CC MTG MINUTES MARCH 15 2010 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
March 15
President Rheault—Welcome to the Agawam City Council meeting for March 15 '.
Item 1. Citizen's weak Time
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President Rheault—We have a couple speakers wishing to address the Council this
evening. Both are familiar with the rules and the first being Cecilia Calabrese.
Cecilia Calabrese—Good evening Councilors. Good evening folks at home. I'm
• coming to bring congratulations to the Agawam High School Rosie Robotics Team. This
weekend they participated in the inaugural regional robotics competition at WPI out in
Worcester. They did very well. They ended up being selected for the finals by the
...team and they made it all the way to the semi-finals and they were knocked out by the
team champions, by the tournament champions, so we can be very proud of that program
• and I'd like to encourage everyone who is interested in finding out more about Rosie to
certainly contact me and Barb, if you still have my contact information, you can contact
Barb and she knows how to get in touch with me. I'd be happy to share information
about the Robotics program. It is something we can all feel very happy and proud of.
They also won a very prestigious award—the Entrepreneurship Award—which awarded
them first prize for their business plan. Part of Rosie is to educate these young minds on
how to actually not only build and engineer robots but to run a business and as a small
business owner that is something that is very near and dear to my heart and I congratulate
them on their hard work. Finally,they do have one more regional competition in
Hartford April 1 sc and 2°d. If anyone has the opportunity to come down to Hartford to see
• these kids, it's really amazing. It's so much energy and enthusiasm and it's something
we can all feel very proud of and I just wanted to share that all with you this evening.
Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. The next citizen wishing to address the Council is Alan
Griffin.
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Alan Griffin—Hello. My name is Alan Griffin. I'm at 104 North Street in Agawam.
The reason why I'm coming down here is because you know I notice there's a lot of kids
doing drugs over at Shea's Field and so forth. You walk through there you find needles
on the ground and different things. There's something that's gotta be done about this.
• This is absolutely ridiculous and so forth. Why don't we give these kids something else
to do? Instead of doing drugs? You know, give them something that's gonna build them
up, you know? We gotta look into other care things for the kids. I mean you see the
kids, you know, you're wondering what kind of life they're gonna have, you want a
bunch of druggies growing up in this town? No. We don't. Think about it,you know? I
mean you see kids that are shooting up in their arms and all this. I mean I was in Shea
Field the other day seeing a kid put a needle in his arm. I goes "what the heck you
doing? What are you stupid? You don't need that junk." Understand what I'm saying?
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So I mean there's something that's gotta be done about this. f mean why don't we get
something where we can get these kids interested in something, doing something
• different and so forth. Give them a different thing to do or something. I don't care if it's
taking care of animals, doing something, whatever,you know? These kids come right
out of school,they have nothing to do, so they go out and they, you know, oh boy, I'm
gonna try some good pot or something, or some good drugs and so forth and they get the
big kicks for shooting up with them,you know? Hey, this is wrong. I mean there's gotta
• be something done about it, you know? I mean you guys are the Council. I mean there's
something that you can do about it, you know? Really even if you get some kind of a
thing for kids to be interested in—game, animals—anything like that. Understand? Give
them a different looking on life,you know? If they learned how to be responsible and
take care of animals and do things and so forth, it's gonna change this whole world all
• the way around and it's time that we gotta wake up and we gotta understand our kids.
You know, hey, you were kids once too, you know? You wanted to try new things and
all that stuff. Well, the same thing with the kids. Well,hey, we're pushing away from
the old days. Well,we gotta bring the old days back a little bit and turn life around for
the kids. I mean it's up to guys if you really want to think about it. I'm just bringing
things forward to you but that's something that you're gonna have to decide in your own
• minds and so forth. It's your children growing up out here and so forth. You know,we
need to do something on these children. Right now these kids are absolutely forgotten
about. They go out of school and what do they got to do? Nothing except shoot up.
Now, think about it. You know,there's something that we can do, some kind of game
room, even an animal zoo or something like that, anything. Do something with them so it
• changes their lives. You gotta change their whole lifestyle and you gotta build a kid up,.
not tear a kid down. Understand what I'm saying? So that's the problem we're doing,
we're tearing them down. We're not making them do things. You know we're trying to
make them do things. Well, you know, get them interested in something that they like
doing. So I mean it's up to you people on the Council to do a little thinking about this
• but I know you all have children up there and I know you have kids. It's a pitiful sight
when you see a child going over there standing in the woods putting a needle in his arm,
you know? That's a pitiful sight! Like I said, you know, I mean I just I want to smack
the kid but he wasn't my kid so there's nothing you can do about it but I'm saying we
have better things to look forward to now—
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Clerk—One minute please.
Alan Griffin—and we can do it. So it's up to you. So if you want to think about it, you
want to do something about it, you know,just don't shake your head and say hey, I'm
gonna do and then you don't do nothing, you know? Because hey you won't get nothing
done so it's up to you guys so thank you very much. Have a nice day.
