CC MTG MINUTES MARCH 21 2011 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
March 21, 2011
Vice President Rossi -- Good evening and welcome to the City Council meeting of
March 21, 2011. As you can see President Don Rheault is not in attendance tonight.
He's a little under the weather and I wish him good speed. Councilor Cichetti is away on
business. He will not attend.
Item 1. Citizen's Speak Time
Vice President Rossi — There are no citizens for Speak Time so I will ask Barbara to
please call the roll.
Item 2. Roll Call
ROLL CALL—9 PRESENT, 2 ABSENT(Councilor Cichetti and President Rheault)
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Vice President Rossi—Nine present, two absent.
Item 3. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAlleriance
Councilor Perry—Mr. Vice President? A moment of silence first?
Vice President Rossi — Oh, I'm sorry...a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance
please?
Item 4. Minutes
(a) Regular Council Meeting—March 7, 2011
Vice President Rossi — Moved by Councilor Magovern, seconded by Councilor Perry.
All in favor? Opposed? We have two abstentions — Councilor Letellier and Councilor
Simpson.
Item S. Declaration from Council President
1. Emergency Preamble regarding sewer main break
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Vice President Rossi — This is going to require a vote of the City Council — eight votes
required to pass this. We're all familiar with this. is there any discussion? Moved by
Councilor Bitzas, seconded by Councilor Perry.
• Councilor Bitzas—Mr. Vice President can you please read that for the people?
TO-201 1-10—Emergency Authorization Pursuant of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 31
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WHEREAS, sections of the 10" and the 20" sewer force main pipes on Meadow Street, located in a
protected wet land, ere discovered damaged on March 18, 2011; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the damage to the force mains untreated sewage was released- and
WHEREAS, it has been reported that sewage was flowing into the Westfield River; and
WHEREAS, the DPW has been working diligently in an effort to bypass the sewage leak and limit the
. backup, however, the situation is rapidly deteriorating; and
WHEREAS, the sewer repairs are beyond the capacity of the Town's equipment to make necessary repairs;
and
WHEREAS, a contractor with the ability and equipment is required to repair the sewer force mains; and
• WHEREAS, this request is based upon the necessity to replace or repair the force mains, although the full
extent of the damage and cost to repair are unknown at this time due to conditions at the worksite; and
WHEREAS, the Agawam Conservation Commission has issued an emergency certificate; and
WHEREAS, in order to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the Town of Agawam and its
citizens, repairs to the sewer pipe must be made immediately; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Town of Agawam for the Agawam City Council to act on TO-
2011-10 at its regular meeting of Monday, March 21, 2011
NOW THEREFORE, the Agawam City Council hereby declares pursuant to Section 2-9(b) of the Agawam
Home Rule Charter that an emergency exists and hereby approves this Emergency Preamble; and
NOW THEREFORE, the Agawam City Council authorizes the Mayor pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44,
Section 31 to incur liabilities in excess of amounts appropriated to the Agawam DPW to repair sections of
the 10"and the 20"force mains near Meadow Street. Dated this 21s'day of March, 2011.
Vice President Rossi— Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — Yes, I think we have no choice then to approve this today, tonight
and probably saw on television and the news and it's absolutely terrible what those
individuals did during the night. It is unthinkable to create that mess and that destruction
down there.. and I hope we recover every single penny so I hope the Council acts wisely
and votes in favor. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi — Anyone else? Barbara, please call the roll. You will be voting
on whether to declare the Emergency Preamble.
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, O NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
Vice President Rossi — Nine yes, two absent, we've approved that an emergency does
exist and TO-2011-10 will be added to the Agenda of this date, March 21, 2011 and we'll
• take a motion on that right now.
Councilor Letellier—Motion to approve the item.
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Vice President Rossi — Okay, motion by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor
• Simpson. Any discussion? Barbara,please call the roll?
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
Vice President Rossi—With nine yes, two absent, it's been carried.
Item 6. Presentation of Petitions,Memorials& Remonstrances
(a) Resolutions
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1. TR-2011-19 - A Resolution regarding the Approval of an Inter-
Municipal Shelter Lease Agreement regarding Animal Control between West
Springfield,Westfield, and the Town of Agawam (Mayor)
• Vice President Rossi—Do we have a motion? Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded
by Councilors Walsh and Bitzas. Any discussion? Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. I sort of tried to thank Lt. Gillis at the beginning
of the meeting and I got here a little too late to thank him in person but I was unable to
attend the meeting so I found that letter with the timeline to be extremely helpful so I'm
in favor of this shelter lease as well as the Ordinance to update the dog licensees and I say
job well done.
Vice President Rossi—I didn't see who was first...Councilor Magovern?
• Councilor Magovern—Again I want—
Councilor Perry — Point of privilege, Mr. Vice President? This was referred to the
Finance Committee or is it the other one?
Vice President Rossi — The other one. This is actually Councilor Magovern's
Ordinance, this is the lease agreement we are talking about.
Councilor Magovern — I just want to talk a little bit about it. We discussed it at the
Ordinance meeting as well although it's not the Ordinance, it's just the agreement
between Westfield, West Springfield and Agawam and first I want to thank Lt. Gillis for
all the effort and energy and hours that he's put into this. But in reading through it, I had
a few red flags that I wanted to bring up. Basically it's a very expensive solution to a
very difficult problem and I know that we have a problem out there but just so that
everybody's aware of what it is. We're being charged $9,700.00 from Westfield for a
• one time fee in order to go into the dog pound out there plus it's gonna be another $800+
almost $900 a month for the services in order to bring our animals there which is roughly
about $18,000.00 plus we're gonna be charged for each animal roughly another $75.00
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for shots and then $15.00 a day. And our whole cost — the animals because we've had
such a great Animal Control Officer we've only had 30 dogs that had to be kept overnight
• and I think to spend $18,000.00 base cost for thirty dogs is rather expensive and I just
wanted enough discussion on this so that everything is hashed out and everybody
understands it that it's an expensive solution to the problem. And I was hoping that there
was some way that we could look to getting some kind of a bid maybe from some other
public people that might be interested in sheltering our dogs for a little bit less than
• almost$300 a dog. So I'll just throw that out for a little bit of discussion.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — Yes, I would like to discuss of course but after we speak to and we
have more questions to I believe the most important people here in the audience — the
Mayor is here, both from Westfield and Agawam, and Lt. Gillis and the Chief of Police
and I believe and I respectfully disagree with Councilor Magovern, I do agree with
Councilor Letellier and the reason I disagree with you Councilor Magovern, if there was
less expensive of anything better than this and I read the letter which very in detail the
letter it's almost like a book, it explains exactly how we can save money to make very
clear and sure if we stay with Southwick and today of course I had a conversation with
Lt. Gillis, some questions, and Southwick will ask us to pay $5000.00 per month if we
want to keep the dogs down there. Actually they don't really want us to have the dogs
there. How we can save $5000 per month to have the dogs in Southwick. Now in
Springfield, they're asking us almost $90,000 per year because it goes $3.00 per each
• resident of Agawam. We have about 30,000 people in Agawam times $3 each is about
$90,000---it's a lot more expensive. So the deal with Westfield I believe it is a good deal.
