter was no exception. We met three times November 16t',November 30t' and December 9a'. The matters that we've reviewed again Resolution confirming the Original Authorization of the use of Free Cash and Retained Earnings for the Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Operating Budget. Also a Resolution Authorizing the Allocation of the Cable Account Funds by the Mayor,two meetings November 30u' and on the 9'h were on the Residential Tax Factor which the group approved at the last meeting and also we reviewed the matter on raising the Conservation Commission fees. Thank you. * Industrial Relations—Councilor Perry Councilor Perry—Yes,thank you Madam President,no new items were referred to our committee so we did not meet in this past quarter. Thank you. Ad Hoc Sewers—Councilor Rossi Councilor Rossi—Thank you. I'm happy to announce that the Feeding Hills Sewer Project is currently underway and going as expected. The projects will continue to go...the project's first phase is set to be completed by late summer,early fall and the committee will reconvene after the first of the year and we're gonna continue to tweak and finalize the next two phases with the DPW Director and Engineers from Tighe&Bond. My council committee members include Councilor Rheault,Councilor Perry and Councilor Cavallo served as an alternate on this committee so we were very,very busy and that phase is underway and operating and I couldn't be happy and I'm sure the residents in that area even though they have to go through that maze up there are quite happy themselves. Thank you. Ad Hoc Recreation—Councilor Bitzas Councilor Bitzas—Yes,we had no meetings the last three months. We're planning to meet in the beginning of spring with my members and we're going to look into the next phase of School Street,we're very happy to have...we have some improvements to do there and...for the next phase. Thank you. Ad Hoc Condominiums—Councilor Rossi Councilor Rossi—Thank you. Again,the committee met with the Building Inspector to review the rate structure for building permits as they applied to residential,commercial and condominiums. The committee found that there the submitted descriptions to certain properties were ambiguous. A resolution was created and submitted to the City Council to amend our Code to include the term`semi-detached units' with an attached fee thus allowing our Building Inspector to have the discretionary authority, the Amendment TOR-2009-6 was recently passed on the 2°4 and final reading and council approval...and is currently in affect. My committee ! members include Councilor Bitzas and Councilor Young and I thank them for their input. Ad Hoc Personnel—Councilor Rossi 5 r . Councilor Rossi-No matters recently came before the committee I'm happy to announce. Everything is running smoothly in the personnel department. President Letellier—I would second that. Ad Hoc CPA—Councilor Simpson President Letellier—Councilor Simpson is not here for the Ad Hoc CPA committee but nothing was referred to that committee in the last quarter so that report is not necessary. Ad Hoc Master Plan—Councilor Cavallo Councilor Cavallo—No report this quarter. President Letellier—I want to thank all the councilor, I'm sure those of you who have been to any of the council sub-committee meetings know that most of the hard work of the Council is done at the sub-committee meetings and so I really thank everyone for all their hard work and also for Barbara for scheduling the meetings, finding the rooms, contacting the town personnel, etc. so that the meetings run smoothly. So thank you everyone. Item S. Elections 1. TE-2009-8-Election of a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a Term Expiring January I,2013 (Council) (Six votes) President Letellier—I've just been informed that Michael Mercadante has withdrawn his name from consideration. I will open up the election. If you wish to nominate someone, you may do so. Nominations will not need a second and we will continue the voting until someone receives six votes. I now call for nominations. Councilor Rossi? Councilor Rossi— It would be my pleasure to nominate for re-election Mr. Joe Conte. President Letellier—Thank you. Joe Conte's name has been placed into nomination. Councilor Cavallo? Councilor Cavallo —Oh, we don't have to second it? President Letellier—No we do not. Any other nominations? Councilor Calabrese? Councilor Calabrese—Yes, it is my honor and privilege to nominate Paul Wakem. President Letellier—Paul Wakem's name has been entered into nominations. Any other nominations? No? Councilor Bitzas? Councilor Bitzas—Move to close nominations. 6 President Letellier'—Motion to close nominations, seconded by Councilor Perry. All in favor of closing nominations please signify by saying Ay. Nominations have been closed. Barbara will call the roll, please state the last name of the gentleman for whom you wish to vote. ROLL CALL - 8 JOE CONTE, 2 PAUL WAI EM (Councilors Calabrese and Messick), 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—With a vote of eight Conte, two Waken, one absent, we have reappointed Mr. Conte to the Board of Appeals. Thank you and good luck. Item 9. Public Hearings None. Item 10. Old Business 1. TO-2009-37 - GAS STORAGE LICENSE Application for Speedy Co.,Daya Singh,332 Suffield Street,Agawam,MA.01001 (Clerk) (Referred to Public Safety Committee and License Committee) (Majority of those present and voting) (Tabled 1219/09)(Referred to Public Safety/License Committees) President Letellier—Motion to remove from the table? Moved by Councilors Rheault and Rossi, seconded by Councilor Cavallo. Barbara, could you call the roll on removing the item from the table? ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) • President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent, we've removed the item from the table. Do we have a motion on the underlying item? Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilors Rheault and Rossi. Which committee wishes to give their report first, Public Safety or Licenses? r Councilor Rossi—Either one that you call. President Letellier—We'll start with Licenses. * Councilor Rossi—The License Committee met Wednesday I believe we called a joint meeting I believe Dennis, correct? And there was a unanimous agreement to send a positive recommendation to the City Council for the approval. There isn't any new things in this as we saw. I know there were some questions and concerns. I wasn't here. I had a chance to review the materials and I read all the minutes of the meeting and we addressed those concerns at the sub-committee meeting or ...detail or concerns of safety and wanting to use that as a walk-through and those kinds of things. But the fact of the matter is that there was a permit there already and the only thing that they're asking for 7 here was an extension that would include a.diesel storage capacity. Now that facility always had diesel storage capacity however there was nothing listed on the permit because it was a full-service service station. The law requires that if it's a self-service it has to be listed on the permit and the new owners were seeking that approval, that it be included because they wanted to do a self-service rather than a full-service facility. So that is really the purpose of why this whole thing came before the Licensing Board and won't go into the safety issues because I know that Councilor Perry and his committee handled that but in terms of the licensing, there isn't anything unusual or out of the ordinary and everything was in order and at the sub-committee meeting as I stated earlier, there was a unanimous vote to send a positive recommendation for the approval for the 6,000 gallons of storage for diesel to be a maximum ...for that facility. Thank you. President Letellier—Thank you Councilor Rossi. Councilor Perry? Councilor Perry—Yes, thank you Madam President. As Councilor Rossi stated we did meet on Wednesday, December 16'h at 6:30 at the Agawam Public Library. Present were myself, Councilor Rossi and Councilor Simpson. There were also two engineers from...representing...and the owner himself did drive in from Andover, MA that evening —it's about a 2 '/z hour ride. We did meet,we did go over a number of issues and as Councilor Rossi stated really what's before this Council is just basically the license itself and the amendment to it adding diesel. No other issue legally is before us other than approving or denying that amendment to the license. But there were concerns that were brought up during the public hearing which we eventually tabled and had to do with safety. I want to first thank Barbara for her hard work for getting that information before me in regards to the safety issues. I believe we all did receive an email forwarded from Barbara from the Fire Chief, the Fire Department has no problem with the storage tanks that are being put in there. We all have, I did receive an approved site plan from Planning Board. We did contact the Police Chief who referred it to Lt. Gillis in regards to the safety issues as far as traffic. We all know that that is a five street intersection. It's not the greatest intersection in town,there's no question about it. We have to take into consideration that there was a gas station there for thirty years. The police did have some concerns in regards to the curb cuts that existed and on one of the original site plans; there was concern for referral to the Planning Board which in turn they referred to the Engineering department in town. The curb cuts were needed because the entrance, the egress and access to the original site plan were very close to the stop lines from the traffic lights. Engineering did redesign that, shortened them up, moved them farther back so it has been approved by Engineering and the police feel that these curb cuts are safe. So I really feel that the safety issues have been addressed in that area and the committee did recommend 3-0 to the Full Council to approve this License this evening. Thank you. President Letellier—Thank you Councilor Perry. Any discussion from the Council? Councilor Bitzas? Councilor Bitzas—Yes, I'm glad we had all these meetings because the last time we had the questions of course from the people that were concerned about the license—for safety...and now it is very difficult for this Council to vote against it because first of all, 8 there may be law suits. It is not a new gas stahian....problems...and I agree with Councilor Rossi in his report that if we voted against it we'd probably be in trouble. So I'm glad we had these meetings with both committees...and I think we should welcome the business. President Letellier—Thank you Councilor Bitzas. Councilor Mineo? Councilor Mineo—I just wanted to say the same thing I mean we're just voting on it for a permit for diesel I mean the gas station has been around for a long time. Something's gonna be there no matter what so at least it's gonna be operating again. President Letellier—Thank you. Councilor Perry? Councilor Perry—Thank you Madam President. I failed