CC MTG MINUTES DECEMBER 17 2012 ' REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGA WAM CITY COUNCIL
Minutes dated December 17, 2012
President Johnson—I'd call the meeting to order.
Item
to 1. Roll Call
President Johnson—I'd ask Barbara to call the roll please?
ROLL CALL— 11 PRESENT, 0 ABSENT
President Johnson—With eleven present, we have a quorum.
Item 2. Moment of Silence and the fledge o AI egiance.
President Johnson -- I'd like to ask everyone to rise for a moment of silence and the
Pledge of Allegiance and I'd ask that everyone say a special prayer for Newtown,
Connecticut, the victims and their families, the children and the teachers who witnessed
it, the First Responders and our nation that desperately needs our prayers in this time of
healing.
Item 3. Citi en's S eak Time
President Johnson —We have one citizen wishing to address the Council. Doug Reed?
Doug Reed —Thank you very much. Doug Reed, 10 Shelley Lane, Feeding Hills. .lust a
Quick note on the septic improvement loan program. At this time I think acting upon this
would be premature. We've seen that the septic expansion program has been tabled
indefinitely and I think until that is resolved, I think it would definitely be premature to
create a loan program at this time. Some of the things that bring concern to myself is that
expending time to administrate these loans is an issue. Also, I don't know that I'd want
the Town of Agawam to become a loan agency. It just doesn't seem the way to go.
Improving, repairing the septics, that's all well and good but it doesn't resolve the
problem that we have and we spoke about this time and time again. I think John
Cappuccilli put it best when he said it's an epidemic and to come up with a loan program
to repair septic tanks that if the system's not gonna work or if it's gonna fail again like
we've been experiencing, continuous failures and repetitive failures with some of these
people, it's likening to putting a Band-Aid on an amputation and I don't think it's proper
to do at this time. Thank you.
President Johnson —Thank you.
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' Item 4. Minutes
1. Regular Council Meeting—December 3, 2012
President Johnson — Motion made to approve by Councilor Rheault, seconded by
Councilor Magovern. Questions or discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, all those in
favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
Item_5. Declaration from Council President
1. Presentation from Soloe Dennis, Emergency Preparedness Planner,
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, on the sub-regional shelter plan
in emergency situations
President Johnson —So I would invite him up to the microphone. Welcome.
Soloe Dennis — Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to say thanks for having
me. I brought three copies of a Hampden County Sheltering plans that were developed
by the Planning Commission. I'll give you a brief overview of this process. After the ice
storm and after the tornado in Springfield and West Springfield, we were commissioned
by the Western Mass Homeland Security Council to develop sheltering plans for all
twenty-one municipalities in Hampden County. Through that process, we have been
working with all twenty-one communities to develop sheltering plans and these plans
have been finalized. So part of the process this evening is to share these plans with this
committee, for the committee to be aware of this process in terms of next steps if
Agawam may face another emergency down the road. The process entails a lot of hard
work. I worked with your Health Director, your EMDs and other municipal heads that
contributed input in this document together. So in a nutshell, the process here tonight is
just to share this document with this group, for this group to be aware of the document
and how helpful this document could be to the town. And I'm open if you have any
questions or comments.
President Johnson — Are there any questions? So this is a regional plan for emergency
shelters?
Soloe Dennis —This is a two-fold plan. This plan could be used for a city or a town. If
few comities wanted to be part of a regional process, that plan could be used for some
kind of regional plan as well.
President Johnson — Does anybody else have any questions? So is it kind of like a
blueprint for a community to follow?
Soloe Dennis — Yes, sir.
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' President Johnson —I'm just trying to get a flavor of what you—since the books are just
now making their way up. Anybody have any questions of our speaker? No? Councilor
Rossi?
Councilor Rossi — Yeah, this obviously is not tailored to Agawam. Would Agawam
' have to tailor its needs?
Soloe Dennis— Yes, sir.
Councilor Rossi—How, what would be the process?
' Soloe Dennis — The process is, the next step in this process is to work with your EMD
and your Health Director and some of the committee members that were part of the sub-
committee that developed this plan so I'll be working with Mr. Randy White and your
EMD from the town to look at how this plan could fit the Town of Agawam in terms of
this specific information that may be needed in order to make this plan up, in order to
make this plan workable for the town.
Councilor Rossi - Now would this just encompass where shelters would be or would it
be evacuation routes, those kinds of things, would that be part of the process as well?
' Soloe Dennis — So, so, yes sir, so this plan, the document in front of you entails a job
action sheet, entails information that the Town of Agawam may need. We have
' developed media template, that addresses how to write a press release when you are
opening a shelter, how to write a press release when you're closing a shelter, who's in
charge of opening the shelters and what are some of the responsibilities looking at
staffing. We have developed 260 of job action sheets that staff that will be working at the
shelter could use.