Now if we try to build as the letter say with Mr. Gillis to build our own we cost us almost
$2 million. It's almost unbelievable when Lt. Gillis explained to me it would be a facility
with air conditions and regulations, I think we got a good deal and I want to make a
• motion to go into Committee as a Whole to ask those questions to people they know
better than us the situation. So I make a motion to go into Committee as a Whole.
Vice President Rossi—You wish to go into Committee as a Whole before you speak?
Councilor Letellier — Well, he made a motion and we both seconded it now you've got
to go into—
Vice President Rossi—All in favor?
• Councilor Letellier—You have to have a vote now.
Vice President Rossi — All in favor? Opposed? Okay, we will go into Committee as a
Whole. Is there anyone out there willing to speak for this? Lt. Gillis or the Mayor?
(Setting up microphone and table for Committee as a Whole presentation)
Vice President Rossi—Okay, Councilor Letellier?
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Mayor Cohen—If I could—
Vice President Rossi—Do you want to make a presentation first?
Councilor Letellier—Oh, absolutely, sure!
Mayor Cohen -- Not really a presentation, I just want to personally thank Councilors
Rossi and Bitzas. We had a long discussion today, almost an hour and a half/two hours,
and I really appreciate that. I think the communication was excellent and it was
important because a lot of questions were asked and they were answered. This was not
something that we just put together without research. We spent I would say a good part
of a year looking at this, at surrounding communities, new state statutes. We did meet
with Southwick. They do not want to be in the doggy sheltering business and they
thankfully allowed us to stay there and we reached out to them again today and they
extended it but they are not going to extend it for much longer for us to bring our dogs
there. We have looked at a lot of different options and I want to personally thank
Thomas DeBose, our law clerk, and Eric Gillis and the Chief and everybody because we
have spent countless hours on this and I want to thank Mayor Knapik and Captain
McCabe for reaching out to us and giving us what is the least expensive. And it's like an
insurance policy — we all hate paying it but we have to have a place to bring them. We
can't just drop them off behind the Police Station. I can't drop them off at the Senior
Center. I can't drop them off at the DPW. We have to meet specific standards under the
law to shelter animals whether it's one dog—we had two dogs this weekend— Southwick
wouldn't take them so we reached out to them today and they've okayed it again — the
extension. We can't bring them to Westfield because we don't have an agreement with
them so I mean when it does happen, we need a place and they $9700 is for the build out
of the cages and the kennels that will meet Code that will allow us to bring our dogs
there, whether it's one or two or ten or twenty or three. We do have a vet in place that
takes care of all of that. I would like to turn it over to Lt. Gillis and then afterwards if
Mayor Knapik has any questions or anything but believe me we have researched it and I
really appreciate the time Lt. Gillis and Captain McCabe and Thomas, our law clerk, and
Vince and myself, but thank you to all of you— Chief—for all the time and the meetings
! and everything else.
Lt. Gillis — Thank you Mayor. Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the Council. You
all received my letter last week or the week before that. I know it was pretty lengthy but
I wanted to put things in perspective for all of you who haven't been going through this
journey with us in trying to get this animal control situation straightened out and I felt it
was important to give you an historical perspective of what had been going on and how
we had reached this final chapter, I certainly hope, in this situation. I understand
Councilor Magovern's concerns. If we do it on a cost per dog basis, it's super expensive
but as the Mayor clearly pointed out, this is really an insurance plan. It doesn't, we're not
in a paying per dog on this agreement, we're paying whether we take thirty dogs or three
hundred dogs to this shelter and we never know what we're gonna have in a given year
for at-large dogs that need to be sheltered. But under the Mass. General Laws, we're
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required to shelter those animals. We've got to have something in place and we don't
have anything in place right now. That's the sad fact of the matter. We've gotten
• assistance from Southwick while we've cobbled these agreements together but they are
not interested in any long term relationship with us with respect to sheltering animals.
That's it. Why that is, I'm not gonna speculate. That's not my place but the bottom line
is they don't want a relationship with us. So we need to find another solution. If we
build a shelter, that's the first part of this. We build it — at considerable expense — we
• build a shelter. Then we have to fund it and we have to operate it and we have to pay the
people to operate it. I'm pretty confident that nobody here wants to get into the dog
sheltering business. This is a service that we should be outsourcing to minimize our costs
because if we handle it ourselves, it's exorbitant and it doesn't make sense given the
number of dogs that we shelter on an annual basis, if we just take a rough average. It just
• doesn't make sense. It doesn't make good fiscal sense and I understand there are
concerns about the initial cash outlay. The bottom line is this —very simple —in order to
accommodate us in Westfield, they had to build out their facility. That costs money.
They figured out how much it was gonna cost and they split it up between us and West
Springfield because West Springfield was in discussions with them to shelter their
• animals there. We're gonna pay half of those costs if we want to go there. That makes
sense. We've got to pay that. We're also gonna have to pay to be there, for the privilege
of having that facility available to us at all times. When I looked at this and we started
working on these projects, I also noticed that our Ordinances in town with respect to
animal control were scattered and weak at best. We had them scattered over several
different chapters in the Municipal Code — none of them were current — several of them
• dated back to the early 1900's. It's something that none of us had really taken a look at
but when we looked at it, it made sense for us to re-vamp that as well. At the same time,
I looked at the fee structures that are in place with respect to dog licensing here in town.