President Rheault—Thank you.
Item 2. Roll Call
President Rheault—Clerk, please call the roll?
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ROLL CALL—9 PRESENT,2 ABSENT(Councilors Rossi and Simpson)
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President Rheault—Nine present and two absent. Councilor Rossi will not be in
attendance this evening. He is recovering from surgery and I spoke with and met with
him today. He's doing very well thank you and Councilor Simpson as you know is still
bereaving the loss of her son and our thoughts and prayers are still with her.
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Item 3. Moment of Silence and the Pledze ofAlleriance
President Rheault—Please rise for a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 4. Minutes
(a) Regular Council Meeting—March 1,2010
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Messick. Any
discussion or corrections? If not, voice vote. All those in favor? Opposed? Unanimous.
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Item 5. Declaration rom Council President
President Rheault—Just a reminder on your ethics forms to get those filled out and
bring them into Barbara. The deadline is soon approaching.
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Item & Presentation of Petitions, Memorials&Remonstrances
(a) Resolutions
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—Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Walsh. Any
• discussion? If not, Clerk,please call the roll,
ROLL CALL—9 JOAN CANEY,2 ABSENT
President Rheault—With nine for Caney,two absent, we have unanimously approved
the confirmation and Barbara, if you would kindly send a letter to her?
Item 7. Report of Council Committees
None.
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Item 8. Elections
• None.
Item 9. Public Hearings
None.
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Item 10. Odd Business
1. TO-2010-10 -An Order Granting or Renewing a Junk Dealer's
LICENSE—Timothy Paul Stiles,312 Springfield Street,Agawam,MA.
• (Referred to the License Committee) (Clerk)
President Rheault—That was referred to the Licensing Committee and I believe
Councilor Magovern has the report.
Councilor Magovern —Thank you President Rheault. I have discussed with Councilor
• Rossi who is the chairman of the Licensing Committee but he's not here this evening and
he did state that if he were here,he would be giving a recommendation in favor of it. So
I'm seconding that recommendation so Licensing Committee is in favor of it. Thank you.
President Rheault—All right. I'll entertain a motion to grant the license? Moved by
• Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Mineo. Any further discussion? If not, Clerk,
please call the roll.
ROLL CALL—9 YES,0 NO,2 ABSENT (Councilors Rossi and Simpson)
• President Rheault—With nine yes,two absent, you have approved the license.
Item IL New Business
1. TR-2010-14 -A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Ronald J.
Hamel,52 Federal Avenue,Agawam,MA.to the Agawam Veterans Council
• to a Term Expiring April 1,2012.(Mayor)
President Rheault—Next agenda.
2. TR-2010- 15 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of David Chase,
• 2 Colonial Avenue,Agawam,MA.to the Agawam Planning Board to
complete an Unexpired Term Expiring January 1,2013.(Mayor)
President Rheault—Next agenda.
3. TR-2010-16 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Karl Stieg,24
0 Edgewood Lane,Agawam,MA. to the Historical Commission to a Term
Expiring January 1,2013. (Mayor)
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President Rheault—Next agenda.
4. TO-2010-11 -An Order Granting or Renewing a Class U Dealer's
LICENSE—Motor City Car Co.,Applicant Richard Conlon, 91 Ramah
Circle,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
President Rheault—Next agenda. That'll be referred over to the License Committee.
• 5. TO-2010-12 -(PH-2010-1) Suggest a Public Hearing on April 5,2010 for a
GAS STORAGE LICENSE Application for John's Trucking of Agawam,
Inc.,415 Silver Street,Agawam,MA.(Clerk)
President Rheault—Next agenda. Does anyone have a problem with the date? If not,
Barbara, will you handle the paperwork on that please?
6. TO-2010-13 -An Order Granting or Renewing a Automatic Amusement
Device(s)—American Legion Post 185—Wilson Thompson Post,478
Springfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA. (Clerk)
• President Rheault—Next agenda and that'll also go over to the Licensing Committee
and so will John's Trucking go that way.
Item 12. Aiv other matter that may legally come before the City Council.
President Rheault—To my furthest right, Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas—Yes, I'd like to wish all the Irish people and the Irish-to-be Happy St.
Patrick's Day next week and also I'd like to congratulate the robotics team in WPI,they
did an excellent job and also they did great the hockey team and the other sports of
• course, congratulations to all. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern—Thank you. Having a father that was born in Ireland,needless to
say, I can't let this evening go by without wishing everybody a very Happy St. Patrick's
Day and again I'd like to congratulate the St. Patrick's Day Committee which is
celebrating it's tenth anniversary this year and has been working very, very hard on its
admission to the float, its float that will be in the parade this Sunday and I hope that as
usual it will be an award winning float. So thank you St. Patrick's Day Parade
Committee and thank you to all. Good night.