Councilor Rossi — Now who would be in charge of actually setting up these shelters,
taking inventory of what's in there and be responsible for maintaining those kinds of
inventories and who makes the decisions of when those shelters will actually be opened
1 and put into place?
Soloe Dennis — So part of the planning process is each community would have to make
that decision in terms of who is in charge of opening the shelters, who is in charge of
closing the shelters but also looking at who is in charge of paying the expenses at the
' shelter. In terms of the Town of Agawam, I'm not quite familiar with the process but I'm
familiar with other municipalities in terms of their decision-making process.
Councilor Rossi—Now, who, the Town of Agawam would be funding this obviously.
Soloe Dennis —Yes, sir.
tCouncilor Rossi - Now do you have any idea what these costs would be? Has anybody
talked about the economic side of this whole thing?
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Soloe Dennis — So,just looking at the cost of operating a shelter, operating a shelter may
' vary. If you open a shelter for a day or two your costs may be lower but if you open a
shelter for a month or two, the cost could be higher because you have to pay overtime for
police, fire, local health and other staff that would be working at the shelter but the main
goal of this document is to help the town, guide them through how to open a shelter, how
to plan for a shelter and look at the entire shelter operations.
' Councilor Rossi—Thank you.
Soloe Dennis —Welcome.
President Johnson - Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Mineo—Yeah, has any locations, are there any locations that you are thinking
about at this point?
' Soloe Dennis —Presently, there have been I believe five locations in your town that have
been identified already.
Councilor Mineo—Could you tell me what they are? Where they are?
Soloe Dennis —I believe the High School and I think the Council for Aging as well but I
can double check that information with your EMD, your Emergency Management
Director.
' Councilor Mineo - And how many people would occupy these shelters? Actually, how
many people would you be able to hold if there was a disaster?
' Soloe Dennis — From my knowledge, I'm not quite familiar with the.location in terms of
capacity, my expertise is looking at, for a population this size, you have a High School
' that can hold I believe 5,000. You have two high schools in the town right? One. Yes,
so.
Councilor Mineo - Let me ask you this question too. Who would be overseeing this
project? Would it be Emergency Management?
Soloe Dennis — Yes, your Emergency Managers and other stakeholders in the community
will be part of this process.
Councilor Mineo - Thank you.
Soloe Dennis —You're welcome.
' President Johnson --Councilor Letellier?
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' Councilor Letellier—Thank you. So just looking through this, it's really just a template.
It's up to each individual town to decide how they want to take this information and set
' things up.
Soloe Dennis—Yes.
Councilor Letellier — This is really just forms and a template. It's not specific to
Agawam,
' Soloe Dennis —No, no.
1 Councilor Letellier—Okay, I just wanted to double check. Thank you.
President Johnson — Other questions? If not I want to thank you on behalf of the
Council and we'll take a look at—I'm sorry, Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry — I'm sorry. Okay, thank you. So from a community standpoint, you
' developed this generic plan for all the communities, twenty-one communities I believe?
Soloe Dennis —Yes.
' Councilor Perry — The next step would be for Agawam to put together a committee? I
mean obviously you've dealt with Randy our Health Agent and Nick in regards to putting
this plan together and going over it with them, is there another step that our town's gonna
be taking that you're aware of?
' Soloe Dennis — So, not that I'm aware of personally. The next step in this process is
hopefully Randy and the folks in the town will have another meeting in terms of looking
at the document and saying Soloe we're ready to move on in the process and we need
' Pioneer Valley Planning input, making sure some of the gaps you have identified in the
template will fit your community needs moving forward in the process.
Councilor Perry --Okay,thank you.
Soloe Dennis —Welcome.
President Johnson —Any other questions? Seeing none, again I offer our thanks. Thank
you for preparing the information. We'll take a look at it and if we have any questions,
we'll be in touch.
Soloe Dennis —Thanks.
President Johnson— Have a great holiday season.
Soloc Dennis— You too!
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' Item b. Presentation o f Petitions, Memorials& Remonstrances
t None.
Item 7. Report of Council Committees
None.
' Item 8. Elections
None.
Item 9. Public Hearings
' None.
Item 10. Old Business
' 1. TO-2012-54 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 2 Dealer(s) —Bear Auto Sales, 517 Springfield Street, Feeding
' Hills, MA (Clerk)
President Johnson — Is there a Motion? Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by
' Councilors Rheault and Perry. I'd refer to Councilor Rossi for the Admin Committee
report on the Class 2 Dealer's license.
Councilor Rossi —The Committee met this evening prior to this scheduled City Council
meeting and voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation to this body.