Currently our dog licenses are $4.00 each. By Pioneer Valley standards, that's woefully
low. All of the surrounding communities in this area are a minimum of $10 for a
• licensing fee. So part of that Chapter 96 re-vamp giving you this new Ordinance, is a
new fee structure as well to bring us in line with surrounding communities but what it
also does is it gives us a revenue stream to offset the cost that we're gonna incur as a
result of entering into this sheltering agreement. So what we've done is we've brought a
solution to our animal sheltering needs to you but we've also brought you a mechanism
• to fund that solution. I would urge you to take a close look at it and give it some real
serious consideration because I think it's the way that we need to go. Above and beyond
the fee structure with respect to the adoption of these new Ordinances, it's gonna give our
Animal Control Officer some tools in her toolbox that she's never had. There are issues
that occur with animal control throughout this town that we cannot effectively deal with
• because we do not have Ordinances that are strong enough to deal with these situations.
So now our Animal Control Officer is forced to just walk away from situations because
she has no teeth in any of these laws to actually deal with the problem at hand. I'll give
you an example. The new Ordinance puts caps on the numbers of pets within
households. I know Councilor Magovem expressed some concerns about this issue. I
can assure the Council and the citizens of the community, we're not going to be out doing
random spot checks to see how many dogs and cats are in a particular household. That's
not the way this is gonna work. However, if we get complaints like we do from time to
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time that somebody has an inordinate number of animals on their property that are
causing a public safety problem, we'll actually be able to address it. She'll have the
i ability to move forward on these things. Above and beyond that, above and beyond
giving ACO Strong some tools in her toolbox to deal with the animal control problems,
you also need to be aware that there is currently legislation pending, S01033 in the Mass.
Legislature and it is regarding animal control and bringing up Mass. General Laws to
current times with respect to animal control and enforcements efforts in the
Commonwealth. As our Ordinances currently stand, we're not gonna be in compliance
with any new state regulations that come down because our Ordinances are so out of date
and so out of whack that we're gonna have to re-visit this issue. If we don't take care of
it now, we're certainly gonna have to re-visit it down the road. If we adopt this
Ordinance now I'm confident that all we're gonna have to do is make some minor tweaks
to comply with that new state law once it comes out because as we all know it never goes
through exactly as it's written. So I'm sure they'll make some changes and they'll make
some adjustments but if we put this new Chapter 96 in place, I think we'll be able to
move forward with that and it'll kind of be a seamless transition for us. So there are a lot
of benefits to this. I certainly understand that it's a large sum of money but in the scheme
of things given our options, I think it's a fantastic deal and I'm delighted that Mayor
Knapik and Captain McCabe have given us this opportunity. I mean if you read my letter
this came about because I was talking with Captain McCabe about building our own
shelter and we got into a discussion about the pitfalls and hurdles that their community
has had to overcome and this olive branch was extended to us to help us out in our time
of need and I'd just like to thank both of them for all of their efforts and all of their
• assistance. That's about it. If you have any questions for me, I'd be happy to answer
whatever I can but that's it for my statement.
Vice President Rossi—Any questions from the Council?
• Mayor Cohen — If you look at the number of licenses dogs in 2010, there are 1,403 dogs.
If it's increased to the $10 like surrounding communities, that's $14,000.00 that helps to
pay for it. In 1989 the City Council established an account that already exists as a
resolving account for dogs under Chapter 146 so we don't need to establish an account.
What we need to do, this money from the dog licenses would go into that account and it
can offset and pretty much self-sufficient and would more than pay for the lease
agreement at $10,800.00 a year because we would generate over $14,000.00 in revenue.
The new laws are also gonna stipulate that that account, we're gonna have to set up
another account because the cities and towns will be liable for both spay and neutering
any dogs or strays that we find. The new laws are gonna put greater burden on
• communities and with the research that Lt. GilIis and Attorney DeBose has done, they've
already helped to bring the Ordinance that we have before you in line with the new
regulations that the state is gonna put out. Believe me is it the best solution? I think it's
the best one that we have. If you don't vote it up, I hope you have a suggestion or
something that would certainly help us and I don't mean that facetiously. We've spent a
lot of time on it. I don't really want to spend $90,000.00 to go to T. J. O'Connor and
have a long wait period. That was one of the reasons and wonder whether or not they're
gonna come. We think it's a great deal. Is it expensive? So isn't health insurance and I
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hope none of you ever have to use your's but you know when you have to it's a good
thing to have. So I think it just brings us into line, it's an excellent job and what I'd like
to do, if it's okay if Mayor Knapik has anything to say, if it's the Council's pleasure?
Mayor Knapik — Thank you Mayor. It's an honor to appear here in front of you this
evening. I can tell you first hand sitting on the Westfield City Council for eight years
prior to becoming the Mayor, as Chairman of the Ordinance Committee one of the most
r sticky issues next to the taxation was animal control. Some number of years ago, we
were in the exact same position you find yourself in here tonight which is an area where
licensing fees were not appropriate to carry out the mission of animal control. We had an
issue associated with regulation of the amount of animals within a house, kenneling laws
and things of this nature and then ultimately, like you, we had an agreement with
S Southwick in which eventually it came to its end conclusion and about the Fall of 2009,
we were told that there'd be no more extensions with the Town of Southwick. So at that
point in time, shortly in January or thereabouts, we executed a lease agreement for a
shelter because of our own needs and certainly with Captain McCabe's leadership, the
issues associated with animal control and custody while we picked the animals up are
dictated to us by the Mass General Laws and we have an obligation to safeguards these
animals. So we have been committed to the shelter business and unlike Southwick, this
is a permanent situation for the City of Westfield and just like you folks one of the things
that the Council did at that time was look at all the options for sheltering that were in the
Valley and at the time Dakin had just recently come into play over at the former Rowley
Memorial and Dakin was not in the business of sheltering so that wasn't an option, that
was off the table. We looked at TJO and the same problem there was this assessment fee
per resident of the City of Westfield and again for us it was about $3.00 for 43,000
people and it did not make any financial sense. So we came to the conclusion that we
needed to do a shelter situation and I'm happy to say that if you've never seen the facility
— it's across from the terminal building at Barnes Municipal airport across the terminal
M parking lot—and it is a wonderful facility. We are committed as a city to animal shelter.
