CC MTG MINUTES OCTOBER 17 2011 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated October 17, 2011
President Rheault—Good ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Monday, October 17"'
City Council meeting.
or Item 1. Citigen's Speak Time
President Rheault — We have a citizen wishing to address the Council. Corinne
Wingard?
r Corinne Wingard - Thank you. Good evening. My name is Corinne Wingard. I live at
194 Elm Street in Agawam. In rebutting my concern that giving $1000 to the two
hundred seniors the Mayor was quoted in the Springfield Republican as saying had been
sent letters when the state will only reimburse the town $500 for 157 could potentially
cost the town $l 16,500.00 in lost tax revenue. Our Town Assessor stated that it would
• not cost that much and over the past several years, an average of forty exemptions have
been given per year. According to the 2010 census, Agawam has 3,764 residents age 70
and older, per the American Community Survey five year estimate, 7.6% over our
residents age 65 and older live in poverty which was defined by the federal government
in 2010 with an income of$10,600.00 (?) for a family of one and $14,570 for a family of
two. Taking 7.6% of those 3,764 residents which I think is a low percentage because I
think incomes just seems to get lower as we get older, but that tells us that there are at
least 286 residents age 70 or older living in dire straits needing all the help they can get.
Even assuming over half of them are not property owners or even two thirds of them are
not property owners, you look at these numbers and these numbers make it abundantly
clear that not all those who are eligible for the senior property tax exemption to apply
particularly given that our income levels have been $13,000 for one and $15,000 for two.
So and I've been looking over the 2011 street list for the town and even taking out people
who are in subsidized housing or nursing homes still, there's more than 40 people who
should be eligible for the senior property tax exemption. So whatever the reason for that
may be, it's certainly not fair so while I'm still concerned about the potential cost, I'm
r even more concerned that all Agawam seniors be treated fairly by our town government.
So I believe it's your responsibility as City Councilors to make sure that every property
owner over age 70 is aware of this benefit and where eligible is given the opportunity and
any assistance they need to apply. The simplest way to do this would be to include the
letter in all the tax bills when they're sent out but since the bills have already gone out for
this quarter and the deadline of November Vt for applying for the 2012 senior property
tax exemption is fast approaching, I would recommend the town's robo-call system to use
to send a message to all town residents saying we want you to know that this is available
and this is the criteria call the Assessor's Office with questions. So I'm asking you all to
contact the Mayor and as City Councilors ask that these robo-calls be made immediately
and that letters about the senior property tax exemption be included in future tax bills.
Thank you.
1
Item 10. Old Business
* 1. TO-2011-20 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
11 Dealer(s)—Falcor Auto Sales,Inc.,373 Springfield Street,Agawam,MA.
01001 (Referred to License Committee)(Clerk)
President Rheault — Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Cichetti. A
report from the License Committee. Councilor Rossi?
Councilor Rossi—The License Committee met this evening prior to the Council meeting
and it was unanimous to send a positive recommendation to the City Council for approval
and I move to consolidate the seven licenses, making them one motion.
President Rheault—Moved by Councilor Rossi to take all seven together in one motion,
seconded by Councilor Perry.
Councilor Rossi — Thank you. TO-2011-20, an order granting or renewing a LICENSE for a
CLASS II Dealer(s) —Falcor Auto Sales, Inc., 373 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA.; TO-2011-
21, an order granting or renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS II Dealer (s)—Agawam Auto Mall,
Inc., 825 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA.; TO-2011-22, an order granting or renewing a
LICENSE for a CLASS I Dealer(s)—Sarat Ford Sales, Inc., 250 Springfield Street; TO-2011-23,
an order granting or renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS I Dealer(s)—Sarat Ford Sales, Inc., 243-
249 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA.; TO-2011-24, an order granting or renewing a LICENSE
. for a Class II Dealer(s) —Joseph J. Polys d/b/a Joe's Truck Repair, 97 Ramah Circle; TO-2011-
25, an order granting or renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS II Dealer(s)—Zielinski Brothers,11,
218 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam; and TO-2011-26, an order granting or renewing a LICENSE for
a CLASS II Dealer(s)—Langonet, Inc., 61 Ramah Circle, Agawam,MA.
President Rheault—Any further discussion? Barbara, please call the roll.
i
Councilor Letellier — I just want to make sure that we've double checked that nobody
owes any taxes or anything?
Councilor Rossi—Yes.
i
Councilor Letellier— Perfect, okay, I didn't hear anything from the License Committee
so thank you.
