CC MTG MINUTES DECEMBER 3 2012 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
IMinutes dated December 3, 2012
President Johnson--I'd call the meeting to order.
Item 1. Moll 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 Pledge ofAlleeiance.
' President Johnson — I'd ask everyone to rise for a moment of silence and Pledge of
Allegiance please.
' Item 3. Citizen's weak Time
President Johnson — As I call each individual name, I'd ask you to come to the
' microphone, state your name and address. Pursuant to Council Rules and based upon the
number of people we have signed up this evening, everyone has a maximum of five
minutes to address the Council. With that, the first person I'd like to call is Michelle
' Connery.
Michelle Connery — My name is Michelle Connery and I live at 48 Spruce Circle. My
husband and I have three small boys and work very hard to plan for our financial future.
Each month at our budget meeting, we make two categories — of needs and wants and
often times this can be a very, kind of heated and touchy meeting but ultimately we come
' to an agreement that best represents the family and goals that we have for ourselves and
our three boys. I recognize that our town has lots of needs such as funding our schools
however installing a new sewer system that would tie into our property is not a need for
the town or for my family. In 2010, we had our septic system redone as part of an
addition plan that allowed my mother-in-law the opportunity to retire and to move in with
us. Our system is in perfect working condition and we don't need the town to do
anything else. Thank you.
President Johnson — Thank you, next and I apologize if I get the pronunciation wrong
because it's difficult to read—HenryAgudelo?
Henry Agudelo — Hello. Good evening. My name's Henry Agudelo. This is my wife
Tina Agudelo. We live at 914 South Westfield Street. That's right on the golf course by
Oak Ridge and I'm here on a fact-finding mission, all right? We've been living there for
fourteen years since 1998 and we have five children and one of my main concerns is
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jwhat's going on? Where's this going? How much is it gonna cost because we really
don't have a lot of information on it. I don't know why this wasn't publicly announced at
' a higher -- I mean I get calls for things that happen in town on my phone every night from
the city and I didn't hear anything for this. This pertains directly to us. We live right
there and I want to know where's it going. I mean there was a bunch of work that I saw
done, I had a hard time getting to work because the streets were, they were doing
something, I don't know what they were doing. I have no idea, I'm like wow, what's
going on, how much is it gonna cost me? When do we start paying? Do we have to pay?
Is there money allocated for this? There's a lot of questions that I have as a taxpayer and
a God-fearing citizen of these United States and I just want to know what's going on and
do you have anything to say? I've already come prepared. I'm just looking at this and
' everybody's like you gotta go to this. This directly impacts you. I live on South
Westfield Street so it pertains to me and my family especially with five kids. As a matter
of fact, one of my boys goes here and we got the rest of our children coming up through
this school system and—anything to say Tina?
Tina Agudelo — Just with being there since 1998 and all the water damage that we've
had, the water flows right down into our yard and pregnant, he's working and I'm trying
to get water from going into my garage and flooding my basement out so we've struggled
for years with the water issue so this is like wow, this really makes a lot of sense because
' I always thought why don't I have something to catch the, why am I getting all this water.
I comes straight down into my property and years, being there fourteen years, that's been
our biggest issue and I know as part of the project if I'm understanding correctly as part
tof that also, the next thing that rings a bell is yes I have a septic system. I make sure that
I take care of it every two to three years. We have a large family, to make sure of that but
my concerns with that and understanding when it comes to Title 5 and all that so I'm
leaning towards yes, I want this project to continue because I know it's going to help my
future when I'm ready to sell my property and also deal with the normal issues that you
have when it comes to septic and all the water problems that we're having right now.
Henry g J A udelo — I just want to be more informed so we know how to make a decision
on which way to go, which would be the best solution for our family in particular. Thank
you.
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is Jay Berger?
Jay Berger — Good evening Councilors. My name is Jay Berger. I live at 10G Castle
' Hill in Agawam. Thanks for the opportunity to address you. I hope that before you
proceed to a vote on tax increases, you will give consideration to tax relief and/or rebates
for the approximately 1,200 families in Agawam who lives in condominium
communities. We pay the same taxes as individual homeowners but do not receive many
of the service that single-family homeowners do receive. For example, we do receive
street lighting but pay for our own. We do not receive trash pickup but pay for it. We do
not receive recycling pick up but pay for it. We do not receive snow plowing and we pay
for it. When the big storms required pick up of debris, the city did not pick it up, we did
and of course we do take care of our own sidewalks and streets. As does everyone else,
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we contribute to the education of our young people yet very few come from
condominium communities. We are your neighbors. We share the same aspirations and
' concerns that you do and we hope that you will give much consideration to the families
that occupy many of the communities here in Agawam. If you have questions, I'll
attempt to answer them as the evening goes along. Thanks for listening to me. Good
' night,
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is Lowell McLane?
Lowell McLane -- Lowell McLane, 85 Red Fox, Feeding Hills. Broke it down just in
several points I would like to make. Several years ago I read the report that Tighe &
' Bond had submitted to the town. We commissioned a study at that point that would be
done and if my memory serves me well, back then there was an environmental issue that
needs to be continually put before us and at that point, they said at least on my particular
' street at the bottom of the street that there was an elevated chloroform level. They also
had talked about over towards Barry, right on the Connecticut border, that there was an
elevated chloroform issue there. I would say and submit to you tonight that we either
1 deal with this now or we're gonna have Connecticut at some point make a call to Boston
and we'll be forced to deal with it. That's the environmental. I would also say to you if
you drive around the neighborhoods, especially when we get a lot of rain, you'll see
houses, yards that are flooded and septic backing up in the basements and houses and so
there definitely is an environmental issue. The second issue that I'd say is there is
expense. We all recognize it, there's expense here and it's never a good time but we keep
kicking this down the road year after year and some of us have been here at this point for
a long time and now we're saying economics and things are bad but we didn't get it done
way, way back in the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and we're still here and it isn't a good time. I
would tell you we just came under budget with our last little phase, Phase I, so maybe
economically we could probably say there's some advantages in that respect but I would
tell you that we can't continue to go on the way we are. I would also say that new
' development is going to continue to move out into that section. I would also tell you and
people and I feel so many of these people that have — Jack Cappuccilli is going to present
some really good facts here shortly, him and Doug Reed have done an excellent job in
staying on top of this —but there's so many people out our way that have had their septics
replaced and I feel bad for them but that's not a guarantee that that's gonna hold up. If I
have a line that breaks and I'm on city [sewer] system and it breaks down from my house,
I can call the DPW and I can get that fixed. If my septic breaks, it's on me and so some
of these that have recently had their septic systems replaced, I'm sorry we didn't get this
' done a long time ago but just because I got it done recently or in the last few years
doesn't mean and I know that and we're trying to find some of those facts out but I've
heard of people in our areas that had to have them replaced. So when a person says well
my taxes are going up, if you paid $15,000 and that may be on the low end, your taxes
already went up to have it replaced and so we're paying for, and talking about equity and
the town, we're paying for a lot of services that we don't have the same privileges and
' benefits. I will finally just say again to you that I would urge and I don't want to, I don't
envy where you sit, these are tough decisions but I also would tell you, you have a whole
section of town that needs a service that should have been addressed a long time ago and
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' there were buildings that went on, building areas, that should have never been built in, the
table, the water table, should never have been out there. I'm gonna step down but I
' would just try to tell you again that I can't emphasize enough from my perspective and I
can go out tomorrow and put a new septic in, that's one thing, but I'm trying to fight this
battle for other people, the single parent or someone on a limited income, this needs to be
addressed and I urge you to make that tough decision. I don't envy you but it has to be
done and there's a whole section of town that's depending on you. Thank you.
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is Billy Chester.
Billy Chester — Billy Chester, 320 Barry Street, Feeding Hills. On behalf of my wife
Helen who could not attend this meeting, I would like to read her following comments
with regard to this sewer project. Mayor Cohen has stated that with the economy the
bond issue is not feasible. He also stated that the project is for old failing sewer systems.
Contrarily Councilor Rossi has stated that the project is for newer development. At the
recent committee meeting of officials, Councilor Johnson discussed possibilities of
double rate increases of sewer and water for Phase II which could triple down the road if
the project were to be funded in this manner. He stated that at present, there's no
Ordinance to mandate a hook up, also in discussion as a possibility that an Ordinance be
passed. With regards to cost of the hook up, there has been various figures of$3,000 to
$6,000. Councilor Johnson said that homes in the target area of Feeding Hills were
designed for septic systems being in the back yards of homes. With progression of
development, residents have pools, sheds, landscapes and so forth in the path of the hook
' ups. Surely the cost will exceed projected figures. A possible long term pay back is also
under consideration. What will the interest be? The 6% figure that has been mentioned?
But we do not need another lien on our homes. Most are;struggling as well as everyone
' else in this economy. I believe the people should be told that exact intentions with
regards to the sewer project before bond is passed. Thank you for consideration — Helen
Chester. As for myself, on your Agenda you have a Resolution mandating hook up for
' individual homes to the sewers. I'm opposed to this. If this is passed, you're taking the
rights away from homeowners. They have the right to choose whether they want to hook
up to the sewer system or not and if you force them to do so, that is wrong. Thank you.
President.Johnson —Thank you. Next is Dan O'Neil?