This is a long — I look at this as a long-term regional agreement. I spoke with Mayor
Gibson today relative to his participation, at this point they're non-committal but I think
like you folks will find, like we found, this is gonna be your best option and certainly we
had to bite the bullet initially to get the shelter up and running because we had no other
option. We had the same problems with animals—where do you put them? I think when
you look down and there's an initial build-out fee but that's recovered at the end of this
year and this is actually a partnership. I look at this as long as my tenure with Mayor, the
City of Agawam, the City of Westfield—we're partners in animal control and the facility
can be used as a good public outreach tool for your citizens. We have adoption days at
the shelter. We do a lot of different outreach with it. We have a wonderful Friends group
and it does wonderful things and it does the things that we're required to do by Mass
General Law and I see this for your city as a permanent solution for your dog situation.
Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Letellier?
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Councilor Letellier — Mayor Knapik, you indicated that West Side was not completely
on board yet, Mayor Cohen, what will happen if West Side's not on board, we just pay
• the $9700 for our share of the build-out and we're still able to shelter the dogs there
whether or not West Springfield signs on?
Mayor Knapik—Yea.
Mayor Cohen—Our agreement will still stand.
Mayor Knapik— Yes, that is true. The way I structured the agreement was that it was
going to be independent whether or not either city came on board. Again, I think what
they're gonna find in West Springfield is exactly what you'll find out when you do the
research about shelter options. But we're ready to go. We could take your animals
tomorrow. We went ahead on our own to build out the facility so we kind of took the
approach, again, there's no other options when your city is our size, for animal control,
that is as cost effective as what we are proposing to you.
Councilor Letellier—Thank you.
Mayor Knapik—You're welcome.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Mineo — Yes, I just, to Mayor Cohen, how much is this gonna cost for the
year, every year?
Mayor Cohen—Approximately $10,800.00 rounded up.
• Councilor Mineo—Is that including the rent?
Mayor Cohen—That's the total cost.
Councilor Mineo—The total cost per year?
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Mayor Cohen—Yes.
Councilor Mineo — And we're looking to, I know this is, I'm probably going a little
ahead of myself but on the new fees for the dog licenses, we want to increase that to
$10.00?
Mayor Cohen —Ten dollars.
Councilor Mineo—So if it's costing us $10,800.00 and if there's, is there 4300 dogs that
are licensed in the Town of Agawam?
Mayor Cohen— 1,400.
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Councilor Mineo— 1,400.
Mayor Cohen— 1,400 times 10 is $14,000, approximately
Councilor Mineo —Okay, thanks.
Mayor Cohen—You're welcome.
Vice President Rossi — Any other questions from Council members? If not, Councilor
Magovern?
Councilor Magovern - I just wanted to thank Mayor Knapik for coming down here
tonight and again I wanted to reiterate that Lt. Gillis has spent hours, I mean we spent an
hour the other night, evening, Councilor Cichetti and myself going over this whole
program with him and it is very detailed. It is a problem and my objection to it wasn't
based on your lack of effort in going into it, it's just I really feel that $300 a dog is very,
very, very expensive and being a fiscal conservative it kind of grates on me but I
understand what Westfield is giving us is a very good program where there's no way we
could ever do it in town for that. There's no way we could go to Springfield and do it for
that because I think what they're paying over in Springfield at $3.00 a head times the
population of Springfield is just another very, very expensive solution. So as solutions
are on the table right now, this is probably the only one but I still wish that there was
some other way, that there was a private facility that we could inquire or that somebody
could step forward and do this on an individual dog basis.
Mayor Cohen —We did look at, there is a kennel that has not been used for years, on the
Six Flags property off of South Street and to bring that up to Code and then to have to
staff it, would have cost more than what it's costing us now. There is no private kennel
that meets the Codes of the State Statutes that we would be able to bring any dogs to. We
used to bring them into West Springfield, Mr. Pauling, but they're not in the business
anymore either.
Vice President Rossi — Councilor Bitzas, I'm gonna allow Captain from Westfield, do
you want to say something prior to ??? Would you step up to the microphone, that way
there we can record your comments. Thank you.
Captain McCabe — (off microphone)...thank you for having me here tonight. To speak
to Councilor Magovern's concern as far as the cost and the other possible sources.
Before we came to the solution that we have now, we put out two different RFP's
requesting exactly what you're trying to get and in those RFP's the first one came back
with nobody at all. The second one came back with a price that was exorbitant. To the
Mayor's earlier point for us to have used the facility that you were talking about, Thomas
J. O'Connor, it was about $118,000.00 so it was something that we just couldn't do.
Under this, if this were me and I were making the decision as to whether or not I was
gonna move my city forward to enter into this agreement, I would do it in a second for
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lots of other reasons having nothing to do with fiscal responsibility. Mayor Knapik while
he was on the Council and then took over as Mayor came in and thank God pushed the
• rest of it through but he was on the end of it, if it wasn't for his stewardship it never
would have gotten through, I took it in 2008 and how I wound up with it, you can ask
Eric, I don't have any idea as captain of a Police Department but it became mine. We
went through the MSPCA, we went through many, many different Council hearing
sessions, we went through every possible scenario you could imagine in terms of what if,
what if, what if, what if, what if. I have learned that dog owners are probably the most
rabid advocates for their animals ever in the history of mankind and what came out of it
was a very well run, very functioning animal control unit that we now have. It's clean.
It's new and it was built to every specification through Mass General Law that Lt. Gillis
has indicated and there are many, many, many of them which were all fairly new to me.
I'm sorry not to speak to the other side of the Council so I'm telling you for sure, while it
may seem like it's a lot of money per dog, wait til day one when somebody abandons a
pit bull on your door step and has a litter of eight puppies, That happened day one to us
and you could only imagine the advocates that came out on behalf of the puppies and the
adoption and bla bla bla bla bla. So just for that type of peace of mind to secure your
own peace of mind I wouldn't'look at any — I mean I'd look at other solutions in the
future — but this one seems to me to be really something that it's kind of a no-brainer at
this point for the Town of Agawam.
