City Council - Claims and Accounts Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE APPROVED 10-22-2015 MEMBERS John Vieau, Chairman Gerry Roy, Vice Chairman Frank Laflamme Gary Labrie William Zaskey MINUTES May 14, 2015 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Vieau, Laflamme, Zaskey, Labrie Members Absent Roy Also Present Daniel Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Sharyn Riley (Auditor), Harold (Lefty) Thompson (Insurance Claim Officer), Jeff Neece (Superintendent DPW) The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM. In compliance with the Open Meeting Law the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to take Claim 15-26 out of order. The claimant is on his break from work. Motion passed. Claim 15-26 Ryan Zygarowski, 40 Madison Street, stated that he was travelling on James Street in front of the landscaping business in February and he hit a pothole that went from the curb to the centerline. He blew his tire and rim. Jeff Neece stated that this road was under the CSO construction project. The depreciated amount according to the Insurance Claim Officer is $283.09. 1 Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to deny and send to the contractor because the city is not liable when a third party is involved. Motion passed. Claim 15-18 & 15-19 Eric Dumas, 30 Canal Street #1L, stated that during the first significant snow storm his vehicles were towed. He stated that Canal Street has 2 signs posted “No Parking Odd Side.” During the parking ban he parked his vehicles on the even side in front of his house up against the fence on the lawn and his vehicles were towed. Jeff Neece stated that Canal Street is very narrow and the cars had to be towed for public safety to plow the street. He further stated that at 10 PM he went to Canal Street and started blowing his horn and lights flashing for an hour to wake the residents to move their vehicles. Unfortunately, no one came out until the tow trucks came. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-20 Nicole Grenier, 18 Grape Street, 3rd floor, stated that she was parked on Canal Street during a parking ban and her car was towed. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-21 Joanne Cruz, 26 Orchard Street, Apt. 3. Auto Denied – over 30 days. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme to claim 15-31 out of order. Motion passed. Claim 15-31 Sarah Shaefer-Cunha, 185 New Ludlow Road, stated that while travelling on Broadway she swerved to omit one pothole only to hit another one. She had tire damage. The depreciated amount according to the Insurance Adjuster is $73.11. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to approve for $73.11. Motion passed. Claim 15-22 William Manewich, 57 Ames Avenue. Mr. Manewich was not present. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to postpone to next scheduled meeting. Motion passed. Claim 15-23 Velma Johnson, 38 Bell Street Apt. 2. Sharyn Riley stated that Ms. Johnson will not be able to attend tonight’s meeting. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to postpone to next scheduled meeting. Motion passed. Claim 15-24 Jeremy Valetin, 17 Adams Street. Mr. Valetin was not present. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to postpone. Motion passed. Claim 15-25 Dirk Johnson, 25 Marion Street. Mr. Johnson was away and his wife Mary was present to discuss the claim. She stated that her husband was travelling on Springfield Street near Elms College and Casino Avenue when he hit a large pothole. The right tire and rim were damaged along with part of the bumper that was cracked. Mrs. Johnson stated that she reported it to the DPW and the following day a yellow barrel was placed in the area. The depreciated amount according to the 2 Insurance Adjuster is $138.74. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to approve $138.74. Motion passed. Claim 15-27 Susan Santoro, 41 Blanche Street. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to postpone to next scheduled meeting. Motion passed. Claim 15-28 Bozena Rutkowski, 24 Cora Avenue, stated that she was travelling on Grattan when she hit a pothole and damaged her two tires. The depreciated amount according to the Insurance Adjuster is $154.06. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to approve $154.06. Motion passed. Claim 15-29 Kimberly Guimon, 9 Sergeant Avenue, stated that she was traveling on Sheridan Street and hit a pothole in an attempt to avoid another pothole. She stated that this was in the area where the sewer work was being done last year. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to deny and recommend compensation from the contractor. Motion passed. Claim 15-30 Joanna Wojtaszek, 425 Chicopee Street, stated that she sustained vehicle damage specifically to her shocks on the right side, after she hit a pothole on Columba Street. The depreciated amount according to the Insurance Adjuster is $263.36. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to approve $263.36. Motion passed. Claim 15-32 Gail Domeracki, 87 Sunrise Lane, stated that she sustained vehicle damage on Fuller Road near the tree farm. The depreciated amount according to the Insurance Adjuster is $78.89. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to approve $78.89. Motion passed. Claim 15-33 Rozalia Ward, 17 Arthur Street, stated that he mailbox was damaged by the person plowing the street. She purchased the least expensive mailbox and had to have someone install it. At the meeting Ms. Ward presented the committee the receipt for the installation. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Zaskey to approve $125.00. Motion passed. Claim 15-34 Tara Denault, 50 Theadore Street, stated that was travelling on Monroe Street when she hit a pothole and damaged her calipers and ball joints. Councilor Vieau stated that calipers come in a set of four. The receipt provided does not indicate that. Also Harold Thompson has tried several times to set up a time to meet Ms. Denault and that never came to fruition. The receipt does not say PAID nor does it include labor costs. Ball joint replacement would require an alignment that is not included on the receipt. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to postpone and send to the Insurance Adjuster to research. Motion passed. Claim 15-35 Vic Contabile, 11 Simonich Circle, stated that his driveway was scratched by the plow during a snowstorm. The driver went up his driveway with the plow down. He further stated that he resurfaced his driveway in September 2014. Since you have to wait one year after resurfacing he is unable to do another resurface until September 2015. He presented the committee with estimates of how much it will cost to resurface his driveway. The committee does not want to pay for something that was not completed. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Laflamme to pay $35.00 for a bucket of tar and a bucket of patch. Motion passed. 3 Claim 15-36 Gale Sacharczyk, 493 Prospect Street, stated that she was traveling on Dale Street at night and hit a pothole. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to approve $22.00. Motion passed. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to remove from the table the following claims 15-6, 15-7, 15-8, 15-9, 15-10, 15-11. Motion passed. Claim 15-6, Jeffrey Santiago, 268 Hampden Street. The Insurance Adjuster has made several attempts to meet and look at the damage and has been unable to do so. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to deny. Motion passed. Claim 15-7, Jennifer Clark, 20 Parshley Avenue, 2nd floor. Vehicle was towed. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-8, Edward Clark, 20 Parshley Avenue, 2nd floor. Vehicle was towed. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Zaskey to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment of $129.41. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-9 Rashel Ntelo, 27 Adams Street, Apt. 2L. Vehicle was towed. Jeff Neece stated that this vehicle was towed in error. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment of $184.71. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-10 Edward Clark, 20 Parshley Avenue, 2nd floor. Vehicle was towed. Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Vieau to send a favorable report to the Law Department for payment $174.71. Motion passed by a roll call vote. Claim 15-11 Fallon Saldo, 223 Chicopee Street. Fence damage. Sharyn Riley stated that receipts were never presented. Councilor Vieau stated that no attempt has been made to contact the Insurance Adjuster or Chairman of the Committee. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to deny. Motion passed. Minutes March 12, 2015. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Vieau to approve. Motion passed. Councilor Zaskey recommended that a communication be sent to Councilor Krampits to review the snow/winter parking through the Public Works Committee. Councilor Laflamme stated that he is Vice Chairman of the Public Works Committee and he will work with Councilor Krampits on this matter. Councilor Laflamme asked that Sharyn Riley keep a tally of how much was spent to towing parked cars. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM. 4