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CC MTG MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4 2012 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL ' Minutes dated September 4, 2012 President Johnson — I'd call the meeting to order. I just want to announce to those who ' are watching at home that we are experiencing some audio difficulties so the clicking noise that you're hearing is because we have an amp that's going and it's not your set or the broadcast, it's local here. The people that are in the audience don't hear it but the people at home hear it. ' Item 1. Roll Call President Johnson— With that I'd ask Barbara to call the roll please? ROLL CALL— 10 PRESENT, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) President Johnson — With ten present, we have a quorum. Item 2. Moment of Silence and the Pledge ofAlle iQ ante. President Johnson — I'd like everyone to rise for a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance please. Item 3. CitiZerr's Speak Time President Johnson —There are no citizens wishing to address the Council this evening. Item 4. Minutes ' 1. Regular Council Meeting—August 6,2012 President Johnson — Is there a Motion to approve? Moved by Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilor Cavallo. Any questions or discussion on the minutes? Hearing none, all those in favor say Ay? Any opposed? Please note the abstentions of Councilors Calabrese and Letellier. Otherwise the minutes for August 6, 2012 are approved. Item S. Declaration from Council President None. - — ' Item 6. Presentation of Petitions,Memorials & Remonstrances I. TR-2012-41 - A Resolution confirming the appointment of Muriel Birchenough, 886 Main Street#6,Agawam,MA to the Agawam Housing Authority for an unexpired term expiring the second Monday in January, 2015(Mayor) 1 President Johnson — Is there a Motion to approve? Moved by Councilor Magovern, seconded by Councilors Letellier and Rheault. Questions or discussion? I know she's been here for the last two meetings so I don't know if anyone has any questions — she's the tenants representative on the Housing Authority — seeing none, I'd ask Barbara to call ' the roll please? ROLL CALL — 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) President Johnson —With ten votes, congratulations! Your appointment to the Housing Authority has been confirmed. Thank you. 2. TR 2012-42 -A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit a Grant Application to MassDevelopment to conduct a Brownfield Assessment for 346-350 Walnut Street Extension (Mayor) President Johnson — Is there a Motion? Moved by Councilor Bitzas, seconded by Councilor Rossi. Questions or discussion? Councilor Letellier? Councilor Letellier — Yes, thank you. My, I think this is a great idea, my concern is ' what if the cost exceeds the grant? There's no cap on this that we're gonna spend up to the grant, it just says `if the grant is awarded to expend the funds to conduct the site assessment'. I just wanna make sure that we cap how much money the town spends to ' the cost of the grant. President Johnson — As I understand it, the town has already gone through the process ' of doing a Request for Proposals for a license site professional and the low bidder was $43,900 and the amount of the grant being requested is $50,000. So hopefully it should cover. Councilor Letellier—Okay. Thanks for that extra information. President Johnson —Other questions or discussion? Councilor Bitzas? Councilor Bitzas—Yes, I'm in favor from this and I agree with Councilor Letellier, it's a igreat idea and the money is there. They already have the three bids that underbid for about $2,000.00 so I hope the Full Council supports it and I would like to see this eyesore cleaned up and somebody do something there because it's way overdue. Thank you. President Johnson—Any further questions? I'd ask Barbara to call the roll please? ' ROLL CALL— 10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) President Johnson—With a vote of ten yes, we've approved TR-2012-42. i 1 i2 1 Item 7. Report of Council Committees t None. Item S. Elections 1. TE-2012-3 -Election of a member of the Community Preservation Act Committee to an Unexpired Term Expiring April 30,2013 (Tabled 8/6/12) ' (Council) President Johnson — Is there a Motion to remove the item from the table? Moved by Councilor Cichetti, seconded by Councilors Rheault and Perry. All those in favor of taking it off the table, say Ay? Any opposed? The matter is off the table. The floor is open for nominations. We have two interested parties. At our last meeting, Mr. Cummings appeared and I believe this evening we have Mr. Galiotsos is here as well so I don't know if we wanna go into Committee as a Whole to allow him to come up and speak with the Council and we can ask any questions? We have a Motion to go into Committee as a Whole by Councilor Magovern. Is there a second? Seconded by Councilors Calabrese and Cavallo. All those in favor of going into Committee as a Whole, say Ay? Any opposed? We are in Committee as a Whole. We welcome Mr. Galiotsos up to see if— Mr. Galiotsos—Well, do you have questions specific of me or— President Johnson — Does anybody on the Council have any questions? If not, I'd just ask for a little background for the Council. We got your letter and we appreciate your interest. Mr. Galiotsos — Well, I thought I was doing Community Preservation work when I worked with CARD. I said in my letter it really frightened