Councilor Letellier—Plus, I'm sorry if I may—
• Vice President Rossi—Councilor Bitzas had his light on but do you defer?
Councilor Bitzas —Go ahead.
Councilor Letellier — No, when I was reading the agreement I noticed that we had a
sixty day back out period so if we don't like it or if we find something better which I
can't believe you're only having us give you sixty days but thank you very much because
with our current agreement with West Springfield it has a six month window and I was
not pleased with that and when I save that this was sixty days, I thought well if we find
something better then that's fine but I think the sixty days is a huge protection for our
town, not so much for Westfield, but for our town it really is.
Mayor Cohen - Westfield I have to say, not to interrupt Councilor, has been so gracious
and they very much told us they're not looking to make money and they're not, they're
sharing the cost with us and whether West Springfield comes in or not, they're not gonna
. even put a greater burden on us. The greater burden will be on them if West Springfield
doesn't come in because they're gonna have to pick up West Springfield's cost so they
have been very gracious and it's almost, I call it a gift from God.
Councilor Letellier—1 think the other thing and I'm sure both of the mayors will agree is
if we have to staff this, you're looking at insurance, you're looking at, I'm sure the
liability insurance to take care of an animal is huge never mind the health insurance and
the other benefits that we'd have to have for a staffer because I had the same issue as
11
Councilor Magovern. When I did the math and I thought wait a minute and then I though
oh wait, liability insurance, health insurance, so I thank everybody involved. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — Yes, first of all I'd like to thank Mayor Knapik and Captain McCabe
for coming down here, you're the first mayor to address us and we really appreciate that
+ you came all the way from Westfield and we come to visit your town too. It looks nice
now. So this agreement will be for five years and what happens after five years? Are
you going to increase the fee or will it be the same? Can you give us, enlighten us,
because we like it, I mean I know it's a good agreement and I hope that Councilor
Magovern and the rest will vote in favor because we...I mean I don't blame Councilor
Magovern because I had the same questions until I find the answers. I thought it would
be very easy to go even to the dog hospital to go there to have them but then Lt. Gillis
said no way, you cannot put a dog there for a day or two, it's against the regulations and
we appreciate both of you for coming down and help us help you a little bit also. What
will happen after five years?
Mayor Knapik — Just to go back, I'd forgotten with Captain McCabe's search for an
animal home how long that actually took before I got involved with it, it was a disaster,
there's no question but that's a great question Councilor and again the way I look at it
from the City of Westf eld's perspective, there's no where else for us to go. We have
committed, we've staffed, we have ACO in a full-time equivalent plus a part-time
! equivalent and over a hundred volunteers so we are committed to being in the shelter
game and to speak to Councilor Letellier's position, for us, we are no matter what we do,
we're always going to he the major contributor to the shelter so we have a generous lease
agreement with the present property owner but we have a piece of property that we're
evaluating that we own that we would like probably in the future after the lease
! agreement goes through, to evaluate or I mean our lease term runs out is to evaluate a
larger regional complex because what we, you know we're in the gateway to the hill
towns so our ACO's interact with the ACO in the hills and they're of the same problem
that there's these private, quasi-shelter things but they don't meet the MSPA or the MGL
standards that you have to have for these things and they have kind of gravitated to
Westfield as well on their inter-municipality agreements and I think what will happen
with the Westfield scenario is because we're always gonna be in the shelter game down
the line we will just end up picking up more communities because everybody's gonna
find out the same thing, unless TJO changes dramatically how they finance their
operation, it's unsustainable, there's no question. For the number of dogs you were
talking about for that kind of town assessment, that's ridiculous and like I said when
Dakin, they're not interested in having sheltering and most organizations that have any
financial backing, it is a liability. There's no question and it's labor that's involved and
it's labor intensive but this city, my city, is committed to sheltering for as long as we're
in business. So I would anticipate that we would sit down at a later date to discuss the
future but at least I know for now, you would have a safe, secure location, unlimited
amount of animals to come in and you're good for the duration of the lease for now and
that get you out of a sticky situation.
12
•
Councilor Bitzas —Thank you Mr. Mayor.
•
Mayor Knapik-You're welcome.
Vice President Rossi—Any other discussion?
• Councilor Letellier—Move to come out of Committee as a Whole?
Councilor Perry—Second.
Vice President Rossi — All in favor? I want to thank you very much for your
• participation here tonight. It was very helpful and beneficial. Any further discussion?
Seeing none, call the roll please Barb?
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
Vice President Rossi—Nine yes, two absent, the motion's been passed.
Item 7 Report of Council Committees
None.
Item 8. Elections
None.
• Item 9. Public Hearings
None.
Item 10. Old Business
•
1. TO-2011-8 - Transfer of$3,500.00 from Reserve Fund (16605-
57300) to City Council Professional Services (11112-52190) (Referred
to Finance Committee) (President Rheault)
Vice President Rossi — Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
Finance Committee report?
Councilor Walsh — Yes, the Finance Committee met last Thursday at 7:00pm at the
Senior Center and this is a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Council Professional
Services to restore $3,500.00 to the Professional Services Account in the Fiscal Year
0 2010 budget. There was a discussion on the use of the funds by the Council
Reorganization Sub-Committee to engage an outside attorney to advise the committee.
13
The question was raised if the total budget of$5,000.00 would be sufficient enough. If
additional funds were needed, the committee would have to request additional funds.
• The general feeling was that the committee should be able to get through the current
fiscal year without having to request additional funding. A vote was taken and the vote
was 4-0 in favor of recommending approval to the Full Council.
Vice President Rossi — Thank you Councilor Walsh. Is there any discussion on the
• motion?
Councilor Letellier—Just so the Full Council knows. I was assigned the duty under the
Reorganization Committee to find us a lawyer but instead what I've done is through the
help of MMA and also DHCD —Department of Housing and Community Development—
• we have been referred to UMass Boston's Collins Center for Public Management and so
we're having a free consultation from them coming at our next meeting on March 30`h
from the Depute Director of the Collins Center and when I spoke to this gentleman, this
is one of their main areas of expertise is to help town's reorganize, save money, they've
done this work before, they're not reinventing the wheel and because they're part of
UMass, they are publicly subsidized so we're getting someone who's expertise is really
• honed in on what we need and it will be less expensive than hiring private counsel. So I
know that because of quorum issues you can't come and ask questions but our meeting is
March 301h and this gentleman, Steve McGoldrick, from the Collins Center from UMass
Boston, is coming and I think it will be a really informational meeting.