Dan O'Neil -- Good evening Council members. I'm Dan O'Neil from 66 South West
Street. I have lived in the same house since 1972 when my parents purchased it and then
I bought it after they passed away. They were told back then that they were gonna have
sewers in '74 at the last '76. Well, here we are again, I've got S year old twins and let
me see, I was here standing up here seven years ago or something and we were supposed
to be on the road to recovery there. Now we're gonna stop? Right when we're getting
down the road and the betterment thing, if it's for a new development — yes, but for
people that have been living there all of their lives, that's just crazy and could I ask one
question? Do any of the Council members; do you live in the South West area of
Feeding Hills? Is that— can I ask that? That's what, anyways, that's what I'd just like to
know. We need the sewers. That's the thing. If you drive down the streets in that area,
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you see, like the gentleman said, hoses coming out of everybody's houses, pumping
water either from their cellars, from washing machines or whatever, the systems can't
' handle it because they've failed and we couldn't sell our house if we tried to. Thank you
very much for your time.
President Johnson—Thank you. Next is Rich Molbury?
Rich Molbury —Good evening. My name is Rich Molbury. I live at 20 Shelley Lane. I
moved into Agawam 24 years ago and went the route of being my own General
Contractor in building my house and not only the education I got from all the town
permits and the ordinances in preparation for it, twenty-four years ago I was told that
' sewers were gonna be within seven to ten years. The drop off, my septic system goes
right here, here's some pipes right here that are already under my cellar floor that go to
the front of the house and they are under the footings in anticipation of the sewers I was
told was gonna happen. Basically that's how long it's been for me. I'm in support of the
sewers. Thank you for listening.
President Johnson—Thank you. Next is Gary Janulewicz?
Gary Janulewicz -- Good evening. My name is Gary Janulewicz. I live at Elm Street,
41 Elm Street and I'm here tonight to talk about two different things. One is Saturday
morning, you need to get to the Junior High School to see Rosie Robotics and the
competition that our young people are gonna be involved in. It's absolutely gonna be
' incredible. All day long, competition from around the state and anyway you get to see
our young kids presenting their projects, dealing with issues that senior citizens face and
they've been studying and talking to senior citizens and coming up with projects and it
' will be incredible. You need to get there. The other thing is the Friends of the Agawam
Public Library is having a basket raffle. There are twenty baskets that have been donated
by members of the Town of Agawam that are $2.00 a ticket and you get the chance to
1 win something that you might want and there's some great golf stuff up there but on
Thursday night, the Friends of the Library meet at the library and you're welcome to
come and join us. Thank you.
' President Johnson — Thank you. Next is Kyle Mo uin?
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Kyle Moquin —Good evening. I live at 43 South West Street in Feeding Hills. I've been
at that residence for the last fifteen years and looking at the averages of septic systems
1 that would have to be repaired or replaced, mine would be totally dug up and I've been
quoted for $35,000 to repair my septic system. I'm putting some kids through college
and the $35,000 I would rather see go toward some tuition and get some good out of it. I
' think $35,000 is one hell of a tax increase for myself. I'm hoping that the Council will do
the right thing and look at the big picture here. It's not going to get any cheaper to put
this sewer system in. Thank you very much.
President Johnson—Thank you. Next, John Cappuccilli?
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John Cappuccilli — Good evening. My name is John Cappuccilli. I live at 50 Red Fox
Drive in Feeding Hills. My wife and I, my lovely wife Joanne, who I've been married to
I coming up on forty-five years and we've lived there since 1976 and I want to thank
everybody for coming out tonight. This is what the town process is all about whether
you're for it or you're against it, you're out here saying what you should say. Now let me
' say this —I have my normal speech prepared but I, myself and Doug Reed, there he is, we
we were out there like two clowns in Feeding Hills center with homemade signs, they
weren't very good homemade signs but it was a great experience. Folks, we have
' wonderful citizens out there. I didn't know what to expect. I thought I was gonna get
arrested! One guy yells at me --Hey your signs are too small. All right, I said okay what
do I gotta do? I go out there and knocked on people's windows, they're rolling down
their windows, they're asking questions. It was an incredible experience, an incredible
experience. Two things —the worst thing that happened to me, I was called a Republican,
that's the worst thing that happened to me. The second funniest thing is a woman pulled
' up and she said I don't want sewers. I said Ma'am that's your right to not want sewers.
Where are you from? I'm from Southwick. I backed away because she was old and I
don't want here to run me over — she doesn't know where she is. But the best thing I
learned out there today is that a lot of people in the other part of town think we already
' have sewers and that was incredible, all right? Another highlight, I don't know if
Bubbles' parents are here this evening? Anyways, I met a bulldog, they actually listened
to what I had to say and it was Bubbles the Bulldog and another puppy and we had a
conversation and through all of this I had a great experience. So get out there and talk to
these people, whatever project it is, they need to know, they want information. That's
' what we lack --we don't give people enough information. Now I had a present today. I
worked, thank God I've got the job I do, because I worked on this project and my boss
said I could, don't tell him, well I shouldn't say that but anyway I won't tell you where I
work, but I was out there and I got a yes, Mr. Cappuccilli, there is a Santa Claus letter, I
tell you what this is incredible. This is from a woman, Ashley Sullivan, and all of you
got it, she actually, I spoke to her on the run for a few minutes, I was chasing her down
the street. Anyways, she wrote this letter and she wants to say, this is from Ashley
Sullivan, she lives on 183 Barry Street in Feeding Hills, Ma 'to who it may concern, 1
apologize and I cannot appear in person tonight to speak on behalf of the Phase II South
' West Area sewer project. I am working, single mom of two little girls ages four and six
and attending night meeting can be difficult to arrange. I am writing this letter in place
of my attendance. I appreciate the opportunity to present my opinions in my absence and
' I hope they are considered in my absence. I'm a twelve year resident and a home owner
in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts who currently has a 34 year old septic system. In
addition, I am a licensed professional engineer and I have practiced civil engineering for
' fourteen years. Both the age of my septic system and my professional, provide the basis
for my support of Phase H sewer project. My home located on 183 Barry Street was built
in 1998 and the septic system in place is well over its design life. Typically between
' twenty and twenty-five years, even with the proper care and maintenance, a properly
designed septic system will reach its design life and need to be replaced As well, we are
all aware, that replacement of a septic system is very expensive." I can understand this
lady, it's not a joke here, it's not a joke, and you are counting your money and I can feel
for you. Now I lost my place..."As well as you all are aware, the replacement of a septic
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' system is very expensive. As a professional engineer who manages many civil
engineering projects in the Connecticut River valley, I understand the design and
' permitting that goes into construction such as Phase II of the South West Area project.
The initial costs are necessary and an expensive part of any work and it would be foolish
to delay or stop this project at this point. If this project was to come alive again in the
future which it will since the failing septic systems'problems will not go away. "
Clerk—One minute please.
John Cappuccilli — One minute? No? Okay, any way she goes on to say she wants it.
She's a civil engineer, okay? I got my little speech but it's all right. Called Mayor
Cohen — 72 septic systems have failed in the last five years in the South West section —
72! We don't have a problem. We have an epidemic! An epidemic out there. We're on
the verge of having the state come in and shut us down. It's expensive. 1972 they
1 recognized the problem out here and everybody turned their head and let everybody build
up. You know what my answer is? I went to a workshop — well we don't want any
development out there because you know why? We're gonna bring in people with
' families, with kids, we can't afford that. Well I drove by Garden Street and there's a 32
condominium going up and you know what? They didn't say over 55. That was
permitted. That's already permitted and how many families are gonna move in there? So
' you're gonna discriminate against us out in the South West section with families. They
don't want us out there anymore.
' Clerk—That's time.
John Cappuccilli — Do us a favor. Buy our homes and we'll move out, okay? Seventy-
two septic systems failed. Barbara, hold on. I was at the meeting and Mayor Johnson,
oops maybe I'm ahead of myself here; Chris Johnson wouldn't let me speak, all right?
They say businesses are leaving. I spoke with a gentleman from H.P. Hood, all right?
President Johnson —I'd ask you to wrap up John, you're beyond your time limit.
John Cappuccilli — Thank you. Anyways, Hood's not gonna leave, they may say they
are. We've got Six Flags that says they're gonna leave. I haven't seen one businessman
there from the new Industrial Park we have. Nobody's leaving Agawam. The only
people that wanna leave Agawam are the damn tax payers and residents, that's who's
gonna be leaving. Thank you very much.
' President Johnson — Thank you. Next, and I again apologize because I'm having a
difficult time reading it, is it Kurt McCahey? Oh, Murphy sorry!
' Kurt Murphy — Hi Council. Kurt Murphy. I reside at 20 Oakmont Place in Feeding
Hills. I've resided there for the last eighteen years. It's a brand new home that I
purchased. We were the first residents to have that. I'm here about the sewerage issue.
It's amazing to me and my neighbor told me about this meeting tonight and I also seen a
flyer in my mailbox and I think it was a year or so ago, that this place was absolutely
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packed and it's very low in volume on attendance today. This is a very serious issue.
The people on South West Street definitely need the sewers like a lot of them have said.
South Westfield Street was considered Phase I and I spoke earlier at that last meeting it
was due to the DePalma's development and when that phase should have been Phase I
out of South West Street, instead we made it for DePalma, okay? We made it for one
individual and all of a sudden you want to stop this thing. You did it for one guy, now
let's do it for the rest of this town. You guys gotta really consider this. Do it for the rest
of this town because there's a lot of people that need it and those that don't need it,
should not have to tap in and those that do, give them the option to. That's all I got.