Councilor Rossi—Oh, I'm sorry.
i ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Messick)
President Rheault—Ten yes, one absent, you have approved items TO-2011-20 through
TO-2011-26.
i 2. TO-2011-21 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
H Dealer(s)—Agawam Auto Mali,Inc.,825 Springfield Street,Feeding
Hills, M. 01030(Referred to License Committee) (Clerk)
0 3
•
ROLL CALL—Please see item I above.
•
3. TO-2011-22 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
I Dealer(s)—Sarat Ford Sales,Inc.,250 Springfield Street,Agawam,MA.
01001 (Referred to License Committee)(Clerk)
ROLL CALL—Please see item 1 above.
4. TO-2011-23 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
I Dealer(s)—Sarat Ford Sales,Inc.,243-249 Springfield Street,Agawam,
MA. 01001 (Referred to License Committee) (Clerk)
• ROLL CALL—Please see item 1 above.
5. TO-2011-24 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a Class U
Dealer(s)—Joseph J.Polys d/b/a Joe's Truck Repair,97 Ramah Circle,
Agawam,MA. 01001 (Referred to License Committee) (Clerk)
ROLL CALL—Please see item I above.
6. TO-2011-25 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
U Dealer(s)—Zielinski Brothers,11,218 Shoemaker Lane,Agawam,MA.
01001 (Referred to License Committee) (Clerk)
•
ROLL CALL—Please see item 1 above.
7. TO-2011-26 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
11 Dealer(s)—Langonet,Inc.,61 Ramah Circle,Agawam,M.A. 01001
• (Referred to License Committee)(Clerk)
ROLL CALL—Please see item 1 above.
Item 11. New Business
• 1. TR-2011-52 -A Resolution to Authorize Expenditures of Funds for an
Agreement between the Town of Agawam and the Agawam Building
Maintenance Association.(Mayor)
President Rheault—Next Agenda. Go over to the Finance Committee.
•
2. TR-2011-53 -A Resolution to Borrow and Appropriate for a Green
Repair Program for the Agawam Junior High.(Mayor)
President Rheault—That'Il go over to the next Agenda and to the Finance Committee.
•
4
•
3. TR-2011-54 -A Resolution Authorizing the Application and
Acceptance of a Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Set
Public Hearing Date -Suggest November 21,2011 (Mayor)
President Rheault•-Anyone have a problem with the date? Barbara, would you set that
up please? (Referred to the Finance Committee)
4. TO-2011-27 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
H Dealer(s)--Elmwood D&J Auto Sales,521 River Road,Agawam,MA.
01001 (Clerk)
President Rheault--Next Agenda and that will go to the License Committee.
• 5. TO-2011-28 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
II Dealer(s)-Malkoon Motors, 1039 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills,MA
01030(Clerk)
President Rheault-That will go over to the License Committee and next Agenda.
• 6. TO-2011-29 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
11 Dealer (s)-Parrotta's Auto Service,Inc.,357 Main Street, Agawam,MA.
01001 (Clerk)
President Rheault-Next Agenda and License Committee.
7. TO-2011-30 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
II Dealer(s)-Town Motors,H,393 Main Street,Agawam,MA. 01001
(Clerk)
President Rheault--Next Agenda and License Committee.
•
8. TO-2011-31 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
H Dealer(s)-V&F Auto,Inc.,7 Harding Street,MA. 01001 (Clerk)
President Rheault-Next Agenda and to the License Committee.
• 9. TO-2011-32 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a CLASS
II Dealer(s)-Luigi's Auto Sales,Inc., 371 South Westfield Street,Feeding
Hills,MA.01030(Clerk)
President Rheault-That will also go to the next Agenda and to the License Committee.
• 10. TO-2011-33 -An Order Granting or Renewing a WEEKLY
AMUSEMENT Device(s)-American Legion Post 185-Wilson Thompson,
478 Springfield Street,Feeding Hills,MA. 01030(Clerk)
President Rheault-That'll also go next Agenda and to the License Committee.
•
• 5
Item IZ. Any other matter that may Lgally come before the 9U Council.
President Rheault — And we'll start to my furthest right for a brief presentation by
Councilor Bitzas.
Councilor Bitzas — Thank you Mr. President. Two things this evening, first of all, we
talked about the Harvest Festival. It's this Saturday and I have three other Rotarians here
— Councilor Letellier, Councilor Walsh and Councilor Magovern — who can give some
details about the event but I'd like to thank the Lion's Club, as a Lion also, I attended the
Board of Directors meeting and I asked them if they wanted to volunteer to give some
money, to donate some money to feed the High School band, 75 members, and also the
cheerleaders and the art students that are going to come to the festival and they did agree
to have hamburgers, hot dogs, whatever they want and also chips for the kids so I'd like
personally to thank them very much for donations and I hope the weather's good and
we're expecting a lot of people and the car antique show will be a very, very nice event
and I'd like to invite you all, the Council and the people, and the second thing is Mr.