' President Johnson — Any Questions or discussion on TO-2012-54? Seeing none, all
those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
2. TO-2012-55 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s)—Friendly's Restaurant, LLC, 19
Springfield Street,Agawam,MA (Clerk)
President Johnson —Next, we'll take the three Automatic Amusement Device Licenses
together. First, TO-2012-55 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) — Friendly's Restaurant, LLC, 19 Springfield Street;
TO-2012-56 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
' Amusement Device(s) — American Legion—Wilson Thompson Post 185, 478 Springfield
Street; and TO-2012-57 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic
Amusement Device(s) — T.J. Sporthouse, 1664 Main Street, in Agawam. Is there a
Motion to approve the three orders regarding Automatic Amusement Device licenses?
Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilors Cavallo and Cichetti. Again, I
would refer to Councilor Rossi as Chair of the Admin Committee.
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Councilor Rossi — Thank you. The Admin Committee as mentioned had met and they
voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation for 12-55, -56 and -57.
President Johnson--Questions or discussion on the three Automatic Amusement Device
licenses? Seeing none, all those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
3. TO-2012-56 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —American Legion—Wilson
Thompson Post 185, 478 Springfield Street,Agawam, MA (Clerk)
' President Johnson—See item 4 2 above.
4. TO-2012-57 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
' Automatic Amusement Device(s) —T.J. Sporthouse, 1664 Main Street,
Agawam, MA (Clerk)
' President Johnson —See item # 2 above.
Item IL New Business
' 1. TR-2012-57 - A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Dean
Godek, 24 Cedar Knoll Drive, Feeding Hills, MA to the Agawam
Municipal Golf Commission for a Term Expiring on December 31,
2015 (Mayor)
President Johnson —That'll go on to our next Agenda.
2. TR-2012-58 - A Resolution Opposing Legislation Allowing for 9C
State Cuts to Local Aid (Councilor Bitzas)
President Johnson — Did the Finance Committee meet on this or not? The Legislative
' Committee did. All right that'll go on to our next Agenda.
3. TR-2012-59 : A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of
Anthony Pioggia III,20 Sharon Lane, Feeding Hills, MA 01030 to the
Agawam Municipal Golf Commission for a Term Expiring on
December 31, 2015 (Mayor)
President Johnson —That'll go on to our next Agenda.
' 4. TR-2012-60 - A Resolution Authorizing the Community
Preservation Committee to Spend S23,992.79 for the Borgatti Field
' Renovations (CPA Committee)
President Johnson --That'll go to the Finance Sub-Committee.
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5. TO-2012-58 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —The Quest Inc. d/bla Michael
Anthony's, 1251 River Road, Agawam, MA (Clerk)
' President Johnson--That'll go to the Admin Sub-Committee.
6. TO-2012-59 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —Ray-Mar Inc d!b/a The Elbow, 386
Walnut Street Ext., Agawam, MA (Clerk)
' President Johnson --Also to the Admin Sub-Committee.
7. TO-2012-60 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for a
Class 2 Dealer(s) —ACE Auto Body—Sales, 1363 Main Street,
Agawam, MA (Clerk)
' President Johnson —Also to the Admin Sub-Committee,
8. TR-2012-61 -A Resolution Accepting a Grant from the
' Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44,
Section 53A for the Agawam Department of Public Works (Mayor)
' President Johnson—We'll send that to the Finance Sub-Committee.
' 9. TR-2012-62 - A Resolution Amending TR-2008-48 as amended by
TR-2010-05 to Authorize the Use of Funds for a Septic Improvement
Loan Program (Mayor)
President Johnson —That'll simply go on to our next Agenda so it can be tabled with the
' rest of the items.
10. TO-2012-62 - Transfer from the Reserve Fund #16605-57300 in the
' amount of$14,277.70 to the Police Dept Equip Replace, Repair, Maint
#12102-52030 (Mayor)
, President Johnson —That'll go to the Finance Sub-Committee.
11. TR-2012-63 - A Resolution Authorizing the Application and
Acceptance of a Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant
- Set a Public Hearing--Suggested Date of January 22, 2013 (Mayor)
President Johnson — That'll go on to our next Agenda for setting of the public hearing.
At our next Agenda we'll determine if it needs to go to a sub-committee when we get
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more information. It's on our Agenda at this point so we can get the paper work going
for the public hearing.
' 12. TR-2012-64 - A Resolution re-authorizing the Application and
Acceptance of a Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the
Construction of School Street Park, School Street/River Road,
Agawam, MA (Mayor)
President Johnson —That'll also go to the Finance Sub-Committee.
Item 12. Any other matter that may„legally come before the City Council.
President Johnson —Councilor Letellier, we'll start with your end.