• Vice President Rossi—Thank you Councilor Letellier. Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — A question through the Chair to Councilor Letellier. Councilor
Letellier I was at your meeting and you mentioned something about paying this person or
persons or company not hourly fee but just a sum of money, can you tell us how much
about? Do you have any idea?
Councilor Letellier — We don't have any idea. His first meeting with us is March 30th
It's a free consultation. At that point, the committee would meet with this gentleman and
decide if we like what he has to tell us and we think it's a good match and at that point,
my understanding is he's gonna submit a written proposal. To hire him we're gonna have
to contract through the Mayor's Office. The Council can't contract with him. So we'll
have to go through that process.
Councilor Bitzas— So it's be less than $5000? Or you don't know?
Councilor Letellier — I have no idea Councilor Bitzas. I spoke to him on the phone.
I've emailed with him and he's coming on the 301h so -
Councilor Bitzas --- Okay, my point is I don't like to see to be spent too much money
from outside lawyers. I don't mind we have $5000.00 or something but we have the
...our lawyers that can give us some advice and I hope they know and of course we have
your expertise, you are a lawyer of course.
• 14
•
Councilor Letellier - I am not a municipal lawyer and I have said that every time
• somebody says something.
Councilor Bitzas — So we try to keep the cost down for the taxpayers, that's all. Thank
you.
• Vice President Rossi—Councilor Walsh? No? Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Yes, thank you Mr. Vice President. I put the request in to the Council
President to add the additional $3,500.00 into the Professional Services Account for the
City Council. In pushing to have this Reorganization Committee formed, we knew that
we would need legal advice and things of that nature and in our first meeting, one of the
things that I looked at bringing to our meeting was that our current budget that we had
passed last June only had $1,500.00 in it and that's really not gonna get us anywhere if
we need the outside services. As a committee, we will look at in our upcoming meeting
what the cost will be and make a recommendation to the Full Council but I really feel that
as a City Council, in general, having $1,500.00 in our Professional Services will not help
us in any way in any issue that would come before us — not only the Reorganization
Committee. So I would highly recommend that this Council would vote to add this
$3,500.00 to this Line Item. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Mineo?
•
Councilor Mineo — Yea, I just wanted to remind some of the councilors that have been
on this City Council. Back in 2000, this budget was $10,000.00. It was $10,000.00 and
there wasn't one councilor, one councilor, I don't remember one councilor voting against
our budget, not one councilor and there's a lot of us that have been up here for going on
• twelve years so I think it's a good idea that we have outside counsel and I respectfully
disagree but I just wanted to bring that up. That we did have $10,000, it went from
$10,000 to $5,000 to $1500.00 and I think it's time that we raise this and I think if we
need to come back at some point and we need to re-visit it, then I think we look at it then
but I just wanted to remind people the way they voted back in 2000, 2001 and 2002
because not one councilor voted against this.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern — I just wanted to say that I think it's very wise that you're taking
the initiative to form this committee and. I was wondering if Councilor Perry could
outline just a little bit some of the objectives of this Reorganization Committee and what
some of your hopes and plans are. I know it's not part of what we're voting on but I
think it would be interesting for the public to get a better idea as to what you're trying to
accomplish because from what I read I think that it's commendable.
Vice President Rossi —Well, Councilor Perry, can you tie that in to the $3,500.00 we're
being asked to transfer?
15
Councilor Magovern — As to what you're trying to accomplish by having this attorney
or counselor come in and talk to you. What you're looking for him to accomplish by the
expenditure of this money, I think that addresses the motion.
Councilor Perry— Okay, in general, when I formed this committee obviously the goal is
to save the taxpayers money, that's the number one goal of this committee. In discussion
with my committee members, is I am sure as I talk with them; we're not the first
community to look at this so why reinvent the wheel? The ultimate goal is to save
taxpayers money. How we get there, we need outside advice from people that have taken
on this task. That's basically what we're looking to do, to keep it within the realm of the
$3,500.00. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — Yes, thank you Mr. President. Through the Chair to Councilor
Mineo, if get $10,000 a few years ago and I vote for it, it was special occasion, but we
didn't spend any money in the last couple, three, four years and I'm happy to see us not
spend any more money. We're not here because, we have two years ago $10,000, let's
throw away $10,000 of taxpayers' money. Times are tough. We have to use free money
that we have our attorney in City Hall. He's a different branch. He works for us and gets
paid for for us so I don't see the point to because we have to hire outside lawyers with
open checkbook. That's my point. I will support the $3500.00 1 have no problem with
r that but I hope Councilor Perry, you keep an eye for that and I know Councilor Letellier
we...so try not to spend too much money, that's my point it was. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Mineo?
M Councilor Mineo — rust one more point that I'd like to make, yes, it's not throwing
money away or anything like that. It was $10,000; it went to $5000 and down to $1500.
When our budget, whatever it was, was $10,000, if we didn't use the $10,000, it went
back to the General Fund and there were many a years we didn't use it and that's why we
went from $10,000 to $5000 to $1500. We were very cautious. This Council's very
cautious at the money they spent with the funds that we had. We didn't use them year
after year. Year after year it was budgeted and if we didn't use it, it went back to the
General Fund. That's the only point I'm trying to make.
Vice President Rossi — Any other discussion? Seeing none, Barbara, would you please
call the roll on transferring $3,500.00 from General Reserve to the City Council
Professional Fund?
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
Vice President Rossi—With nine yes and two absent, the motion's been carried.
16
•
2. TO-2011-9 - A Transfer of $9,708.00 from the Reserve Fund
(16605-57300) to Animal Transfer Capital Outlay (16610-new) (Referred to
• Finance Committee) (Mayor)
Vice President Rossi — Moved by Councilor Simpson, seconded by Councilor Messick.
Referred to the Finance Committee, Councilor Walsh?
