CC MTG MINUTES MARCH 1 2010 0
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE AGA WAM CITY COUNCIL
4 March 1, 2010
President Rheault—Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Monday,
March I" City Council meeting.
0 Item 1. Citizen's Speak Time
President Rheault—We have two citizens wishing to address the Council. Both I
believe have spoken to the Council before so you know the rules. Please state your name
• and address for the record. The first speaker is Alan Griffin.
Alan Griffin—Hi. My name is Alan Griffin and I live at 104 North Street in Agawam
and so forth. I'm here to find out what's going on in this town, you know? Here we are
we got a Mayor. He's supposed to make decisions. We got the Council's supposed to
make decisions. Which one is it now? I'd like to know what's going on in this town?
0 How come all this money is being spent out and so forth. We hire a Mayor and then we
hire a Council? That seems a little ridiculous now. You know what I mean? That is a
little bit ridiculous. All this money blowing out the window. I want to know what all this
money is going for? What's the purpose of the Council? Ain't the purpose of the
Council to go up and talk to the Mayor and make his own decisions? Have the Mayor
make the decisions? Not the Council. I can't understand. We hire a Mayor to make
decisions, what is it? What is going on in this town? I want to know. So you tell me.
That's all I got to say. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Forrest Bradford?
Forrest Bradford—Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Forrest Bradford
and I live at 21 Oxford Street in Agawam. First I want to let everyone know that I
appreciate the jobs that you're doing. I've seen a lot in politics and sometimes I think if
we had our town leaders in Washington, we'd get an awful lot done. I was hoping to see,
1 might run a little over five minutes, it wouldn't be much more, is it possible to get an
extension on that or not?
President Rheault—It would take a vote of the Council once you've reached the five
minutes and we'll address the issue.
Forrest Bradford—Okay, I have a meeting coming up being held here in the Middle
School Auditorium on Global Warming on March 24t' from 7-9pm and I'd like to
personally invite all of you to come to this very important meeting. We are beginning a
movement that I think can succeed here in this Town of Agawam and the movement is to
teach citizens how to unite again to gain their citizen's voice back for the way things used
• to run years ago when our country first formed. The education level to do this is quite
complicated so I can't get into everything but I think that if I explain that when Agawam
was at 10,000 people and there were ten councilmen, then there would be—this is
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hypothetical —there would be a thousand people per councilman. Today we've reached a
population of what I believe is 30,000 in the Town of Agawam and that gives a citizen's
• voice 3 3% less than what they had in the time when there was 10,000 people. Before
you, I put a scenario that has to do with population growth. It's very interesting and it's
something that I think all of our leaders should know and understand and it's just a little
portion of this pie which I hope will give a green light to the officials in the town to move
us as quickly as we can to do something for the future of our children. We spend
thousands of dollars every year clothing, feeding, educating, and raising them with values
that are cherished and I think that it behooves us as a community to do whatever we can
to ensure that we protect their future. A lot of people look at this as a world problem.
What could Agawam do? Agawam can do a lot. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of
organization. It will take bringing down political lines. This business of the country
dividing the people by different factions of liberal, conservative, republican, democrat
only serves the people with a financial interest for it to do so. But as we see in polls, 85%
of the American people feel that this country's government is broken. That is stunning
and it's shocking and it's not what a patriotic nation should be. We can gain our
patriotism back. We can understand that as a community, we can become a leader in
Massachusetts. We can become a leader in the state. Pittsfield has a solar farm that's
just been approved. Savoy has a wind farm that's just been approved. There's five other
towns in the State of Massachusetts that have solar farms, they've been granted funds to
build solar farms. Agawam can do this too and we can do more. We can show people
that Agawam can become an energy independent community.
Clerk—One minute please.