President, this is the last meeting before the election. I'd like to wish all the candidates
the best luck and please go and vote November 8t'. Thank you so much.
President Rheault—Thank you George. Councilor Simpson?
Councilor Simpson Nothing, thank you.
• President Rheault—Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern — Again, I want to put a plug in for the Rotary. I'm President of
the Agawam Rotary this year and George Bitzas is Chairman of the event and there's a
lot of time and effort from all the Agawam Rotarians has gone into this. As George said,
we're gonna have thirty antique cars, we've got the high school band, we've got a
country music group, we've got a DJ, we're gonna have face painting, we've got
pumpkin painting, we've got just about everything you can imagine that we'll be holding
at the Harvest Festival. It starts at 10:00 and it should be a great day for everybody and I
hope that everybody can come but I also want to mention something about somebody in
the high school, a sophomore by the name of Zachary Sabadosa, and I was at a function
this weekend and somebody came up to me and handed me an article about Zach and
something that he's done and I think that it's good that our Agawam High School
students do things and this is something that I hadn't heard about, people do things and
don't get really a lot of credit for it but after the tornado this past summer, Zach was
reading through ESPN and saw that ESPN was having a grant giving for a deserving high
school sports program and this is shortly after the tornado and as you all know, Cathedral
was totally devastated by the tornado and he really didn't know anybody at Cathedral but
being a sports enthusiast himself, he had played with sports against Cathedral and thought
that it would be great if Cathedral could get this grant for $20,000. So he applied online
with ESPN for this particular grant and surprisingly a month or so later he got a notice
that he was one of the finalists. The up shot of it is that he won a $20,000 grant for
Cathedral High School and although it's not Agawam High School, I think that with all
6
i
the tornado problems, I think that he should be commended and I just wanted to publicly
thank Zack from at least my part of the City Council, that we'd have such an astute
sophomore in our high school that would go out of his way to help somebody else that
had really no involvement with Agawam so Zack, congratulations you are to be
commended for getting that money for Cathedral High School and again I hope
everybody goes out and votes in their election — no matter who you vote for — exercise
your right to vote and go out. If you don't vote, you can't complain and I like to
! complain so I've never missed any election yet so please go out and vote.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Mineo — I would just like to wish all the candidates and my colleagues good
luck in the election and I'd like to tell everybody to please go out and vote on Tuesday,
November 8d'. Thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Rossi?
Councilor Rossi — Yes, I'd just like to ditto those remarks. I think it's important
! everybody get out and vote, exercise your right and good luck to everyone. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Walsh?
Councilor Walsh — Yeah,just to plug the Harvest Festival, this is going to be a gigantic
! event compared to what the Rotary Club has put on in the past,there are gonna be a lot of
vendors. This is a community day. We want to get the people out there, enjoy what
being a member of a small town is all about and hopefully everybody will come and the
weather will be great on Saturday. Thank you.
! President Rheault—Thank you. Councilor Cichetti?
Councilor Cichetti — Just wanted to reiterate good luck to 0 of our colleagues up here
and the rest of the candidates running for Mayor and School Committee and come out
and vote on November 8 h. Thank you.
President Rheault—Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier—Yes, thanks. I too want to plug the Harvest Festival and I want to
personally congratulate George Bitzas because this really is the biggest and best that
! we've tried to make it and he's done a really great job so congratulations to George and-
Councilor Bitzas —Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Councilor Letellier — You're welcome and Bob stepped in at the last minute to be
President this year so kudos to Bob as well. I want to wish all the councilors, School
• Committee members and mayoral candidates luck and for those of you that aren't
0 7
running this year, we will miss you and enjoy a very stress free Tuesday, November 8t'.
Thank you.
•
President Rheault—Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry -- I too would like to wish all my colleagues up here for reelection the
best of luck on November 8 h. I also want to wish the best of luck to all the candidates
• who are running and please exercise your right to vote. Thank you.
President Rheault—Thank you. I like to just ditto the comments on the Festival. I think
it's a great family event and hopefully we'll get a tremendous turn out. Not too many
events in town are focused on family unfortunately and I think this is a super, super
i program and hopefully everybody will show. Second I also would like to wish those of
us that are running the best of luck and to the well "lucky ones" enjoy but we'll have a
chance to do some kudos before you leave and to all the other candidates as well, that
concludes the City Council meeting and I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Moved by the
Council, seconded by the Council, all those in favor? Opposed? We are now adjourned.
Thank you and good evening.
i
Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:18pm.
•
i
•
•
•
� 8