to mention in my report and Bobby can probably allude to it too. One of the issues that was brought up was the 500 gallon aboveground storage. That is and Bobby can clarify for me if I get it wrong,that's mainly for the sale of motor oil. In order to be able to sell motor oil from the shelves and things you have to, it's considered a fuel so by law you have to have a license for aboveground storage for that. Councilor Rossi—If I may? Absolutely you are right and I just want to add one important thing here. This five hundred gallon storage for retail is an overshot by a great, great deal. As I mentioned because I happened to question, and I said 500 gallons? And to me that seems like an awful lot to store motor oil and window washer fluids and those kinds of things. And they said it is, it's an overshot, so we're probably talking about maybe around 150 but they wanted to be safe but it's gonna be far, far less than 500. President Letellier—All right, any other? Councilor Cavallo? Councilor Cavallo —Yea, in addition to everything that you've mentioned,we're getting rid of an eyesore and I drive by there a lot, I live at that end of town and hopefully esthetically that can be improved because it really is a mess. President Letellier—Thank you. Any more comments? No? Barbara, could you call the roll? A yes vote —six votes are needed. ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent, you have approved the License and we welcome Mr. Singh to come to town. 2. TOR-2009-7 -An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 103 of the Code of the Town of Agawam Conservation Commission Fees(Mayor)(Referred to Ordinance and Finance Committee) (2/2) President Letellier—Councilor Rheault do you wish to make additional comments? 9 i Councilor Rheault—Well,there's not really much more. We had, both committees were there, there were two members at one, one lacked a quorum and the Ordinance took over and there was only two of us there as well. I think Councilor Cavallo and myself and we voted to move this forward that the fee increase is well in order. President Letellier—Thank you and I believe I need to ask for a motion. I apologize. Moved by Councilor Calabrese, seconded by Councilor Messick. Any other discussion on the Conservation Committee fees. Councilor Cavallo? Councilor Cavallo —Nothing, sorry. President Letellier—Barbara, could you call the roll? Six votes are needed. ROLL CALL— 10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—Ten yes, one absent, you've approved the increase in the fees and now perhaps the fees will actually for the amount of work... 3. TO-2009-48 -Transfer of$9,000.00 from Reserve Fund(16605- 57300)to City Clerk—Regular Temporary(11611-51020)(Mayor) (Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—Again,this is to cover the Senate election and the State will pay us back. Do I have a motion? Moved by Councilors Rheault and Calabrese, seconded by • Councilor Perry. Any discussion? No? Barbara, could you call the roll? ROLL CALL— 10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—Thank you. With ten yes, one absent, we have approved the r transfer. 4. TO-200949 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class I Dealer's LICENSE—G& T Beaver,Inc.,d/b/a Beaver Camper,721 Springfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—Do we have a motion? Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Perry and Councilor Cavallo? Do we have a report from the Licensing Committee? • Councilor Rossi—Yes, Councilor Cavallo and I met earlier this evening and we found no reason not to move forward with any of these licenses and if I may for the sake of convenience, Madam President, couple these all together. I know there are eight of them here but if you'd like me to read them in, okay, if I may the first one would be (reading TO-2009-50 through and including TO-2009-56) and I present this to the Council. i 10 President Letellier—Do we have a motion to consolidate the item? Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Rheault. Any question with the con'solidation? Barbara, could you call the roll on the consolidation first? ROLL CALL—10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent,we've consolidated the Class I and II Dealer Licenses up for renewal and Barbara,well does anyone have any questions on the ! underlying licenses? No? Barbara, could you call the roll again. Six votes are needed to grant the licenses. ROLL CALL—10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent, we have approved the licenses. 5. TO-2009-50 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class II Dealer's LICENSE—Balfour Motors, 1801 Main Street,Agawam,MA. (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting)(Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 4 above. 6. TO-2009-51 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class II Dealer's LICENSE--Elmwood,D&J Auto Sales,521 River Road,Agawam,MA. (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License ! Committee) President Letellier—See item 4 above. 7. TO-2009-52 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class II Dealer's LICENSE—Garden Auto Sales,204 Garden Street,Feeding Hills,MA. ! (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 4 above. ! 8. TO-2009-53 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class II Dealer's LICENSE—Joseph J.Polys d/b/a Joe's Truck Repair,97 Ramah Circle South,Agawam,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier--See item 4 above. 