Forrest Bradford —At this meeting we're going to be discussing several topics. I'm
gonna have some students speak again. We did hold a small meeting in February. This
one I anticipate to be larger. I do realize that in order for this movement to roll forward
and gather moss like a snowball that we need other people involved. We need the clergy
involved. We need the business community involved and I'm going to work my darndest
to see that it happens. I've written a website that is on the sheet that I gave you and I
would ask you all to read this sheet and then go to the website and it will help you
understand a bit more of what will be happening. I'll be much more organized on March
24'h and when you come to this meeting which I hope you do, I hope you can make it and
ask people to attend as well, you will be pleased to see—
Clerk—Time.
Councilor LeteIlier—Move to extend the speaker's time.
President Rheault—Motion on the floor to extend the speaker's time. All those in
favor? Ay? Opposed? You may continue.
• Forrest Bradford —Thank you very much. I'm nervous so I forget some things that I
want to point out but one of the things is that the United States used up half of its oil that
it's ever going to produce in 1970. It was called peak oil production of the United States.
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This includes all oil anticipated by geologists to be taken out of the ground and in the
year 2008 the world had reached half of the oil that it's ever going to produce. These are
• some of the points that are going to be made at the meeting coming up on March 24t'.
Many of the town's leaders, if not all, I haven't found one yet, that isn't supportive of the
children, doesn't worry about their future, isn't willing to take a stand in making things
happen. This little that we lack is the voice of the people. We really need the people to
unite and it is as simple as united we stand, divided we fall and once the people can show
a the leaders in the community that they're behind you, that they're behind us moving
forward to do something for our children, it's unstoppable. We can roll into other
communities and do this forever. It reminds me of World War II when the country was
united together, everyone worked to win the war. You had Rosie the Riveter, we had
patriotism as never before but we will not have patriotism if we continue to allow our
• political lines to divide us. This has to go away. So thank you all for allowing me to
speak this time. If you have any questions, my telephone number is there. Please come
and thank you for the great job that you've been doing as far as I've been here.
President Rheault—Thank you.
Reim 2. Roll Call
President Rheault—Clerk, please call the roll?
ROLL CALL --10 PRESENT, ONE ABSENT (Councilor Simpson)
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Prc.�ident Rheault—Ten present, one absent, we have a quorum.
Iten, 3. Aloment of Silence and the Pledge of Alleeiance
• President Rheault—Before we rise for item number 3, the Councilors all were informed
of the very devastating and saddened loss of Councilor Simpson's son and our hearts and
pnivers go out to her and as we rise for a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance, I
would Dope that we stand in a moment of silence and offer whichever way you choose to
lig!.?cn the burden of her heart and her husband Dave. Please rise for a moment of
• silence.
Item 4. Minutes
(a) Regular Council Meeting—February 16,2010
* President Rheault—Moved by
Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Walsh. Any
discussion, corrections or additions? If not, voice vote is sufficient. All those in favor?
Op ,used? Unanimous.
e Iteut S. Declaration from„Council President
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Item G. Presentation of Petitions. Memorials & Remonstrances
(a) Resolutions
1. TR-2010-10 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Rene Trudel,
66 Brien Street,Agawam,MA to the Whiting Street and Thomas Pyne Fund
for a Term Expiring December 31,2012(Mayor)
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Rossi. Any
discussion on it? If not, Clerk, please call the roll for confirmation.
ROLL CALL—10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Simpson)
President Rheault—With ten yes, one absent, you have approved the confirmation.
2. TR-2010-11 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Richard
Bennett,29 Willow Brook Drive,Agawam,MA. to the Historical
Commission for a Term Expiring January 1,2012 (Mayor)
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Perry. Any
discussion? If not, Clerk, please call the roll.
ROLL CALL—10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Simpson)
• President Rheault—With ten yes, one absent, you've approved the confirmation.
3. TR-2010-12 -A Resolution Accepting a Gift in the Amount of Four
Thousand ($4,000.00)Dollars from Esther Straszko Pursuant to
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A for the Agawam
• Public Library(Mayor)
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Magovern.
.Any discussion on this? Comments? If not, Clerk, please call the roll.
ROLL CAI.L—10 YES,0 NO, 1 ABSENT(Councilor Simpson)
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President Rheault-With ten yes, one absent, Barbara, if you would be sure to send a
thank you 1,tter to Esther Straszko.