Thank you.
President Johnson—Thank you. Next is Shelley Borgatti-Reed?
Shelley Borgatti-Reed -- Shelley Borgatti-Reed from 10 Shelley Lane, Feeding Hills.
I'm here about the sewers. Obviously my husband is on the Sewer Committee, so I'm
well-versed on what's going on with it. I've gotta say that I'm disappointed that more
information isn't being put out to the town. We shoulda used a ConnectEd message, of
' course I wasn't going to do it but somebody should have put it out saying this meeting
was going on so everybody could voice their concerns because there's a lot of people that
don't know. I know Mr. O'Neil asked you how many of you had a septic tank, well I
know that all of you have sewers because if you had a septic tank you would know that
you can't do laundry in an April shower when heavy rains come in and your basement
floods with sewage if you don't pay attention. You can't re-do the basement in your
' house unless you pay a lot of money for one of those flush-up toilets, So I moved in
1986, I had an elected official say to me the other day, well maybe people who moved in
to Feeding Hills should have known, they shouldn't have bought houses there if there
was no sewers. Well, there's a lot of people in Feeding Hills so if no one built there
because there was no sewers, there wouldn't be anybody in Feeding Hills. I built my
house, as you know my father built it in 1986. I, too, like Mr. Molbery have pipes all
' ready for my sewers because in 1986 Jack Stone said "Don't worry. In three years you'll
have sewers." Then the subject came up again and again and in 1992, we had an
opportunity to do it a lot cheaper than we are doing it now and again, the Mayor didn't
1 take that opportunity back then. So now we're in 2012 and it amazes me that you want to
stop the process. That just blows my mind because Feeding Hills needs it and I know
people aren't hooking up to it now because you're not in the right section. When you get
' down to Red Fox and get down to South West, you've gotta have it and what's gonna
happen, environmentally you're gonna have a big problem if you go — right now if this
continues, I'm in what—Phase 4— I'm in the last phase? So I'm still looking at ten years.
So now you want to table it, why what do I got, twenty years? My septic tank is 27 years
old. I'm never moving. I live on my own street. I'm never moving so I'm gonna
eventually have to replace it. Right now, I'm doing well. But I'm gonna have to replace
it and what you're gonna have is people starting to pipe their stuff into the environment
because they can't, their septic tank can't handle it, so you're gonna have people doing
their wash and it's gonna be going into the ponds and Connecticut is gonna start
complaining about it and it's going to get to be a big problem. All we do in this town
lately is table things. We need to keep moving. If we don't do it now, twenty years from
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now it's gonna be a lot more money so we need to have some progress because lately the
town hasn't been doing much progress. That's all I have to say. Thank you.
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is John Winkler?
1 John Winkler — Good evening. John Winkler, I'm President of Six Flags here in New
England. It's very difficult for us to comment on this initiative because we're very
sympathetic to the needs of the community. We support innovation more than anyone
but when we see a once great idea sitting on a shelf for over twenty years, sit there too
long and you have to triple down on its finances; it seems to become a liability at that
point. We're very concerned about the estimates. Just over the last few weeks, we've
been given estimates from a variety of folks who are almost lobbying their position. We
can't get any accurate information and we're concerned about that. We're very
concerned about the economic time in which this has come to the table so strongly
recently. We're all going to be dealing with health care costs here very shortly and we're
talking sizeable increases. A reasonable initiative can and businesses and personal
finances can handle one or two percent inflationary increases but no one can handle some
of the numbers that we've been hearing of 35% to 50% rate increases. There's no
personal finance or business model that can handle those types of jolts. We just can't
support the initiative in its current state. We understand there is a need but we really
think that there's problem some new innovation that we should look at and try to refigure
the finances but creating finances for something that's over two decades, we feel like
there's too many risks in the estimates and we feel like we really need to be, you know
the community needs to be told what those estimate are. I believe the last estimate I was
told was that we've been asked to, our company's been asked to pay for over ten percent
of the project. With such a small amount of lots being affected and my sympathy again
' to those folks who live there but I think we're talking about 128 lots out of nearly twenty
thousand lots in the community within Agawam and Feeding Hills having to foot the bill.
So from a perspective point of view, we hope that we can get some information, some
accurate figures and that we can all meet again. Thank you.
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is Bob Hale?
Bob Hale—Good evening. Bob Hale, 468 North West Road in Westfield. I am the Plant
Engineer at H.P. Hood here in Agawam at 233 Main Street. I've worked at the Agawam
location for about six years here in Agawam and about twenty years as a whole. I'm here
to voice my company's position opposing the proposed South West Area project due to
the economic hardship it would place on our company. Just this past year, we paid
approximately $48,000 more than we did the year before due to a rate increase. If the
numbers I'm hearing are correct then this proposed project would increase that again by
' $70,000 ballpark next year and by fiscal year 2016 about $214,000, just some very high
numbers for a business like ours to absorb. Back in 1997 we paid in capital over
$800,000 to put in a pre-treatment plant to treat some of our water. Just annually we pay
over $300,000 to run that facility. I mention those figures basically just to list the
exorbitant costs we already pay for the water leaving our facility. Our business which is
a dairy, operates on margins of one or two percent. I cannot foresee the location taking
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' an economic or financial hit of this magnitude and still staying competitive. We compete
against not only the traditional competition, other dairies in the Northeast, but also
against other Hood locations. There's four other Hood sister fluid plants in the
Northeast; together those plants could run our volume. Just this past year, we closed a
plant in Binghamton, New York for that very reason. They could not compete with the
other Hood locations. The other four plants took the volume from that plant and
corporate Hood closed the doors and a lot of people lost their jobs. Currently, we have
approximately 340 people that work in the Agawam location. It's a great company to
work for. We've invested a lot of money to grow the business and to become more
efficient. The proposed increases in sewer charge will take away any competitive
advantage that we've worked hard to achieve and could force our corporate office to
make a business decision that none of us want to see. If the decision is made to produce
milk at the other plants, the location could face the same as the Binghamton, New York
plant did earlier this year. I don't want to see that happen and I'm sure there are 340
other people that don't want to see that happen. The plant's been in Agawam since 1959.
We feel that we're a fixture in the community and we'd like to stay there. I ask that the
Council find another solution to the sewer expansion project that would allow the Hood
facility to remain operating. Thank you.
President Johnson —Thank you. Next is Melissa Izzo?
Melissa Izzo — Good evening. I am from town. I grew up here and decided to move
back and raise my family here and we live at 747 Barry Street. We are somewhat
familiar with the project and we're very happy when we heard, when we bought a few
years ago that we were going to be able to hook up. There was talk seven, eight, nine
thousand, ten thousand to hook up personally, that to us — we have family budget
' meetings too on Sundays — we have a 3 year old and a 1 '/2 year old and we're very
concerned but we also know that the septic in that area goes to you don't even want to
know. In 15 —20 years you're looking at investing $35,000 every fifteen to twenty years
' to replace it. Like I said, I'm from here. I grew up here. I'm back because I love this
town and I don't think there's ever going to be a good time that we can pay for this but it
also is we need to take care of our own. We need to reinvest in the people that want to
' stay here and live here and that's where I want to be and raise my family but it's also
important because in twenty years when my kids want to go to college and I can't flush
my toilet, it's gonna be a nightmare, so we're willing to also put in, I don't know the
numbers. I'd love a phone call. We get the ones about the bombs and the water pressure
in town, any phone call that says listen when this passes, it's gonna cost your $8,000,
you're Phase 3 in seven years — that can help me as a planner. So anything that we can
know, help, push, find out, we're aware and we want to be involved but please just let us
know but I mean I found out from Doug two days ago and my dad was in the same boat
' in the same area so we're very much want to be involved so please let us be more
involved and more aware of all the numbers and finances and what's going on. Thank
you.
President Johnson--Thank you. Next is Douglas Reed?
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' Douglas Reed- Thank you very much. Douglas Reed, 10 Shelley Lane. TR-2012-47
we've been hashing this out and various forms of this for ten years. I really wish that all
of us didn't have to come here tonight. A question arose the other night at the workshop
as to what happened to all the people? Where's the 200 people that used to come. One
of the things that happened is that people believed, they believed that this project was
going forward without a big road bump. It's not the case. It's not the case. We're back
here again. John and I are out holding signs, trying to get a hold of people because we
believe that this needs to be done. It's, I don't think any of you guys question that there's
a problem. If you do, go to the library, read the reference, go to the reference library,
there's reports that we paid good money to get done. Tighe & Bond spells it out what our
problems are so there's not a question there. I guess one of the things that's lacking is
that it seems like there's an effort to just make this go away and we did Phase 1 and it
stops. I think what we need to look at is the compromise. There's a compromise that
will involve Hood's, it'll involve the citizens so that we're not looking at Hood's getting
$200,000 or Six Flags getting whacked $200,000 or the citizens swallowing $27,000 —
that's a number that got thrown out the other night - $27,000 was one of the numbers that
was thrown out for betterment fees. It's ridiculous. There's gotta be a middle ground.
What we're spending more time doing is how we can't get it done. We should be
spending our time finding a way to get it done. It just doesn't seem like it's that hard.