9. TO-2009-54 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class II Dealer's LICENSE—Luigi's Auto Sales,Inc.,371 South Westfield Street,Agawam, MA. (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) + President Letellier—See item 4 above. 11 • 10. TO-2009-55 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class U Dealer's LICENSE--Malkoon Motors, 1039 Springfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA. (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 4 above. 11. "TO-2009-56 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class H Dealer's LICENSE--RNK Auto Sales,28 Moylan Lane,Agawam,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 4 above. 12. TO-2009-57 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s)—Buc,Inc.,86 Maple Street,Agawam, M.A. (Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—Councilor Rossi? Councilor Rossi--Yes, thank you. Again, Councilor Cavallo and I met on these issues and they are and if I may again make a motion to consolidate and I will read into the motion TO-2009-57, TO-2009-58, TO-20009-59 and TO-2009-60. And that last one if you want me to clarify this is something that have weekly...so I just wanted to clarify that. • President Letellier— ...Any discussion on consolidating those licenses? No? Barbara, could you call the roll on consolidating the licenses? ROLL CALL—10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) • President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent, you have moved to consolidate the licenses. Is there any discussion on the licenses themselves? No? Barbara, could you call the roll on four licenses that have been consolidated? ROLL CALL— 10 YES, O NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Simpson) President Letellier—With ten yes, one absent, you have approved those licenses. 13. TO-2009-58 - Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s)—Scoreboard Bar&Restaurant, 15 King Street,Agawam,MA. (Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 12 above. • 14. TO-2009-59 - Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s)—West Springfield Fish & Game,P.O.Box 12 • 25,329 Garden Street,Feeding Hills,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier—See item 12 above. 15. TO-2009-60 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—The Alano Club,Terrence Cripps,36 King Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting) (Referred to License Committee) President Letellier— See item 12 above. Item 11. New Business 1. TO-2009-61 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—Main Street Still, 1813 Main Street, Agawam,MA. (Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—Next agenda. 0 2. TO-2009-62 - Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—Polish American Club of Agawam,Inc., 139 Southwick Street,Feeding Hills,MA.(Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting) • President Letellier—Next agenda. 3. TO-2009-63 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—F.S.F.,Inc. d/b/a Riverboat Bar& Grill, 11 South End Bridge Circle,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting,) President Letellier—Next agenda. 4. TO-2009-64 - Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—T.J.Sporthouse,1664 Main Street, Agawam,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting President Letellier—Next agenda. 5. TO-2009-65 -Order Granting or Renewing a Class H Dealer's LICENSE—Auto Kraft, 119 Walnut Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—Next agenda. 6. TO-2009-66 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—Springfield Turnvercin, 176 Garden Street, Feeding Hills,MA.(Clerk)(Majority of those present and voting) 13 • President Letellier—Next agenda. 7. TO-2009-67 -Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Weekly Amusement Device(s)—Tom-Weil Enterprises,LLC dlb/a Coach T's,360 North Westfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA.(Clerk) (Majority of those present and voting) President Letellier—Next agenda. Now since the License Committee as it's currently instituted will not exist when the new Councilors get sworn in what I would suggest is the next Council President, one of the first acts be to create a License Committee so we could have a report so they can get voted on at the second January meeting to make sure there's no delay in getting their licenses. Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the City Council President Letellier-And we'll start with Councilor Perry. Again? I'm sorry, let's start with Councilor Mineo?,Councilor Mineo you can go first this time. Councilor A ineo—That is fine. I will start. I just wanted to say that it's been my • pleasure to work with Councilors Cavallo, Calabrese and my good friend Bob Young. You will all be missed. You were good councilors and I will miss you. You're all good people and have done a lot of hard work for the community. I don't think people know all the things we do, all the nights we meet, somebody was mentioning I think maybe it was Gina mentioning about all the sub-committee meetings and that's where pretty much • where everything happens but there is a lot of work in this job and again you've done it and thank you for your service. President Letellier—Thank you Councilor Mineo. I want to say ditto but I'll probably say it ten more times tonight. Councilor Cavallo? Councilor Cavallo —I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to all of you on the Council. It was great working with you for two years. I think we've accomplished a lot in the past two years. I'm going to miss