me what I thought that development was gonna do up on Tennis Road. I thought it was gonna devour Agawam. I thought it was the antithesis of Community Preservation — it was community destruction. I'm sure some of you disagree with me but that's how I saw it. I saw the huge center going in there. I saw it simply avalanching the roads here. I saw it killing small businesses. I had very, very strong feelings about that. There were other issues; we printed those out many, many times. We went to the community to express those and the community evidently agreed with those positions. That basically -- I also am from West Springfield and I've gone back there periodically and I've been appalled at what I've seen. That was where I grew up. I don't like what has happened there. I would not like to live there. As I told Mr. Perry last night when he was so kind to call, I really am pleased to live in Agawam for the last twelve years. It's a little community that I look at it as a community that can and does and tries so I guess I want to be part of that. I've read those, I have exactly forgotten what they're called — the Master Plans — that have ' been promulgated over the years. I've seen those. I've read those and in particular there have been sentences that have stood out to me in which they've expressed a desire to keep Agawam as much as possible the way it was. So that is basically why I'm here. I'm very open-minded in terms of working. When I worked as a teacher with other 3 teachers, when we have various problems, I'm very good in terms of committee and working with people and I'll stop there. ' President Johnson -- Does anybody have any questions? Seeing none, I want to thank you for coming this evening and thank you for showing interest. Mr. Galiotsos—Thank you very much. President Johnson — At this point, the Chair will entertain a Motion to come out of Committee as a Whole. Moved by Councilor Rossi, seconded by Councilor Magovern. All those in favor of coming out of Committee as a Whole say Ay? Any opposed? We are out. The floor is open to nominations. Councilor Letellier? Councilor Letellier—I nominate George Galiotsos. President Johnson — Is there a second to the nomination? Nomination made by Councilor Letellier, seconded by Councilors Perry and Rheault. Any other nominations? Councilor Calabrese? Councilor Calabrese—I'd like to nominate Joel Cummings. President Johnson — Is there a second to that nomination? Nomination made by Councilor Calabrese, seconded by Councilors Cavallo and I think Magovern. So we have 1 both names in nomination. Councilor Rheault—I move to close nominations. ' President Johnson — We have a Motion to close nominations is there a second? Made by Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilors Magovern and Rossi. All those in favor of closing nominations say Ay? Opposed? Nominations are closed. I'd ask the Clerk to call the roll. When your name is called, please indicate which candidate — Mr. Galiotsos 1 or Mr. Cummings—that you wish to cast your vote for. ROLL CALL — 7 GEORGE GALIOTSOS, 3 JOEL CUMMINGS, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) President Johnson — With seven votes, congratulations Mr. Galiotsos, you've been appointed to the Community Preservation Act Committee and again, to both Mr. Cummings and Mr. Galiotsos, thank you very, very much for your interest in serving the community and I'm sure that in the future, there'll be other openings so we welcome all who want to participate. Item 9. Public Hearin s None. 4 Item 10. Old Business 1. TO-2012-25 -An Order Granting or Renewing a LICENSE for Automatic Amusement and Weekly Amusement Device(s)—Ferrentino,Inc. dlb/a Ferrentino's Pizzeria and Pub, 1676 Main Street,Agawam,MA. (Referred to Administrative Committee) (Clerk) President Johnson — Moved by Councilor Rheault, seconded by Councilors Rossi and Bitzas. It was referred to the Administrative Sub-Committee. Councilor Rossi? Councilor Rossi — Yes, thank you Mr. President. The sub-committee met this evening and unanimously agreed to send a positive recommendation for the order and granting and renewing an Automatic Amusement Device for the Ferrentino Pizza and Pub. President Johnson —Any other questions? Hearing none, I'd ask Barbara to call the roll please on the Automatic Amusement Device License for Ferrentino's Pizzeria. ' ROLL CALL —10 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSENT (Councilor Mineo) President Johnson — With a vote of ten yes, we've approved the Automatic Amusement and (Weekly Amusement Device) License for Ferrentino's Pizzeria. Item 11, New Business ' 1. TR-2012-43 -A Resolution Accepting a Grant from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation pursuant to Massachusetts ' General laws Chapter 44,Section 53A `/a for the Agawam Fire Department (Mayor) 1 President Johnson—That'll go on to our next Agenda. 2. TR-2012-44 -A Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Nicholas Pandolfi, 16 Wisteria Lane,Agawam,MA.to the Planning Board to a Term Expiring January 1,2015(Mayor) ' President Johnson—That'll also go on to our next Agenda. 