Mandatory hook ups — a lot of questions about that. Probably some language to contain
that but put a grace period in — compromise. It's compromise. The betterment fees —
compromise. I know there's no federal or state money. We understand that but as many
speakers have spoke about before earlier the longer we continue, the higher the costs go
up and it's never gonna go backwards. When we had these meetings ten years ago, the
number that was getting thrown around was $28 million back then. The numbers that
were thrown around the other night is like $40 million. We've dragged out for three
L years between Phase 1 and 2. Information was given to the Law Department, the
resolutions weren't complete or they weren't put through, they said in fact I think
Councilor Johnson was the one that brought it up, there was a resolution to take the land,
' but there wasn't a resolution to put up the money for the land and I thank you for finding
stuff like that. That's what we need. We need to look at all of this but compromise.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need compromise. We gotta get this done. As my wife spoke
' of, it's no joke. It's no joke. We've had the bubbling by the sidewalk, She came home
one night, the toilet was stuck. Simple thing, the toilet kept running. She pushed the
garage door opener to be greeted by sewerage coming out of the garage which came out
of the finished cellar. If you've not experienced it, you don't understand how bad it can
be. We're in the 4`)' Phase, twenty years? Thirty years? I don't know. We've already
waited that long but I'm passionate about it for the people that need it now. How about
all the 72 people that had their systems replaced. Shame on everybody that was involved
in not getting it done? It's shameful. There's a lot of families in town according to the
website, we have 11,260 households, 28.9% have children under 18 so there's over a
quarter of the people, a quarter of the households and I understand what budgeting is
when you have young kids. We have 16.7% that are 65 and over. They understand what
fixed income is but they also understand both the young families and the old families that
whether you're on a tight budget or you're on a fixed income, spending between $15,000
and I talked to somebody the other night that just shelled out $35,000 that puts a big
I
hiccup in your budget whether you're young or old. We need to bet this done. I'm
begging you, begging you, let's take a look at compromise so that we can take care of the
businesses, we can take care of the residents but most of all, we take care of getting this
project done. Thank you.
1 President Johnson—That concludes Citizen Speak Time.
Item 4. Minutes
L1. Regular Council Meeting—November 19, 2012
President Johnson — Is there a Motion to approve? Moved by Councilor Cichetti,
seconded by Councilor Perry. Questions or discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, all
those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
Item 5. Declaration rom Council President
None.
Item b. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials& Remonstrances
1. TR-2012-47—A Resolution Authorizing a Loan Order in the Amount
of$10,469,500.00 for the Construction of Phase II of the Southwest
Area Sewer Project (Tabled 11/19/12) (Referred to Finance
Committee) (Mayor)
President Johnson —What's the Council's pleasure? We have a Motion to remove from
the table by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilors Rossi and Magovern to remove
from the table. All those in favor of removing from the table say Ay? Any opposed?
' The item is off the table. What's the Council's pleasure?
Councilor Rossi—I make a Motion that we pass the Resolution.
President Johnson -- We have a Motion to approve TR-2012-47. Is there a second?
Made by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Rheault. Questions or discussion? I
think Councilor Rossi had his light on first and then Councilor Letellier.
Councilor Rossi—Thank you. Well first of all I'd like to thank the people that came out
and spoke both for and against. I understand your position and I can appreciate your
concerns. This sewer project isn't a new one. This sewer project's been going on for a
very long time, this Ad Hoc Sewer Committee. I know it's been going on for at least
twelve years because that's how long I've been around. Back in 2000, there were some
flyers and questionnaires going around asking those residents whether or not they wanted
sewers and from there it progressed all the way up to where they formed a committee to
get this thing off the ground. In 2009, the first design phase of that project failed to go
through because most residents felt as though the price of the system or homeowner was
12
too high of a price to pay and it failed approval of this City Council. As a result of that,
the thing went back to the drawing board back in 2008 and that's when I picked up this
committee. I was asked to join this committee as its Chair. We went back to the drawing
board and we come down with this program where we would develop it in phases, bite
size pieces if you will kind of pay as you go. Well, in September of 2008, it won
approval from this City Council and we appropriated the allocations and the project
began on Phase I on November 2009. The allocations that were presented for the
projected at that time for Phase I was $3,373,000. The projects completion was about
' $1,700,000 with extra costs over the past year or so I guess that figure's up pretty close to
two million dollars. But nonetheless it come out about one-third of what we
appropriated. While Phase I was being constructed, this Phase II, we wanted to hit the
ground running on Phase II so what the committee decided they were gonna do is we
were gonna go into the design and engineering phases and take some of the money that
was left over from the first phase so that our designing, engineering, environmental
issues, permitting issues, land acquisitions and everything else would already be taking
place and we could hit the ground running when the betterments and all of Phase I was
completed finally and we could move on with the construction. Well that didn't happen.
What happened was we wound up with some speed bumps here, questions started to arise
as to how we arrived at certain figures and those kinds of things and let me just hack
track a little bit to say that all the time that these meetings had been going on, they've all
been public, they've all been posted in the newspapers, there have been articles in the
newspapers about costs and so on and they've also been under the direction and control
and the watchful eye of not only this City Council but the Mayor so any questions or
concerns that should have been addressed at that time, weren't addressed apparently
because I guess they didn't feel as though they got the answers that they needed. The
betterment issues for those of you who might be interested here, you talk about final cost,
this committee put together a plan with Phase I that the final cost including your
betterment issues and your lateral fee connection to this town was $5,500. $5,500+
That's considerably less than the $30,000 to fix your tank. Of that $5,500 it would be
' your responsibility to take that pipe from your property line on to your home which I'm
not going to — let's say ballpark figure, let's say $2,000 or probably less. So for about
$7,500 you could be flushing your toilets into a conventional sewer system. Phase II
system which as I said is ready and completed right now in design and engineering
phases, 25,000 feet of pipe, two pumping stations, land acquisitions have already been
put into place, everything is ready to go out to bid. This projected figure of$10million
and I understand now is starting to go closer to $11million with some contingencies and
there's also road improvements to Pine Street and stuff like that, that's only a projected
figure I might add. I'm guessing if history has taught us anything that our projections
will probably come in about fifty percent, maybe sixty percent, of that projected figure
for the completion of the program. The reason that Phase II costs a little bit more is
because of those pumping stations. They're high force main pumping stations. The next
phases that we have would be a couple of pumping stations when we go back into lower
Barry Street down onto Pine Street, you're gonna find that they're gonna be a lower force
' pumping station at a lower cost and that's what I heard here, that most of the people will
be satisfied and that's correct. I heard the figure that Phase 11 is only gonna take into
consideration only 128 homes. The real issue here is not the amount of homes that are
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going to be taking place under Phase II — Phase 11 is a necessary phase because without
Phase II you can't complete the rest of the project. As Phase I, there was some concern
that we might have built Phase I because we wanted to satisfy a builder in town so he
could put condominiums up. That wasn't the case. We started Phase I where we did and
we went to where we went to because it was, where the last phase ended and we brought
it up to where we wouldn't need a pumping station, that could be taken care of on a
gravity basis. From that point on, when we go up further onto South Westfield Street,
and then we go up onto Bradford Drive back onto Barry and back onto Pine Street and
hook back in the South Westfield Street back to where we started, then the loop will be
completed, that's gonna be a little bit more costly so the first phase was designed if I
may, for the sake of repeating myself, that's where the last project ended back in the 80's
and that's where it had to be started from. It wasn't designed to enhance anyone's
property. It wasn't designed for any one person, it was designed that way because that's
they way it had to go. We had to start with A, and go to Z — we couldn't go to B and
back to C and then A again — that'd be A, B, C, D. So the second phase and let me just
bring you back up a little bit as I gave you the first phase figures, the second phase
figures, the projected figures, are $3,000 is your betterment cost. It's gonna cost you
$3,000 and $800 for the town to put a lateral connection to your property line in Phase II.
The rest of that would be born to your house and if you want to take the same figure I
gave you, the $2,000, you're probably talking about $8,000 and in any event, I can safely
say you can get the sewer system hooked into your home for under $10,000. Now this
committee could have made some different changes, there's no question about that.
We've talked about the balance to ratios between the betterment fees and the water rates
and just while I'm on that point, let me say this. That the sewer systems are not paid for
by the tax base, you as a tax paying citizen will not pay for this sewer, the only people
who pay for sewers are those who get the sewers and those people that actually use the
systems, that's the way it's designed. So when we talk about ratios between betterment
fees and water rates, if we raise that $3,000 let's say to $10,000, the drop in the sewer
rate is not gonna be all that significant. We went through the numbers with Tighe &
Bond and the Engineering Department and we decided that we probably would let this
thing go as it is to keep it as reasonable as we could for those people who needed, those
areas, in those distressed areas who really needed this system and that the bulk of it
would be paid for, everybody who's on the system town wide as it has been for the
history of sewers in Agawam and everywhere else I might add. That's the way the
' system is paid for, it's paid for by betterments and water use, it's Waste Water fees,that's
how it's paid for, not by the tax base. Phase I was not added to the levy at all. You can
apportion that money that you pay, the $6,000, over a period of time up to twenty years to
1 the town and you have to pay that back. So what this committee did is we thought we put
together a plan that was fair and reasonable to bring to this community. That was our
charge, that's what we did. Could there be some tweaks? Absolutely, we could probably
' tweak it some more if you like. You want to talk about required hook ups? We could
talk about those kinds of things. I can tell you in my business before they came on City
Council; I am not in favor of mandatory anything. I've learned my lesson in Law
' Enforcement, mandatory anything doesn't work all that well but in a situation like this, if
we're gonna go to the time and expense of putting a system in I think people should
really seriously consider about hooking into the system because after all it is designed for
14
you, for you and your neighbors. You should be, you should pay or want to pay for your
fair share for the system. I think that's only fair. I think that's right. As far as other
' things that were talked about at the workshop, that we talked about, there's a fee to hook
into the system. Once the betterments are all taken care of and someone else wants to
build for example, and they want to hook into the system, there's a set fee of$800. That
was addressed by our committee and I drafted up what they call a sewer privilege fee. It
was to be added to our ordinances - that had never got into our ordinances, I gave a copy
to our Law Department, they copied it down. They like what they saw but they never did
anything with it. Mandatory hook ups — this committee, I drafted up another ordinance
that also the town lawyer—
President Johnson— Councilor Rossi? There are other councilors that want to speak.