a lot of you. You were very good friends and I wish you the best of luck in the following year, you know it's gonna be a very tough year but I'm sure you're up for the task and you can handle it quite well. I will be back in some light in two years. I can announce that right now, in some position, I hope to, I think it was Mr. Conte said tonight that you know I think I've got a couple of years left and he's 87! And I think I've got a couple of years left, maybe more and again I appreciate everything and to the people that have helped me too even though I was on the • School Committee,people must understand this is a different functioning body,totally different, different rules and so forth and I thought it was great for me to work on both sides of the town government. As a last note as most of you probably know, we had the passing of Dr. Frank Amerouso over the past week and I knew him quite well. I worked for him,he was my boss and I did go to his funeral. I just wanted to say Dr. Czajkowski did the eulogy and she did a very nice job. It was very, very difficult for her because if you recall Dr. Amerouso nominated her to become the Superintendent of Schools and he will be sadly missed. I visited him a few times in the nursing home and he unfortunately 14 • he had no quality of life the last couple of years,he ended up at Mass General and ended up dying in a rehab place and my condolences go out to his wife Debbie who works in the Agawam School system. Again, thank you all and I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hopefully everybody out in the audience too. Thank you again. President Letellier—I was gonna save this to the end but to all the councilors that are retired, Citizen's Speak Time is there, you know our emails, you know our phone • numbers, don't hesitate to lend your assistance on anything. Great. Councilor Rossi? Councilor Rossi—Yes,thank you. I, first and foremost, would like to wish everyone a very happy, Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy new year and I would like to extend my appreciation to Councilor Cavallo and to Councilor Calabrese and Councilor Young. I know there are times that we haven't always agreed in point but I think at the end of the day, we always agreed to what was in the best interest of Agawam and for that I am very grateful and I know that the townspeople are too. It's been a very, very extreme pleasure for me to know you, to get to know you on a personal level and to work with you and I think we were able to accomplish a lot as a whole as a Council. And my best wishes go out to all of you. Stay well, stay close and hopefully see you soon. President Letellier—Thank you. Councilor Rheault? Councilor Rheault—First and foremost a very Merry Christmas and a very healthy and ! prosperous New Year to first all of us here on the dais and secondly to all of the people watching out on TV. You know, I've been here the longest and I don't know if we've had a harder working council than we've had this year—the past two years. I've been to several meetings and it seems like the attendance of the meetings was outstanding. We're gonna miss Paul obviously, and my friend Bob Young, down here, and CeCe I've had the pleasure of working with you and all the rest of the Council. We'll be back and ! we want to certainly welcome the new councilors-=Councilor Magovern, Councilor Walsh and Councilor Cichetti. I look forward to a great and productive council with you and I'm sure that you...The New Year is going to be a challenge to this Council and probably the greatest challenge in my twenty-five years on this council....we're going to our act together and makes some tough decisions but I'm sure we'll make them and I feel i very confident that we will. So to all of you again have a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you if not before the end of this year, I will see you all next year. Thank you. President Letellier—Thank you and we're missing as to what Councilor Cichetti has to offer. Councilor-elect Cichetti—Thank you. I just wanted to say I do look forward to working along side of you fellow councilors and tell everybody happy holidays and enjoy your New Year. President Letellier—Thank you very much. Councilor Perry? 15 Councilor Perry—Finally? No, I'm kidding. Well, first of all I want to wish everyone, all of my colleagues, Barbara, people in the audience, our camera crew, I don't know where they are any more, and all the people in the viewing audience a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are losing three councilors from the chambers; this is their last meeting this evening. Collectively they've got twenty years of legislative experience that will be lost from this council. I know...with the rest of us who meet the challenges that will be facing us next year, but Paul, CeCe and Bob—the best of luck. It's been an / honor and a pleasure serving with you on this Council. All three of you should be very proud of the service that you've given to this community. We're going to miss you up here. You are colleagues but you are also my friends and I appreciate everything that you've helped me with, we've not always agreed on every issue, but we've agreed to disagree and we respected each other after meetings and again, I appreciated it. I've been on the council fourteen years now, Mr. Young has been by my side for twelve of those Bob and I appreciate all your help and you'll be back. Thank you. President Letellier—As usual Mr. Perry and his tongue, I'm sorry have I called on you