1 Councilor Letellier — Thank you. Congratulations to Chris Sparks on the $400,000
grant. I think that's wonderful. I'm sure we would all agree with that. When I sent Chris
' an email to thank him, he said how did you find out already? Apparently Senator Knapik
emailed us before it was actually official but now it's official so congratulations. I went
to the community carol sing last night which I guess was initiated I found out by
' Councilor Magovem what four years ago and it was a very nice, very family friendly just
really great community event and if you didn't get a chance to go this year, I'd
recommend it for next year. I want to wish everyone the merriest of Christmases, a
' happy and healthy New Year and I want to thank Council President for having that
moment of silence at the beginning. I think it was very appropriate. Thank you.
' President Johnson—Councilor Rossi?
Councilor Rossi — Yes, thank you. I just want to clean up a little bit of business.
' Barbara, would you just make yourself a note to get a hold of ACE Auto Body and the
Clerk's Office and clear up that, that we discussed about the amount of vehicles and the
towing situation? I don't believe in fact that they still have a towing contract with the
' Police Department. Would you get that cleared up and I want an accurate account of
what the actual license is supposed to encompass, okay and schedule some time before
our next Council business meeting and we can discuss that with the committee? I'd
appreciate that and on a more pleasant note, I'd like to wish everybody a very merry,
happy Merry Christmas, a very happy and healthy and prosperous New Year to all of my
colleagues and everyone out there. Thank you.
President Johnson —Councilor Mineo?
' Councilor Mineo —Yes, Barbara, could you possibly give me a call tomorrow morning?
We might have to push up the Finance Committee meeting that you had scheduled for
next month. .lust wishing everybody a very happy holiday and a Happy New Year.
Thank you.
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President Johnson —Councilor Magovern?
' Councilor Magovern —Again, to get back to what Councilor Letellier had said we had a
nice night of caroling last night down at St. John's and I want to thank everybody that
participated. We had close to two to three hundred people who showed up for it and it
' was just a wonderful evening, very, very enjoyable and on a more somber note I wanted
to say a few words about Newtown and the terrible tragedy up there and thanks to some
town citizens we were able to have a memorial candle light service that was down at the
' School Street Park Saturday night and again it was a very, very good turn out, somber but
with luminaries around for each one of the killed individuals and it was just a very, very
humbling experience to go there. Again, thank you to the citizens who put it together.
' an another note, I wanted to thank another group in this town that gets very little thank
you's and that's our wonderful DPW. I had some cause to call on them this past week
and they're a group that you see around town but I don't think everybody appreciates the
' fine work that our Sewer and Water Department and our DPW does to make our life a
little bit more enjoyable in town. Again, wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas. I
hope you have a safe and Happy New Year and we'll see you again next year. Thank
1 you.
President Johnson —Councilor Rheault?
' Councilor Rheault — I'd like to wish all my fellow colleagues and their families a very
merry and happy, healthy Christmas and a very prosperous and healthy New Year as well
' as to those outside and also to the people upstairs behind the hidden camera up there who
are here every week religiously —Merry Christmas to you as well and our thanks.
tPresident Johnson —Councilor Perry?
Councilor Perry — Yes, thank you Mr. President. I too would like to wish all of my
' fellow Councilors and their families a very Merry Christmas. I want to pass that on to
Barbara our Council Clerk, of course our camera crew, the people in the audience and the
people watching at home. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous
' New Year. Thank you.
' President Johnson —Councilor Cichetti?
Councilor Cichetti — I'd just like to echo everyone's sentiments up here for a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year and everyone at home and I'd just also like to extend
our condolences also to Newtown, Connecticut. Thank you.
President Johnson —Councilor Calabrese?
Councilor Calabrese — Thank you. Make sure you're hugging your children every day
and you know really give thanks for all the blessings that you have in your life and enjoy
the holiday season and I look forward to a brighter New Year. Thank you.
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President Johnson—Councilor Bitzas?
' Councilor Bitzas — Yes, I would also like to mention Newtown tragedy. As a father,
grandfather and a City Councilor, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to those
twenty-six families for the tragic event. The whole country cry, not only our country, but
the whole planet. That was absolutely terrible and I know everybody's heart is aching.
The other is I'd like to wish you all and the people that are watching us Merry Christmas
and a happy and healthy and safe New Year.
President Johnson—Councilor Cavallo?
' Councilor Cavallo — Yes, I'd like to echo the same words — have a happy and healthy
Christmas and New Year and also I think something you've heard for the past couple of
days hug your kids tonight and tell them you love them. That's kind of important.
President Johnson — I just want to finish by extending my thanks to all my fellow
Councilors as we're wrapping up 2012. I think we've had a very productive and a good
year. I want to especially thank my Vice President, Councilor Perry, and our Clerk,
Barbara, who have been tremendous supports over the course of this year. Thank you to
the camera crew. Thank you to those who come religiously to our meetings and best
' wishes to all for a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
With that, the Chair would entertain a Motion to adjourn. Moved and seconded all
around the house. All in favor of adjourning say Ay? Opposed? We are adjourned.
Adjournment at 7:28pm
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