Councilor Rossi — Okay. So let me just say this that I believe that this system that we
have over here, this Phase II, Phase I people will not pay for Phase II; Phase III people
will not pay for Phase II, each phase is their own entity, okay? It's there own sewer
district. The betterments and all the construction costs commensurate with that cost is
' just for that phase. So any other questions, the committee is always available to answer
them. Thank you very much.
President Johnson —Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. I have tried to be really open-minded about this
because I do recall we had very heated meetings earlier in the last few years about people
that wanted or didn't want the sewers, who wanted and didn't want hook-up and for me
the workshop that we had, it was very enlightening because we've received a lot of
conflicting information and I don't think it's right for anybody to be voting on anything
of this magnitude and without the people knowing the appropriate information. The
Mayor is saying that it'll take at least twenty years for the sewers to get to the hardest hit
' areas. Tighe & Bond is saying ten. years. The Mayor and President Johnson were
quoting increases in sewer rate figures that are scary to Hood's and Six Flags and
Councilor Rossi is saying that some of the figures quoted for the rate increases are not
due to the sewers but are rather due to the Westfield River Project so I think we need to
have a breakdown of what costs are attributable to the Westfield River Project versus
what costs are attributable to the sewer. Also, internally town wise whether whose fault
' it was, the Mayor or the Law Department, current councilors, past councilors, we have
not updated our special betterment versus general betterment ordinance and Council
President can speak better to that but most importantly we haven't addressed the issue of
mandatory hook ups and I don't think it's fair to people for us to make a sewer decision
without deciding on the mandatory hook up issue first because people need to know if
1 they're going to have to hook up. Prior phases, people had to hook up and I think what's
not fair to other taxpayers or other people in the town is people saying I don't want to
hook up until my system fails but yet they want the other taxpayers and the other sewer
rate users to pay their fees for them so that when their system breaks, there's something
ready for them to hook up. So I think we have to find a balance of fairness here but most
importantly I think we need to have correct figures — what's the time table, what's the
15
' effect on the rate and we need to give that to residents and business owners so that
everybody can make I think a more educated decision and I don't think we're ready to do
that yet and I know that Doug you said you don't like tabling things, I like knowing the
information before I vote. If it means tabling, it means tabling but I don't think it's fair to
anybody to vote on this stuff before we have a more full picture and more accurate
1 information. So I'm not gonna make a Motion to table because I think everybody should
have a right to speak but ultimately I think that that's the Motion that I'll be making if
someone else doesn't make it. Thank you.
President Johnson—Councilor Magovern and then Councilor Cavallo?
Councilor Magovern — Thank you, Council President. I'm not always in agreement
with Councilor Letellier as she will readily admit but I don't think she said anything that I
disagree with and I also agree with every single solitary thing that Bob Rossi said,
Councilor Rossi. I'm on the Sewer Commission. I've worked very hard this past year to
try to come up with what we can do for Phase II. I think that Phase II is needed. Phase II
is necessary. We have to go forward with Phase 11 but it's gotta be done so that
' everybody is satisfied with what we come up with. The word compromise I heard
mentioned out there tonight and I think that there's a lot of areas here that have to be
compromised on in the sense that we've gotta be fair to Six Flags, we've gotta be fair to
Hood's, I mean we can't lose 315 jobs in Agawam. I think that is just a given but by the
same token, we can't go without doing the sewers but the fact is that we've gotta come up
with the right answers. A lot of the figures that have been thrown out in the last few
' weeks since we had our Sewer Committee meetings, I hadn't heard before. They weren't
brought forward, We worked very hard to try to come up with what we felt would be the
right answers for Phase II but a lot of bumps in the road seem to come along. I think that
this has to be studied. I think we have to come up with the right analysis. We have to
come up with the right figures but you've gotta start with the premise that yes, we're
going to do sewers and come up with the figures from that stand point, not saying we
' don't want sewers. We can't afford sewers so this is the reason why we can't afford
them. I think they can be done but we've gotta come up with the right figures so again I
agree with Gina. I'm not gonna make a Motion to table because I think everybody
1 should go on record as to the way they feel about this issue tonight so I'd like to see the
discussion continue but I think that we should table this somewhere along the line. So
thank you very much.
President Johnson — Councilor Cavallo?
Councilor Cavallo — Yes, a lot of what I wanted to say has been mentioned already and I
really appreciate people like Mr. Cappuccilli and Mr. Reed and I attended some of the
' meetings in the past year, my return to the Council, I'm not a member of that committee
and Bob Rossi has done an awful lot of work and the committee has worked very hard
but when I attended the work shop — again my eyes were opened with a lot of conflicting
' figures, comments regarding the project and I think as you mentioned Doug, that
compromise is very important here and I don't want to vote on anything until I have all
the information in my hands so I can make the correct decision. After all, I'm also
16
' obligated as a councilman to the other 75% of the town. Those people have sewers.
Those people are paying sewer taxes and so forth. But again, I think it's imperative, it's
not gonna be a short-term process. I can assure you of that. If you look at the Agenda
and you look at some of the Resolutions regarding mandatory hook up and all of the other
things that are related to the sewer project, it certainly is gonna take some time. There
' were a couple of very valid and very concrete suggestions that were brought up at the
meeting. I think we have to look at those where you can borrow money and receive a no-
interest loan to repair your septic system if there's a problem right now. There's a lot of
I good things happening so again, you need the sewers, I know you need the sewers but
again, we have to look at every single area that we discussed at that meeting and certainly
your input is valuable. We're not trying to throw something down your throat here at all.
I think we have to be judicious in this entire project and we certainly welcome your input
and we will, our Chair person, our President, will post the meetings and we'll certainly
welcome your presence at those meetings so you can understand what the situation is and
what we're going to be dealing with at those meetings so again I will not table this
particular resolution this evening. Again, so I can wait for my colleagues to make
comment so you'll just have to bear with it. I know it's been a long time but hopefully
we will come to some kind of a compromise, the word being used tonight, a very popular
one so that everyone's needs can be satisfied. Thank you very much.
President Johnson— Councilor Calabrese?
Councilor Calabrese — Thank you. One of the, a couple of the things that I took away
' from the meetings that we have been having about this project are the costs that are
associated and I know everybody is a little staggered, I know I was, by the staggering
amount that we're talking about here. But one of the things that really popped at me and
please correct me if I wrote this down wrong —phase I cost $100,000 per property to put
that system in — one house hooked up — one and only one house hooked up in Phase I.
Historically, there has always been a mandatory hook up provision whenever septic
' systems, uh sewers have been placed through roads so the re-imposition if you will of a
mandatory hook up provision is nothing new. It's something that all of us have been
subject to and I do believe that this is an issue that warrants further study just by the sheer
magnitude and again, great comments were made — Mr. Cappuccilli, don't worry about
being called a Republican. It's all okay! Thank you.
President Johnson — Stepping from the Chair, when I came back into government at the
beginning of this year, I had spent as many of you know, a decade in the Mayor's office
dealing with the issue of sewer expansion. At no time during the decade of the 90's was
sewer expansion ever even contemplated. The rationale — simple, the last sewer
expansion project prior to Phase I of the South West Area Sewer Project was completed
in the mid-1980's when the state and federal government was paying 90% of the cost.