yet? Councilor Messick? / Councilor Messick—Ditto. Happy holidays to everyone out there. Really enjoy your time with your family. Condolences to the Amerouso family as well. I've enjoyed working with the three councilors who are outgoing. I particularly want to thank CeCe for taking me under her wing at the beginning and showing me the ropes and helping me along a little bit. It was very kind. Very nice to be assisted in that manner and I am really looking forward to working with our three new councilors, welcoming Councilor Magovern back and the challenges of the new year—we really will need to keep our eyes open and really start scrutinizing things and I do plan to have, plan to have a hand in that so again,Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks. President Letellier—Thank you. Councilor Bitzas? Councilor Bitzas—Yes, I would like to wish all the people of Agawam and you and your families Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And to the three councilors—Councilor Cavallo, Councilor Calabrese, and Councilor Young—the best wishes to you and we've • worked very well together most of us, even sometimes disagreeing but it was all for the good of the town and we achieved a lot. For the new councilors coming in—welcome. We are going to work together again. It'll be hard times ahead of us because of the budget restraints and economic difficulties we have but we will do it and yes, we can. Okay, good night all and Merry Christmas. • President Letellier--Thank you Councilor Bitzas. Councilor Young? Councilor Young—Thank you. Well, I thought, some of you know, some of my friends know that I prepared a good bye speech twelve years in a row, or six elections in a row and I was surprised twelve years ago to win and I've been surprised every year since. I wasn't surprised this year, you might find that funny or strange but I wasn't. I haven't 16 • even thought about—and it's changed what I thought I'd say from what I'm gonna say has changed over the years—I thought over time I would list all the accomplishments of the group over those years and the easy answer is there's too many to count and too many to name without leaving out some important ones so, and it's also as I sit here not what I'm gonna remember most. As some have said already,probably what I'll remember most, I will remember most as I know, is having worked with most of you for at least twelve years off and on, most of you folks again, my kids are only thirteen, my oldest kids are thirteen so through that whole time I've been sitting up here and working with • this group, so it's friends and families that I've known and most of them I see at outdoor concerts and athletic events and here in there. It won't be at council meetings I can assure you but it'll be everywhere else that we run into each other, it'll be the people up here and also I had to make a list because it's not just the group, so I made a list of all the folks that most of us have served with over the last twelve years and those and as I go 0 down the list if they are here.today or their families are here today or I run into them, they still greet me as a friend and family member so —the first one that came to mind, I sat down where Jill is sitting now and for the first two years of my life up here, I sat next to Councilor Caba who is probably the one I was most afraid of growing up and by the time he left and to this day his wife and family treat me as one of their own and I appreciate it, * as Jill mentioned, learning from him. CeCe, I was trained by Councilor Caba as some of my friends would call him and I was sad to see him go but as I go down the list, I mean Councilor Caba, Councilor Thompson, Councilor Service, Councilor Negrucci, Councilor MacLean, Councilor. Bonavita, Councilor Morassi, Councilor Geiger, and Ruth Carr- Bitzas have all sat up here with me at one time or another, unfortunately a couple of those folks are no longer with us, God rest their soul, and again all those folks as I'm sure you will too I will never forget some of the goings on and some of the discussions and certainly the friendship will live on in my memory. The two things or the one thing I definitely, and I guess it resolved itself, the thing I will miss the least I have to say is like when we have to vote between a good friend and an old friend like Mr. Conte and several other friends who wanted to be voted for something or the traditional first meeting of the 0 year that pits two of my longtime friends against each other and their families and their families and my family, I certainly won't miss that every again. This job definitely doesn't or never will pay enough to go through that so again, I'd like to thank everyone again for their support and friendship over the years. You know where we live, and if they don't keep plowing my sidewalk,you'll hear from me—or my wife, you'll hear her • yelling and you know that—so again Councilor Magovern, I didn't mention, who I certainly worked with a long time and I good friend and certainly will do well. Councilor Cichetti—I wish you luck. I'm told,there's a rumor that you are related to my wife's family. We're on the Cichetti family email anyway, I know that. And Councilor'Walsh I've run into here and there and I know he'll do a fine job. So with that I wish everyone happy holidays and Merry Christmas and best of luck to you all. Thank you. President Letellier—Thank you so much. Councilor-elect Magovern? Councilor-elect Magovern—Thank you. That's a tough act to follow but I just wanted 0 to