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President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Mineo—Yes, I'd like to say Happy St. Patrick's Day to everybody. I would
also like to congratulate the twelve students from the Agawam public school system that
• made the western district orchestra. It wouldn't be just orchestra, it's chorus. Some of
these students they're in the music programs here in Agawam. Some of the students are
not,their parents actually pay for private lessons and they go to this big concert in
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Amherst. I mean they only take the best students and twelve of our kids made it and I'd
like to congratulate them.
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President Rheault—Thank you. Down to the other side, Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Yes, thank you Mr. President. I, too, would like to wish everyone a
Happy St. Patrick's Day and I also want to say Happy St. Patrick's Day to my wife. It
will be our 3lst wedding anniversary and hove she put up with me for that many years,I
don't know but I love her and I just wanted to say Happy Anniversary. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Letellier?
• Councilor Letellier—Happy Anniversary to AnnMarie and Dennis! And you must have
needed like special permission from your parents because you were so young to get
married right? Happy St. Patrick's Day. Many of you may not know this but I do have
some Connor and Crowley blood so I can officially say Happy St. Patrick's Day. And I
want to ask the Council President to follow up on the memo that I sent to the Mayor. I'm
not sure if everyone's had a chance to read it. I called asking for a meeting about the
Capital Improvement Budget and I was not granted a meeting. I followed that up with
what I thought was a very pleasant memo, non-accusatory at all. I was hoping to have a
return phone call or return email and I did not get one. So I'm not happy anymore and so
I know I called Council President on Friday but I was really hoping I'd have a more
positive response by today so if you could please address this with the Mayor or I'll take
• it to the next level but I'm hoping I don't have to. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Messick?
Councilor Messick—I have a couple things. The first is that Agawam will be
• celebrating Earth Day again this year. The date is April 17'' and it's from 11-3 at the
School Street Park. Last year it was a lot of fun and was a very successful event. We
still have spaces available. It's kind of a bring-your-own display situation and if you
need a space, they're free. You can give me a call 786-8125 or you can contact Barbara
in the City Council office and she will get a message to me and if you have businesses or
• any sort of craft or hobby that has anything to do with going green and that type of thing,
we'd be more than happy to talk to you. The second thing is most of us in the town will
have gotten our census information this week or possibly last week and I just wanted to
urge people to fill it out completely and send it back. Make sure you get that done
because it has very big consequences for how funding is made, how decisions are made
in up at the state level. So that's really important and I just wanted to remind people to
get that back to us and I also am authorized to say Happy St.Patrick's Day! Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor O'Cichetti, no, Cichetti?
Councilor Cichetti—I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Week because
a lot of you Irish people do celebrate it all week long! Have a nice day!
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President Rheault—Thank you. Touche! Councilor Walsh?
• Councilor Walsh—Okay. I think first item I'd like to bring up would be the TV
broadcast of the Council's meetings. We've had a couple of recent failures and some
people have basically wondered what it is we may be hiding when the meeting does not
take place. My thought would be and I've talked around and it would seem to be maybe
there's a compatibility problem with the Comcast equipment because they recently went
digital last year. I think maybe a good idea might be to check with other municipalities
and see are they having similar problems to what we're having. If so, how are they
resolving them and if it's equipment issues, are they receiving any assistance from
Comcast? That would be my first question. I guess the second item on that would be if
our equipment is not compatible, might there be some grants out there to upgrade our
equipment to help us out so that we can give the citizens basically good TV broadcast.
So that's my item on TV broadcast and finally Happy St. Patrick's Day and while my
father was not born in Ireland, he was born in Holyoke so "Ireland USA". So good night
Agawam.
President Rheault—Thank you. I share those sentiments on the Comcast and I will
pursue that further with the Mayor and see what's going on up there. It's a long standing
problem and I think unfortunate to the viewers that watch it because the quality upstairs
is absolutely outstanding but we lose it once it gets out of here. So we'll find out in
detail. I did attend the meeting with Vice President and the Committee a couple months
ago and there was something that was supposed to transpire from that meeting and I'm
• remiss to say that I don't know what happened from that and we haven't discussed it but I
will bring that up again. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all and Gina if you would just see
me for one second so I can see what's convenient as far as time and we'll see if we can
expedite that meeting for you.
• Councilor Bitzas—Mr. President if I may? Point of Order? Tomorrow, or Wednesday,
the Lion's Club we are going to announce and I am happy here to announce they
celebrate the St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, in this school,this cafeteria, between 5:00
and 7:00 and they have corned beef and all the...so people and all the councilors are
invited to come and Jack and I we will be there to serve you. So Wednesday, this
Wednesday 5-7 in this school. Thank you.
President Rheault—I have my ticket and hopefully it will be well attended. Did you sell
me that one? You probably did. Thank you very much. Good evening ladies and
gentlemen. I'll entertain a motion first to adjourn. Moved by the Council to adjourn,
seconded by the Council. All those in favor? Opposed? We are now adjourned and
good evening.
Adiournment.
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