Since that point in time, state and federal money dried up so the simple financial reality is
there aren't enough homes or properties to be served in the South West section to justify
' the cost and we've heard all these conflicting stories. Well the actual hard figures are
Phase I cost a little more than $2.2million, not $1.7million, not half of what they
originally projected, a little more than $2.2million is what the actual bills paid from the
17
Auditor's Office in Agawam for Phase I. As Councilor Calabrese just pointed out, one
property has connected —ONE! The cost on Phase I was well in excess of$100,000 per
property, not including house, even vacant properties that that sewer pipe went by. Phase
II, the total cost including the Pine Street improvements is a tick under S 12 million. If
you take the Pine Street improvements out, it's about $11.5million. That represents more
than $90,000 per property that it's going to go by, not just houses because the figure of
128 is not houses, it's all the properties in Phase H. If you look at the map, it's really a
lot closer to I00 than to 120. Tighe & Bond has presented rate studies and been paid by
the town for those rate studies. Their rate studies indicate that the average sewer rate
payer in Agawam, to pay for Phase I and Phase II, will spend more than $4,000 over the
twenty year bond period to pay. Whereas the property owners in Phase I were hit with a
$2,300 betterment assessment and the property owners in Phase II will be hit with a
$3,000 betterment assessment. Why should the homeowners who are already connected
to the sewer pay more than those who are gonna benefit by the sewer? Those same rate
studies when looking at actual usage for facilities like Six Flags and Hood show that their
increases are on the order of$150,000 a year to pay for Phase I and Phase II. $150,000 a
year! We're gonna pass that along. When I asked Tighe & Bond the very direct question
' — without mandatory connection in Phase 11, how many people do you anticipate will
connect? Best case scenario their response — four to six! So at that point we will have
spent ballpark $15million to have seven households connect to the sewer. Fifteen million
dollars for seven households! That's the estimate presented by our experts. If you want
to dispute, then I question why we continue to use them. It's been pointed out that Phase
I came in below their budget estimate. Again, pointed question to Tighe & Bond — have
' you taken into consideration the cost of Phase I when determining the cost estimate for
Phase II? Answer — yes. Do you anticipate Phase II to come in substantially lower than
your estimate —No, we always figure about a ten percent leeway — not fifty percent, not
1 forty percent less. They're figuring it's gonna come in no better than .90 cents on a
dollar. Most of the people who came and spoke tonight, they're in Phase III or Phase IV.
You're looking at a minimum at the pace the town is going and at the pace our rate
payers can absorb the cost, twenty years. Twenty years. That's what you're looking at.
You're not looking at five years or ten years, a very minimum if we were to continue at
the pace we're going now and did Phase II, remember if we say yes to Phase 11, earliest
we're in the ground is next summer, it's a year to a year and a half project to complete,
you're looking at three years out. At that point, we begin planning Phase III, year and a
half, two years at best to get the design plans completed for Phase III, go out to bid, put
the money there, you're looking at a minimum to get to Phase IV, twenty years out. I've
put on the Agenda tonight, a septic loan repair program. I served for fifteen years on the
Board at Mass Housing where we administered the state fund which by the way, the state
appropriated $13 million for the entire Commonwealth for septic repair loans so what I'm
proposing is a compromise. What I'm proposing is that we step to the plate with what's
left of the Phase I money which right now is a little over $800,000 and we put that into a
' septic loan program. We can talk all we want about the contradictory figures but frankly
I think we as a community we need to say once and for all either we're gonna extend
sewers for the South West section of town, the heck with what it costs or we're not. But
the reality is yeah, I don't have a septic system in Agawam but I own a piece of property
in Maine where I have a septic system so I know how it works. I know what I have to do.
18
I know how much I spent to put a brand new system on my property up in Maine. Do I
wish the community that I have my property in in Maine had sewers? Yeah, but guess
what. They just put it on the ballot this past November at the Presidential election and it
went down 80-20. Eighty percent of the people voted against even considering sewers.
The community where I have my property in Maine has no house sewers at all. None.
' There are communities in Massachusetts, most of the communities to the west of
Agawam, have no sewers at all. None. Southwick has very limited sewers so the reality
is the South West section of town is the least developed, most rural section of Agawam.
If you extend sewers to that section, you're gonna change the character and the same
people who are here advocating it will be crying that developers are developing the open
space around them. That space is not presently developable or easily developable
because it's difficult to get that land to perk. If you put sewers in, you don't need it to
perk. You put sewers in, it's gonna be developed. The next real estate boom, you're
gonna see that area of town get developed. We haven't even done a development study
yet. We haven't even figured out whether extending sewers is gonna mean more kids in
the schools, more expenses on other town services. At the workshop last week, I believe
there was consensus by all the Council that we wanted to study this further based upon
' the information that was presented. So we have before us right now a Motion to approve
TR-2012-47, what's the Council's pleasure?
Councilor Mineo --Motion to table.
President Johnson -- We have a Motion to table by Councilor Mineo, seconded by
Councilor Calabrese. Are we gonna table to a specific day or otherwise it's gonna keep
appearing on our Agenda?
Councilor Rheault — We should table it indefinitely that way you can pull it off at any
given time.
President Johnson — We have a suggestion from Councilor Rheault. Does the maker of
the Motion wish to —the maker of the Motion wishes to table it indefinitely, is the second
willing?
' Councilor Calabrese —I was gonna ask for a specific date.
Councilor Rossi— I'll make a second on his Motion.
President Johnson — We have a Motion to table the matter indefinitely by Councilor
Mineo, seconded by Councilor Rossi. I don't believe there's any discussion on a tabling
Motion. I'd ask Barbara to call the roll on the Motion to table TR-2012-47 indefinitely?
' ROLL CALL-- 10 YES, 1 NO (Councilor Calabrese)
President Johnson — With a vote of ten yes, one no, we've tabled TR-2012-47
indefinitely.
19
2. TR-2012-51 - A Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of Storm
Remediation and Debris Removal Costs from Free Cash for the
Snowstorm of October 29,2011 (Tabled 11/19/12) (Referred to
Finance Committee and Council Workshop) (Mayor)
President Johnson — Is there a Motion to remove the item from the table? Moved by
Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor of removing the
item from the table say Ay? Opposed? The item is off the table. Is there a Motion to
approve TR-2012-51? Moved by Councilor Cavallo, seconded by Councilor Letellier.
The Chair would remind the Council that we were given the updated figure. The
Resolution as printed has the appropriation at $2,758,202, The amount that our Auditor
indicated was necessary was $2,680,804.61. We have a Motion to amend TR-2012-51
made by Councilor Perry, seconded by Councilor Letellier. Any questions on the Motion
to amend? And again it is to reduce the figure from $2,758,202 down to $2,680,904.61.
Seeing none, all those in favor of the amendment say Ay? Any opposed? It's
unanimous. Any questions on the main Motion as amended. Hearing none, six votes are
required and I'd ask Barbara to call the roll.
ROLL CALL— 11 YES, 0 NO
President Johnson — With a vote of eleven yes, we've approved TR-2012-51 as
amended.
' 3. TR-2012-52 - A Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of Storm
Remediation and Debris Removal Costs from Stabilization Funds for
the Snowstorm of October 29,2011 (Tabled 11/19/12) (Referred to
Finance Committee and Council Workshop) (Mayor)
President Johnson — Is there a Motion to take it off the table? Moved by Councilor
Rheault, seconded by Councilor Letellier. The Mayor has- asked that this item be
removed from the Agenda as we have received the funds from FEMA for which this
transfer was necessary.
Councilor Letellier-Motion to withdraw from the Agenda.
President Johnson — We have a Motion to withdraw from the Agenda made b
g Y
Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor of removing
the item or withdrawing it from the Agenda say Ay? Any opposed? The item is removed
from the Agenda.
' 4. TR-2012-53 -A Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2013 Annual
Operating Budget for the Agawam Municipal Golf Course (Referred
to Finance Committee and Council Workshop) (Mayor)
20
President Johnson — Is there a Motion? Moved by Councilor Calabrese, seconded by
Councilors Cichetti and Cavallo. Questions or discussion? For the public's information,
we have to amend the Golf Course budget to match the revenue that they took in from the
previous fiscal year so this change reduced the annual Operating Budget from
$685,598.00 to $591,998.00.
' Councilor Rheault— Is the Committee report noted or do we need one?
President Johnson —This went to the workshop as a whole so—questions or discussion?
I think well, if you want to give a report Joe?
' Councilor Minco—Just very quick, we approved this 3-0 to pass this. Thank you.
President Johnson — Any other questions or discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor
say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
5. TR-2012-54 -A Resolution Accepting a Grant from the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
and Security pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44,
§53A for the Agawam Police Department (Referred to Finance
Committee and Council Workshop) (Mayor)
President Johnson — Is there a Motion? Moved by Councilor Rheault, seconded by
t Councilor Perry. This again was discussed at our workshop. Questions or discussion?
The amount of the grant is $44,879.00. Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say Ay?
Any opposed? It's unanimous.
6. TR-2012-55 - A Resolution Adopting an Order of Public Notice for
the Pending Assessment of a Portion of the Cost of Phase 2 of the
Southwest Area Sewer Project to the Abutting Land Owners
(Referred to Council Workshop) (Administrative Sub-Committee)
' President Johnson — Since the underlying appropriation was tabled indefinitely, maybe
another Motion might be in order? Motion made to table indefinitely by Councilor
Rheault, seconded by Councilors Cavallo and Magovern. All those in favor of tabling
TR-2012-55 indefinitely say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
7. TR-2012-56 - A Resolution Supporting the Creation of a Septic
Repair Loan Program in the City of Agawam (Referred to Council
Workshop) (Council President Johnson)
President Johnson — Again, as the, I believe this item tracks with the South West Area
Sewer Project appropriation, so I believe another Motion to table. Motion made by
Councilor Mineo, seconded by Councilor Magovern to table this item indefinitely. All
' those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
21
' Item 7. Report of Council Committees
None.
Item 8. Elections
' None.
Item 9. Public Hearings
1. PH-2012-5 (TR-2012-49) - A Resolution Adopting a Residential
' Factor of.841813 pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter
40, Section 56 (Referred to Finance Committee and Council
Workshop) (Mayor)
iPresident Johnson — At this point, we are required by law to conduct a public hearing.