Councilor Walsh —Thank you, yes, at the same meeting last Thursday, we took up TO-
2011-9 a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Animal Transfer Capital Outlay in the
amount of$9,708.00 to fund the Town of Agawam's portion of a necessary build-out cost
of the Inter-Municipal Shelter as detailed in the Inter-Municipal Shelter Lease
Agreement. Councilor Rossi led the discussion in which he felt it was too costly. He
provided the committee with statistics on the number of dogs picked up by the Animal
Control Officer, Allison Strong, and that the majority of animals are returned to their
owners. He also indicated that so far in 2011 all dogs picked up have been returned to
their owners which I guess is due in partly to the Animal Control Officer being more
aggressive in getting dogs licensed. Councilor Rossi has spoken to both Control Officer
• Strong and Lt. Eric Gillis and while Lt. Gillis indicated he had spoken to Control Officer
Strong, she indicated she had not been consulted on the matter. Councilor Rossi
indicated he thought the build-out costs were excessive considering that West Springfield
has to fund the same amount and that the lease is for five years with no renewal options.
Our share of the rent would be $900.00 a month which he thought was a lot for the
number of animals which are picked up each year. There's also a question about West
Springfield going in a different direction. Apparently the Thomas J. O'Connor facility in
Springfield has been in discussion with West Springfield about using their facility.
Councilor Rossi also mentioned that Control Officer Strong has indicated that she has not
picked up any dogs in West Springfield. Councilor Mineo would like Control Officer
Strong and Lt. Gillis to appear before the Council to explain the plan to deal with
• animals. The committee did not think it was a good plan for the money. So a vote was
taken and the vote was four votes to recommend to the Full Council to table the matter
until additional information was available.
Vice President Rossi—Thank you Councilor Walsh.
•
Councilor Bitzas—Mr. President?
Vice President Rossi—Yes?
• Councilor Bitzas —I know you cannot speak because you are Chair but what you said in
the minutes here, after presentation here I don't think will count but I just want you to tell
the Council some information that came up clear, so if you would let the Council know,
can you speak and somebody can take the Chair?
Vice President Rossi—If I would step out of the Chair, I could explain that.
0 17
Councilor Letellier — It would be Councilor Walsh that would be next as the oldest
member of the Council.
•
Vice President Rossi — I would turn the gavel over to Councilor Walsh and I'll step out
of the Chair.
Councilor Walsh —Councilor Rossi you have the floor.
•
Councilor Rossi—The minutes that were just read by Councilor Walsh were accurate in
what my presentation was to the sub-committee. I did at that point in time think that it
was excessive. Looking through the window at what we had, we picked up in the area of
30 dogs, 29 dogs, per year. More than half are returned to the owner. I thought that
$900.00 a month was a little excessive but I had a chance to speak with the Mayor and Lt.
Gillis and we went over some of the problems and questions that I had in my mind and
I've since changed my view considerably. I understand now that at the time I thought
that perhaps there were other options that we might explore. I have found out that our
options are very limited and I have since come to understand that Westfield's agreement
with Agawam turned out to be a pretty good one and I would thank Westfield for their
consideration to Agawam in our hour of need because I do understand that we do need to
have a program in place. I was under the impression, falsely I guess, that we could
probably get it done a little bit cheaper than $900.00. I was wrong and I don't mind
admitting that. I was wrong. So I'm here to tell you that after my reviewing of the
situation and talking it over with Lt. Gillis and the Mayor and I have since come to
• believe that it's a very good agreement. I think it's one that could last a very long time. I
think it would be very costly for Agawam to do this on their own. I think it's very costly
for anybody and in listening to Mayor Knapik, if I'm reading through the lines at what
he's saying, I guess it's gonna turn out to be a pretty good venture if things go in your
direction and I hope that they do. I think it's a good venture on your part. It sounds like
it could be. I think it's the only way that we can go. I think it's the only way we as cities
and towns together in the Valley that can make is to try to get together and conserve our
efforts in the same direction. I think that that makes sense. So when I say that whatever
Councilor Walsh had said is accurate I am going to tell you that I was deeply mistaken
and I have since changed my mind. So as far as the Council's concerned I am in full
favor of this agreement and the Ordinance change. Thank you.
Councilor Walsh—I will return the Chair to Vice President Rossi.
Vice President Rossi—Thank you Councilor Walsh. Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Minco — Yea, I just wanted to say when we had the meeting the other night, I
wasn't in favor, I wasn't against. I want to appreciate you coming before us because I
was the one who had asked that you and Officer Strong come before us, Lt. Gillis. I just
wanted to get more information on it. You articulated it very well. I understand the
agreement and I'm definitely in favor of it.
•
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Walsh?
18
•
Councilor Walsh—Yea, I think in effective we kind of put the cart before the horse so to
• speak because we've already approved TR-2011-19 the lease agreement so therefore
we're now bound to the point of strictly the transfer of the monies. Therefore I think the
questions we had are really moot at this point.
Councilor Bitzas —Move the question.
•
Vice President Rossi—Question's been moved. Barbara, please call the roll?
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
• Vice President Rossi—Nine yes, two absent, motion's been moved.
Councilor Letellier — We moved the question now we have to actually vote on the
question.
• Vice President Rossi — You're right, I'm sorry, you're absolutely right. Okay, Barb,
please call the roll?
ROLL CALL — 9 YES, O NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
•
Vice President Rossi —Nine yes, two absent, the main motion has been carried. I don't
know what I'd do without you here.
3. TOR-2011-2 - An Ordinance Regarding a New Chapter 96
* Concerning Dogs (Referred to Ordinance Committee) (Mayor)
Vice President Rossi — Moved by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern— Okay, we met the other night. There was Councilor Cichetti and
myself and Lt. Gillis and we spent an hour going over the Ordinance and going over the
Agreement with Westfield. And one of the reasons and again, I've said it before but
thank you, one of the reasons why we've got this Ordinance is because the state is
coming down with a lot of state mandated rules and regulations which is also why we're
stuck paying $900.00 for rental and $9700.00 because it's really state rules and
regulations that preclude any other independent agency from getting into the dog pound
business but we've got a twelve-page Ordinance which is one of the largest ordinances I
have seen in many years as far as our dog and cat ordinance. In the discussion, I made
the recommendation and Councilor Cichetti agreed with me that we should have
transparency on this in the sense that a lot of people are very concerned about their
animals and if we tried to push through an Ordinance that was not thoroughly ...I think
that we would have a lot of people very upset with us and I'd like to see it go to a public
19
hearing and have everybody come in so they understand exactly what's in this Ordinance.