Item 7. Rc>>ort of Council Committees
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None.
Item K. L1,ctions
Noire.
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Item 9. Public Hearings
• None.
Item 10. Old Business
No i,v.
Item 11. Ale Business
1. TR-2010-13 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Joan Caney,
66 Meadowbrook Manor,Agawam,MA to the Agawam Housing Authority
for a Term Expiring the Second Monday of January,2015(Mayor)
President Rheault—Next Agenda.
2. TO-2010-10 -An Order Granting or Renewing a Junk Dealer's
LICENSE—Timothy Paul Stiles,312 Springfield Street,Agawam,MA.
(Clerk)
President ltheault—Next Agenda with a review by the License Committee.
Item 12. lnv other matter that maylerally come before the C' Council.
0 President Itheault—I'll start to my furthest left with Councilor Perry. Anything?
Councilor Ferry—Yes,just one item this evening. I just want to let Jill know that
AnneMaric and I send our condolences out to you and Dave. Being parents ourselves, I
0 ,lust can't imagine what you're going through and you are in our thoughts and in our
prayers and our hearts. Thank you.
President ltheault—Thank you. Councilor Letellier?
Councilor- Ietellier--Yes, I'd like to thank everyone who attended the Emergency Fuel
0 Assisl�mcc Bcneft on Saturday night. About $1000.00 was raised and the person that
won that 50150 raffle gave it back to the town which was also very nice and there are no
words th.a can express I'm sure what the Simpson family is feeling so just know that you
are in our 1�carts, in our minds and if we can do anything for you I'm sure we'd all do
whatcucr w,, could.
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President ;:heault--Councilor Messick?
CoifrrciIor :Messick—Yes,just condolences to Jill and her family during this tragedy and
if thcrL's .r :5,thing 1 can possibly do or that we can do for them, I think that they would be
mo,a th:f i villing to help out. Thank you.
Pres> ienl 1;hcault—Councilor Cichetti?
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Councilor Cichetti—Just like to extend our family's condolences to the Simpson family
• and lei them know they are in our hearts and prayers.
President ltheault--Thank you. Councilor Walsh?
Councilor Walsh—I also wish to extend my condolences to the Jill and her family and
thta Cs a l l 1 i 1 ave to say. Thank you.
President ltheault—Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor llitzas—Yes, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Jill, Dave and
the tiv'.txle !'.'iinily for the loss of their son last night. Our prayers are with them in this
diflic ili ti'me. That's it.
Pres i cji t l"licault—Councilor Magovern?
0 . Coil ilor ',lagovern —I just can only echo the same sentiments that have been said up
here. %%'c 7 ,.ill feeling a tragic pall over our Council this evening. It's just a terrible
; again, Jill, David,you have our sympathy and our prayers and whatever we
can dog, ewe will do. Thank you. Good night.
Pres i en t ltheault—Councilor Mineo?
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Cu,„i: 'E::: : Iineo —Yea, I would also like to give my condolences to the Simpson family
of my entire fancily—my wife Anna, and my sons, Carmino and Luca,who
wc:i t t,, >;:;,;c>1 with the two Simpson boys. We are very sorry.
Pres;.;cnt dieault—CouncilorRossi?
Cyr ` %r :.z}ssi—Yes, I would like to say on behalf of Lois and my entire family that
OLD- :1,:a, out to you at this time of your loss. I know that there really isn't anything
c)uld say predicting how you feel, what's going through your thoughts and
mind . n,iii now but to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and our
! ank you.
:l i:vault—Certainly on behalf of all the Council,it's a tragic loss and our
thy} t:; prayers go out to Jill and Dave and none of I'm sure can experience what
thc•_,•'r:: ;encing. So we're saddened by it and we stand behind you 100%Jill. I'll
en r.:;i E; r,c)tion to adjourn. Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Perry.
A11 ii ;:;vor? Ay? Opposed? We are now adjourned. Thank you and good
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