When I open the public hearing, if you wish to speak in favor of the proposed residential
factor, I'd ask you to come forward. State your name and address and you will be given
the opportunity to speak in favor. I declare the public hearing open. Anyone wishing to
speak in favor? Anyone wishing to be recorded in name only in favor? Anyone wishing
to speak in opposition? Anyone wishing to be recorded in name only in opposition?
Seeing none, I would declare the public hearing closed. We now have before us TR-
2012-49 A Resolution Adopting a Residential Factor of .841813 pursuant to
' Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 56. Is there a Motion? Moved by
Councilor Calabrese, seconded by Councilor Cavallo. dust for the public's information,
this is regarding setting the tax rate and is specifically setting the amount of shift from the
' commercial/industrial tax payers to the residential. The factor that's proposed and is part
of the resolution is the maximum that the Council can shift to commercial/industrial
which results in the average taxpayer's bill going up by $97.00 in Fiscal 2013 and the
average commercial and industrial bills going down slightly. The rationale is simple and
that's because the town saw a tremendous increase in the commercial and industrial tax
base this year specifically in the personal property portion based on WMECO's
' upgrading their corridors so we saw our commercial and industrial base grow by about
7% while our residential base shrunk by that same 7%. So by law, this is the maximum
that the Council can shift to the commercial/industrial. Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, and I think should also know that this was the lowest
people
of all possible increases to the residential taxpayer. I think that's really important to
' know.
President Johnson — Yes, that's accurate. This was and again we're bound
unfortunately by state law that we are shifting the maximum we can shift. This is the
least amount of increase we can pass along based upon the statutes that are in place in
Massachusetts. Councilor Rheault?
22
Councilor Rheault — It might be beneficial to the public that it's on a particular
valuation of a home, the average and I don't have that in front of me. $208,000?
President Johnson — The $97.00 figure is based on an average according to our
Assessor, the average home in Agawam has an assessed value of$218,700.00. So if your
home value is slightly higher, your increase will be slightly higher. If it's slightly less, it
will be slightly lower. Again, the projected tax rates which again these are only
projections because they will actually be set by DOR is $14.40 per thousand of value for
' residential and $28.46 per thousand of commercial/industrial and personal property.
Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas —Yes, I hate to see $97 increases and the industrial go down. I'm very
happy that the industrial went down but I guess our hands are tied and there's nothing we
can do so we vote something but we don't like and that's my point is.
President Johnson — Any other discussion? Seeing none, I'd like to have Barbara call
the roll on TR-2012-49.
ROLL CALL —11 YES, 0 NO
President Johnson — With a vote of eleven yes, we've adopted the residential factor of
.841813. I would just remind the Council at the end of the meeting I need to get some
signatures on the form for the state. I need six fellow councilors to sign. If you leave me
the top spot, you can take those and I'll have Councilor Rheault pass it around as we
discuss the balance of the business.
Item 10. Old Business
1. TOR-2012-4 - An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the Town of
' Agawam Chapter 175 entitled "Water and Sewers" by adding Article
X11I entitled "Mandatory Connection to Public Sanitary Sewers" (1"
Reading) (Referred to Council Workshop) (Council President
Johnson)
President Johnson — I would suggest that this is also in order for a Motion to table
indefinitely.
Councilor Mineo—I am making the Motion to table.
' President Johnson — Made b Councilor Mineo, seconded b Councilor Cichetti. All
Y Y
those in favor of tabling indefinitely say Ay? Opposed? The item has been tabled
indefinitely.
23
2. TO-2012-34 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —Polish American Club of Agawam,
139 Southwick Street, Feeding Hills, MA) (Referred to
Administrative Committee) (Clerk).
President Johnson —Next we have a series of Automatic Amusement Device Renewals.
I'Il read them off and then I'll ask for the Admin Committee report on the Automatic
Amusement Devices and then we'll do the Class 1's and the Class 2's. We'll take them
in three sub-sets. I think that makes the most sense. First of the Automatic Amusement
Devices: TO-2012-34 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic .
Amusement Device(s) — Polish American Club of Agawam, 139 Southwick Street,
1 Feeding Hills; TO-2012-35 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) — West Springfield Fish & Game Club, Inc., P.O. Box
25, 329 Garden Street, Feeding Hills; TO-2012-36 - An Order Granting or Renewing a
1 LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — The Main Street Still, Inc., 858
Suffield Street, Agawam; TO-2012-37- An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — Ferrentino's Inc., d/b/a Ferrentino's Pizzeria &
Pub, 1676 Main Street, Agawam; TO-2012-38- An Order Granting or Renewing a
LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — F.S.F., Inc. d/bla Riverboat Bar &
Grill, 11 South End Bridge Circle, Agawam; TO-2012-39 - An Order Granting or
Renewing a LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — Scoreboard Bar &
Restaurant, 15 King Street, Agawam; TO-2012-40 - An Order Granting or Renewing a
LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — Home Plate Sports Bar, LLC, 827
Springfield Street, Feeding Hills; TO-20I2-41 - An Order Granting or Renewing a
LICENSE for an Automatic Amusement Device(s) — Buc, Inc., 84-86 Maple Street, in
Agawam. Is there a Motion to approve TO-2012-34 through TO-2012-41? Moved by
Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilors Rossi and Magovern. At this point,the Chair
will refer to Councilor Rossi for the Admin Committee report on the Automatic
Amusement Licenses.
Councilor Rossi — Thank you Mr. President, The Admin Committee met prior to the
City Council meeting this evening and there was a unanimous vote to send a positive
recommendation for the Amusement Renewals Items #2 through #9 as listed previously
by you.
' President Johnson — Any other questions or discussion on the granting of the licenses
for the Automatic Amusement Devices? Seeing none, all those in favor say Ay?
Opposed? It's unanimous.
3. TO-2012-35 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s)—West Springfield Fish & Game
' Club, Inc., P.O. Box 25, 329 Garden Street, Feeding Hills, MA
(Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
SPresident Johnson — See Item #2 above.
24
4. TO-2012-36 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —The Main Street Still, Inc.,858
Suffield Street, Agawam, MA (Referred to Administrative
Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson —See Item #2 above.
5. TO-2012-37 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) --Ferrentino's Inc., d/b/a
Ferrentino's Pizzeria & Pub, 1676 Main Street,Agawam,MA
(Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson—See Item#2 above.
1 6. TO-2012-38 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s)— F.S.F., Inc. d/b/a Riverboat Bar &
Grill, 11 South End Bridge Circle, Agawam, MA (Referred to
Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson — See Item #2 above.
7. TO-2012-39 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s)—Scoreboard Bar & Restaurant, 15
King Street, Agawam, MA (Referred to Administrative Committee)
(Clerk)
President Johnson—See Item#2 above.
' 8. TO-201240 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —Home Plate Sports Bar, LLC, 827
Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA (Referred to Administrative
Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson — See Item 42 above.
9, TO-2012-41 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for an
Automatic Amusement Device(s) —Buc, Inc., 84-86 Maple Street,
Agawam, MA(Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson— See Item#2 above.
10. TO-2012-46 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class I Dealer(s)— G&T Beaver, Inc., dlb/a Beaver Camper, 721
Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA (Referred to Administrative
Committee) (Clerk)
25
President Johnson — TO-2012-46 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 1 Dealer(s) — G&T Beaver, Inc., d/b/a Beaver Camper, 721 Springfield Street,
Feeding Hills; TO-2012-47 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Class 1
Dealer(s)— Sarat Ford Sales; TO-2012-48 - Another Order Granting or Renewing a
' LICENSE for Class 1 Dealer(s) — Sarat Ford Sales; and TO-2012-49 - yet another Order
Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Class 1 Dealer(s) — Sarat Ford Sales. Is there a
Motion to approve TO-2012-46 to TO-2012-49 which are the CIass I Dealer's Licenses?
Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilors Magovern and Rheault. Again, the
Chair would refer to Councilor Rossi for a report on the Class 1 Dealer's Licenses,
Councilor Rossi— Again, the Admin Committee met prior to this evening's meeting and
there was a unanimous vote to send a positive recommendation for those items as
mentioned.
President Johnson Any other questions or discussion on the Class I Dealer's Licenses.
Seeing none, all those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
11. TO-2012-47 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 1 Dealer(s)— Sarat Ford Sales, Inc. 221 Springfield Street,
Agawam, MA (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson —See Item#10 above.
12. TO-2012-48 - An Order Granting or Renewinga LICENSE for
Class I Dealer(s) —Sarat Ford Sales, Inc. 243-249 Springfield Street,
1 Agawam, MA (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson— See Item #10 above.
13. TO-2012-49 - An Order Granting or Renewinga LICENSE for
Class 1 Dealer(s)— Sarat Ford Sales, Inc. 250 Springfield Street,
Agawam,MA (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
' President Johnson —See Item #10 above.
14. TO-2012-50 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 2 Dealer(s) —Balfour Motors, 1801 Main Street, Agawam, MA
(Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson—Next we have four Class 2 Dealer Licenses TO-2012-50 - An Order
Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Class 2 Dealer(s) — Balfour Motors, 1801 Main
Street; TO-2012-51 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Class 2
Dealer(s) -- Garden Auto Sales, 204 Garden Street, Feeding Hills; TO-2012-52 - An
Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Class 2 Dealer(s) —Lafleur Auto Exchange,
374 Main Street, Agawam; TO-2012-53 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE
26
for Class 2 Dealer(s) —RNK Auto Sales, 28 Moylan Lane, in Agawam. Is there a Motion
to approve TO-20I2-50 through TO-2012-53? Moved by Councilor Rheault, seconded
by Councilor Rossi. The Chair will refer to Councilor Rossi for the Admin report on the
Class 2 Dealer's Licenses.