start off again by wishing everybody a very, very Merry Christmas. I hope we all remember the significance of it and again I've been very moved this year about all the 17 comments about remembering our veterans and I want to remember veterans especially this Christmas and what they're suffering through so we can have our freedoms and Happy New Year. And again I want to thank all the voters who put me back in office again this year so I can try to serve the Town of Agawam and I want to echo what Bob Young has sad. I served with him for a number of years up here and Bob always did a great job,he did a wonderful job on the Finance Committee. I think he was the first chair and has been the constant chair of the Finance Committee,which is a thankless position but he has always done a very, very good job and CeCe the same thing, I've served with r her. CeCe has done a great job, great note taker, one of best I've ever seen and Paul although I never served with him, I worked when he was on the City Council and I know Paul will be back in two years in some form or another. Hard to keep a good man down and again I look forward to the challenges of this year,this next year, and as Councilor Rheault said it's gonna be a very difficult year financially for us. We have to be very cogniscent of the fact that we're not gonna be operating with the money we've had in the past and we have to get the best value out of the dollars that we've got and so ending on a positive note again—Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I hope to see you all next year. Thank you. * President Letellier—Thank you Councilor-elect Magovem. Councilor-elect Walsh? Councilor-elect Walsh—Thank you. I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and happy holidays if you don't celebrate one of those. I also would like to give best wishes to the outgoing councilors—Councilor Calabrese, my old neighbor Councilor Cavallo, as well as Councilor Young. Hopefully you will stay involved in government. I know it's going to be a difficult year for us coming up but I'm prepared to hit the ground running and hopefully we will have a successful year. So thank you very much. President Letellier—Councilor Calabrese? Councilor Calabrese—Thank you....I want to echo the sentiments...it's been a privilege and an honor to serve these last three terms with these folks. The first two terms of which I actually sat between Mr. Magovern and Mr. Mineo and as a new councilor, it was the most advantageous place to sit because I really had a wealth of information and r experience to draw from and I really want to thank you two gentlemen. I don't think you quite appreciate during that first time what a help that was to me. So Jill I was really happy to pass that along to you. Best of luck to the incoming council. Councilor Young and Councilor Cavallo it's really been a pleasure...we've agreed on a lot of the issues, you've been professional and I'd like to tell you this is job that I truly loved...part of my life for six years and I do hope to become involved once again down the road in whatever capacity comes my way. As a private citizen...you can count on seeing me here again...Gina, it's been a privilege and an honor to have served as your second these last two years and I wish you all the luck and love for your future going forward and a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! i 18 • President Letellier—Thank you. This is a sad night for me because Councilor Young and I were elected on the same night and he sent me the most heartfelt email the next day and I was like crying at my desk so thank you Bob. And also with Councilor Calabrese, • she was my friend, my right hand woman, she stepped in when I had some new changes in my life, positive changes in my life, and so I thank her for stepping in. Councilor Cavallo,we only served a term together but I have the utmost respect for the way you do your job and the way you look into things and don't accept an answer unless you think it's a full answer and I really appreciate that. I know people have said a lot and I think • one thing that I will remember about this two years is that we didn't always agree but we had a respectful disagreement, our disagreement were based on knowledge and facts and what we believed to be what was right for the town and I know that will continue with the next council but I know that's not always been the case and that's why I really believe that this has been a hallmark these last two years. I think we've also seen a lot of • modernization in the way the Council gets information from the public and the way the public interacts with us and I think that can only continue. This year we saw for the first time the Mayor have councilors involved in budget meetings and I'm gonna ask or whoever's the next council president I hope will ask Mayor Cohen that that continues. I think that was excellent. I think,we wished we had a lot more say but at least we're • starting to have a little say and I hope that that continues and that grows. I know we're just finishing up Hanukkah so Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and happy, healthy New Year to everyone. Barbara, thank you so much for all your help. We really made such an excellent choice with Barbara and I'm sure we all know that but I think the public needs to know that. God bless and God speed. Thank you. Do we have a motion to adjourn? All in favor? Ay? Opposed? I have Christmas • cards for anyone who wants Christmas cards. Thank you. Adjournment. • • • • 19 •