3. TR-2012-45 -A Resolution requesting the Installation of"No Parking" Signs along Moore Street(Councilor Rossi) President Johnson — That item will be referred to the Community Relations committee, Councilor Calabrese being the Chair, to hold a meeting prior to our next meeting on September 17th i 1 5 1 4. TOR-2012-3 -An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the Town of Agawam Zoning Ordinances §180-2 "Definitions and Word Usage" (PH-2012-3) Suggest a Public Hearing Date of October 1,2012 (Two Readings) (Mayor) President Johnson —First, we would refer the matter—I would ask Don— do we need to do that by vote in referring it to the Planning Board — or can we just send it? We will ' refer that matter to the Planning Board. I understand they're holding their mandatory public hearing this Thursday. I would also refer it to the Legislative Sub-Committee. Councilor Cichetti is the Chair of the Legislative Sub-Committee for their review of the matter and we would be setting the public hearing date -- instead of October 1" because Councilor Letellier is out of state on that day, I would suggest we go with October 15'h. We're well within our timeline because we have ninety days to act from when it's submitted so we're well within that ninety days. So I would suggest the public hearing date and set the public hearing date for October 15'h. That would give us time to digest the Planning Board's recommendation and give the Legislative Sub-Committee time to act on that and do what they need to do. So the public hearing on that will be October 15, 2012. ' Item 12. Any other matter that may legally comae before the City Council. ' President Johnson— We'll start with Councilor Cavallo tonight. Councilor Cavailo —I have nothing this evening. President Johnson—Councilor Bitzas? Councilor Bitzas — Yes, I have two things. I would like to wish all the teachers and the students happy safe and successful school year. I went today to the Annual Teachers Convocation at the Jr. High School. It was very, very, very, nice. The auditorium was full of teachers and administrators and to my surprise, remember we voted to the grant for the Massachusetts School Building Assistance? We got the grant, this Council voted last year I believe and the doors, the outside doors, the outside windows and the roof, it's ' absolutely fantastic. So if you have the time, go take a look. I think the Jr. High looks very, very good and saves energy. The other thing is keep your dates open — October 20th, the Rotary Club we have the second annual Agawam Harvest Festival and Family Fun Day. We did it last year and we do the same thing this year. This year we will have live music by the Truckstop Troubadours. We're going to have an antique and classic car show, We're going to have the ReMax balloon — they're going to be in the back of the school so we have the people we can go for a ride to go see the scenery. Diana's Bakery I think it's one of the biggest one, one of the best ones, they're going to donate to our club pastry, donuts and whatever they make for the different restaurants so we have many ' good things to eat. The Lions Club will be responsible for all the food so all these proceeds will go to different organizations and people in need and whatever Lions Club and Rotary Club do so just keep the date open — October 20th from l0am to 5pm and iwe'll be at Phelps School or Veterans Green. Thank you. President Johnson—Councilor Calabrese? 1 ' 6 r Councilor Calabrese — Thank you. Barb -- you already know I need a meeting for my sub-committee meeting and I just want to wish all the school kids — have a great school year starting back. There is also a Primary on Thursday so don't forget to get out and vote and have a lovely evening. Bye. President Johnson —Thank you. Councilor Cichetti? Councilor Cichetti--Nothing this evening. Thank you. President Johnson—Councilor Perry? Councilor Perry—Nothing this evening, Mr. President, thank you. President Johnson--Councilor Rheault? Councilor Rheault—Nothing this evening. President Johnson—Councilor Magovern? Councilor Magovern —I'd just like to reiterate what Councilor Calabrese said that again welcome back to the students. I hope you have a great, successful year and to remind everybody that there will be a Primary on Thursday. There's a lot of choices on the Democratic side of the Primary ballot and believe it or not, we do have a choice for Governor's Council on the Republican side of the Primary ballot so there is a Republican Primary as well as a Democratic Primary. So please exercise your right to go in and vote and I hope that we have a good percentage of people showing up on Thursday. Thank you. President Johnson —Councilor Rossi? ' Councilor Rossi—Nothing this evening. President Johnson —And Councilor Letellier? Councilor Letellier— I guess I'm gonna be redundant as well. Happy school year to the teachers, the parents and the students and I hope that we don't have too much craziness with kids showing or the first day of school and parents showing up for their first day of school and voters and poll workers and my goodness, let's hope we all make it through safely on Thursday. Don't forget to vote. Thank you. ' President Johnson — And with that, the Chair will entertain a —just one housekeeping matter. We're gonna do the workshop a week from yesterday or on September 10`h, next Monday, 6:30 at the library and it's regarding the Stretch Code presentation by the Energy Commission and the School Street Park Part II presentation from Park & Rec. So Barbara will get the notices out but that'll be next Monday at 6:30 at the library. The 7 I Chair will entertain a Motion to Adjourn. Moved by Councilor Rossi and seconded by Councilor Rheault. All those in favor say Ay? Opposed? We are adjourned. Thank you. (7:19pm) Adjournment. i i f j 1 1