' Councilor Rossi —Again, the Admin Committee met prior to this evening's meeting and
it was a unanimous vote to send a positive recommendation for passage for articles 14
through 17 as mentioned.
tPresident Johnson — Any other questions or discussion on the Class 2 Dealer Licenses?
Councilor Cavallo?
Councilor Cavallo — Yeah, I talked about this at the last meeting and again, there are a
couple of the at this point one in particular for this evening and I drove by this evening
' coming to the meeting and I believe it's Lafleur Auto Exchange on Main Street and you
can't get a piece of paper in between any cars on that lot if you drive by there and I don't
know who it is responsible that's supposed to look at these lots to see if they have too
' many cars on their lot. I mentioned this before and again I'm not trying to aggravate
people but I drove by there tonight and I couldn't believe it. You can't even get in there.
Is the Building Inspector or someone, who polices this resides our committee? To see if
' their lot is over the volume is too much here?
President Johnson — The Chair will accept the question through the Chair and I think
Councilor Rossi would answer it.
Councilor Rossi — Through the Chair to Councilor Cavallo, as mentioned last week or
1 last meeting we talked about this before that this committee is in process right now of
formulating a form to give to the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector is required
by ordinance to go out twice a year to give inspections to make sure that they're
conforming not only to the amount of cars that they're supposed to have on the lots but
also that they do conform to our ordinances, our city ordinances, the Rules and
Regulations as required by their license. So that is in place, that is in progress. I
understand there are some problems out there in this community but we're in the process
right now of trying to get these things resolved and this one and the one we mentioned
earlier on River Road I believe has since corrected itself
Councilor Cavallo —Yeah, I went by there and it looked pretty good.
Councilor Rossi — So we're working on this and hopefully by our next Administrative
meeting we'll have something in place where we can get some regular visits out there to
1 those folks and make sure that they comply.
Councilor Cavallo —Thank you.
' President Johnson —Any other questions or discussion on the Class 2 Dealer Licenses?
Seeing none, all those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? It's unanimous.
i
27
t
15. TO-2012-51 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 2 Dealer(s)—Garden Auto Sales,204 Garden Street, Feeding
' Hills, MA (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson —See Item#14.
16. TO-2012-52 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 2 Dealer(s)—Lafleur Auto Exchange, 374 Main Street,
1 Agawam, MA (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson— See Item #14.
17. TO-2012-53 - An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for
Class 2 Dealer(s) —RNK Auto Sales, 28 Moylan Lane, Agawam, MA
(Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk)
President Johnson— See Item#14.
Item IL New Business
I L 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 —Next Agenda, referred to the Admin Sub-Committee.
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 Agenda, referred to the Admin Sub-Committee.
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 —Next Agenda, also referred to the Admin Sub-Committee.
r4. 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 —Next Agenda, again to the Admin Sub-Committee.
' Item 12. An other matter that may kgalI come before the City Council.
28
President Johnson I forget where I started last time, but I think I'll start with
Councilor Cavallo this time.
Councilor Cavallo —I have nothing this evening.
' President Johnson —Councilor Bitzas?
Councilor Bitzas — Yes, I would like to invite you and the people of Agawam
Wednesday, this Wednesday, the Agawam Rotary Club presents a Christmas concert at
the High Schooi, 6:30 Wednesday the doors will open, 7:00 the show will start with
Richard Mitnik and the great voices of Brad Shepherd, Dave Solucci, Mrs. Rivers and
others and we have a lot of surprises, good music, good holiday spirits, come down.
Wednesday, 6:30 at High School. Thank you.
President Johnson —Councilor Calabrese for the Rosie Robotics update.
Councilor Calabrese — Yes, thank you. As one of my fellow citizens so eloquently did
earlier this evening I would like to invite everyone over to the Jr. High on Saturday but
on a more somber note, one of our own, Dave Smith over at G&L who was an incredible
supporter of Rosie Robotics did lose his granddaughter tragically over the weekend and
so heartfelt condolences go out to him. He's just been an incredible support for the kids
here in Agawam and I'm just really sad for his loss and the family. Thank.you.
President Johnson— Councilor Cichetti?
Councilor Cichetti—Nothing this evening, thank you.
President Johnson — CounciIor Perry?
Councilor Perry—Nothing this evening, thank you.
President Johnson —Councilor Rheault?
ICouncilor Rheault—Nothing this evening.
' President Johnson —Councilor Magovern?
Councilor Magovern -- Just a couple of quick things. Number one I want to thank Sohn
Cappuccilli for all his hard work in organizing the Citizens Speak Time and again I get
frustrated and I know everybody up here gets frustrated when we're trying to deal with
issues that pertain to the town and nobody shows up for Citizens Speak Time because this
is the time to give us the input that we need to try to solve the problems. So watch the
papers for when we're gonna have our public meetings on the sewers. These are gonna
be continuing and again we need the input from everybody so we can do what's right and
again to Councilor Rossi he's done a heroic job on his research and I hope we can get a
lot of the questions answered for our next meetings that we hold and a little plug for
29
Sunday where we have a carol sing on the green which I hope is gonna be very well
attended. It's something that we started several years ago. It's organized by the, right
' now we have the Council of Churches for Agawam involved in it so we're gonna have all
the churches hopefully there with their people and then we'll have a reception back at St.
John's to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas. So again I wish everybody a good
season. Thank you.
President Johnson—Councilor Mineo?
Councilor Mineo—Nothing tonight.
President Johnson —Councilor Rossi?
Councilor Rossi—Yes,thank you. Briefly, Barbara would you make some room prior to
the next Council meeting for my Administrative Committee for my licenses? The usual?
I can always depend on you to help me out and also I would like to thank John and
everyone else who was here, Doug, for your participation and everyone else that came
and spoke your mind, both for and against, that's why we're here. That's what we're all
about and I'd also like to thank my Council members for their input and their desire to
keep this thing moving by tabling this thing so we can get more input and maybe we can
get our Administrative Committee together in a more workshop type of an atmosphere so
we can resolve some of these issues and keep this project moving forward. I think it's the
right thing to do and I appreciate the Councilors efforts to see that at least it's gonna keep
moving. Thanks.
President Johnson—Councilor Letellier?
Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. Doug was at the workshop and he said someone
said no one shows up anymore and I was the one who said gee, we haven't heard from
' the public in a while so I'm very glad that we did. With regard to the Wednesday holiday
concert, you're asked to bring a canned good or other non-perishable item donation for
the Parish Cupboard. If you don't bring it, it's $5.00 a person. If you do bring it, it's
$3.00 a person and if you're a gambling person there will be lottery trees for which you
can buy raffle tickets and Councilor Magovern, the Carol Sing and Holiday Iightin is not
this Sunday, it is the 16th so we don't want people showing up on the 91h. The 5t�is the
Rotary concert; the 16't is the town Christmas caroling etc. Thank you.
President Johnson —I just have a couple of housekeeping matters that I want to bring up
to the Council in my practice not to do the Declaration at the beginning of the meeting.
Relative to the license renewals that we get, in an effort to again try to cut down on the
number of trees that we have to cut down to distribute this material, what I've and I've
talked to the Vice President about it and he's in agreement is, that from now on we're
gonna send the cover sheets in paper form and then scan the stack which is the balance
and send that out via email so that because everyone has got fifteen or twenty or more
pages, In addition to that, not that we as a community have to abide by the concept but I
think it would be a good practice so I'm gonna ask Barbara to redact any potential
30
confidential information that's in there, not to alert the public but there are record checks
and such in there so we're gonna take the extra step of starting to redact any potential
personal information that's in there, things like dates of birth and partial Social Security
numbers and so forth because while we don't have the same statutory obligations that the
private sector companies do, I think we should start to mind and again when you look at
most of this stack is license renewals. If we can do more by email, it's gonna save a lot.
We've stopped most of the departments from bringing us eighteen copies of everything
which makes a huge mess in the Council Office. Second, I've spoken with Barbara and
again with the Council Vice President, in lieu of doing our normal holiday open house at
the office which is usually during the week during the day which gets little attendance
because people have conflicts, I'm hoping for some consensus on an after-holiday
L holiday party some time in January on an evening where hopefully everyone can bring
their spouses or significant others. We can get together so check your calendars and let
Barbara know if anyone is out of town in January so we can kind of pick that date. I
' hesitate to do it during the month of December because with the rush towards the
holidays, it's nice sometimes to get together afterward. Last piece of housekeeping
matter is I'm working on and hope to be distributing to the Council in about a week or so,
an evaluation form for our Administrative Assistant. I don't know if you want me to do
one also for the Auditor but we're supposed to annually review their performance. In the
past the traditional town employee evaluation form has been used and it really is not that
' applicable so I'm working on trying to get frankly a little simpler document that more
reflects our interaction with both of those individuals and I'll be sending it out by email
to all the councilors and asking that it come back to me so that I can share those with
' those two individuals because I believe their renewing appointment comes up in January
of the off year which is January of 2013. With that, the Chair will entertain a Motion to
adjourn. Moved and seconded all around the house. All those in favor of adjourning say
Ay? Opposed? We are adjourned.
' Adjournment at 8.42pm
31
1