We have a lot of rules and regulations we have to follow by the state but I basically agree
with what's in here with a few little things that I think will come out in discussion. So
that was basically the recommendation of the committee, that we have a public hearing,
all set and go forward with the Ordinance.
Vice President Rossi — Thank you Councilor Magovern. Any other comments?
Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier—Just a reminder that this is just the first reading so there is time for
the public to read it. I know Councilor Messick and I noticed there are a lot of typos so
perhaps those could be addressed before the final passage. I missed the Ordinance
Committee meeting. I'm sorry. My son and myself were both ill. All I'm gonna say is
this is the first reading and if it's the Council's pleasure for a public hearing then fine but
it's not ready for passage tonight anyway.
Vice President Rossi — Right. Any other discussion? Seeing none, Barbara, please call
the roll on the first vote?
•
ROLL CALL -- 9 YES, 0 NO, 2 ABSENT (Councilor Cichetti and President
Rheault)
Vice President Rossi — With nine yes, two absent, the motion's been carried on the first
reading.
Item 11. New Business
1. TR-2011-20 - A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Scott
• Letendre, 338 North Street, Feeding Hills, MA. 01030 to the Agawam Board
of Registrars to a term expiring on April 1, 2014 (Mayor)
Vice President Rossi—Next Agenda.
2. TR-2011-21 -A Resolution to Support the "Local Aid
Resolution" currently under consideration by the Massachusetts
Legislature (Councilor Bitzas)
Vice President Rossi—Next Agenda.
i Item 12. Any other matter that may legally come before the-City Council.
Vice President Rossi—I'll start with Councilor Bitzas.
i Councilor Bitzas -- Yes, if anybody likes to co-sign the Resolution, please let me know
and we can put your names there. It's a great resolution of support to get the local aid.
It's about the time so the government can help us and I think it would benefit every city
20
and town in the area. We send also copies of the resolution to twenty communities.
Barbara did a great job so I ask the other communities to sponsor similar resolutions so if
you do want to co-sponsor you are welcome to do so. Thank you.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Simpson?
Councilor Simpson—Nothing tonight.
•
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern — In going through all the regulation for the dog pound and for the
Ordinance, the one thing that kept on coming up is the fantastic job our Animal Control
Officer has been doing for the past year and I think that she deserves a thank you from
the Council. Getting the dogs increased in licensing has raised some revenues and I think
that getting new license rates, we can raise more money. So again I think she should be
thanked. Also, I had a great day yesterday. It was a great day for the Irish. We had a
wonderful parade. I managed to make the whole thing along with our Mayor and
Councilor Walsh. Again, thank you very much. It was a lot of fun and I'm sorry that
more councilors couldn't march in it. You missed a great opportunity to give pride to the
Irish even if you're not Irish. It was a great day. Thank you very much. Thank you
Mayor for being there.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Mineo?
•
Councilor Mineo —Yea, it was a great day. I do agree with you. I saw you there and the
Mayor there and Jack. I was on the side lines. That's a family day for me. I go with my
wife, my daughter and some relatives but it was nice to see you all out there. You were
three great Irishmen.
•
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Walsh?
Councilor Walsh — Yes that was part of my exercise program was that walk and it was
very interesting. It was a great day. The weather was fantastic and I had a great time.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Messick?
Councilor Messick— 1'd just like to thank Lt. Gillis for jumping into this issue with both
feet and identifying the problem and coming up with not just one solution but several
solutions. I think that once I read the letter that he wrote, everything seemed perfectly
clear and there are just a few little details and just a fantastic job. Thank you. Oh yes,
Agawam Earth Day is set for April 30`h from 11-3 at the School Street Park. We still
have plenty of openings if you have a green business or a green craft or you are a
community organization that would like to participate. You can contact Tracy DeMaio
at the Department of Public Works. The spaces are free and it should be a great day.
Thank you.
21
•
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Letellier?
• Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. The Agawam Park & Rec, the Agawam Lions
Committee and the Agawam Rotary Club are co-sponsoring the Annual Easter Egg Hunt
at the School Street Park on April the 16a' and when you sign up it's for a carload. So
whether it's your child, your neighbor's child etc the space is limited to parking and
Councilor Walsh, you can correct me Councilor, but I think they are planning on hiding
eight thousand eggs? Yes, eight thousand eggs and it's divided by age groups so no
matter how young or old your child is it should be a really fun event. (off microphone)
Exactly! Hours and hours of work stuffing little plastic eggs for five minutes. So,
thanks.
Vice President Rossi—Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Nothing this evening, thank you.
Vice President Rossi — Thank you Council. Thank you gentlemen for appearing here
• this evening. Lt. Gillis would like to make one comment.
Lt. Gillis — I just want to help clarify something. We had no discussions with ACO
Strong about the sheltering agreement with Westfield. We didn't feel it necessary to
bring her into those discussions because they were really just financial discussions about
how much it was gonna cost and legalese associated with an inter-municipal agreement.
What you do need to know is that she played an extensive role in the creation of the
Chapter 96 Ordinances. She reviewed these things. She and I met a ton of times about
the various components of these Ordinances. She's acutely aware of all the language
that's in here and she helped craft it. She made many changes so she's had a very strong
hand in the creation of this Ordinance and she believes that it's necessary and I think
• that's important information for you to have and I didn't want anybody to leave here
tonight not knowing that. And I do agree with Councilor Magovern, she has done a
tremendous job for us. She really is concerned about the animal control problems that
our community faces and she's completely committed to it. She's a zealous advocate for
the animals and sometimes it's a little frustrating in my position and the Chiefs position,
but her heart's in the right place and she does a fantastic job. So that's all and I
appreciate you hearing me.
Vice President Rossi — Thank you and I'll take a motion to adjourn. All in favor?
Opposed? We are adjourned.
•
Adjournment.
•
22