City Council - License Committee

City of Chicopee City Council License Committee Approved 6-25-2018 Members Stanley Walczak, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair Shane Brooks Frank Laflamme Derek Dobosz MINUTES May 21, 2018 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Monday, May 21, 2018 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Walczak, Krampits, Laflamme, Dobosz Not Present Brooks Also Present Jay Croteau (City Messenger), Carl Dietz (Building Commissioner), Attorney Daniel Garvey (City Assistant Solicitor) 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. Hearing none the meeting continued. ITEM #1 Application for a license to drive a taxi cab for Yellow Cab in the City of Chicopee. Applicant Alexis Calvente 45 Loring Street Springfield, MA 01105 Councilor Laflamme asked how long the applicant has been driving taxi cabs. Applicant was present he stated he has been driving for Yellow Cab for almost three years and he is familiar with Chicopee. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve with approval of all Police Department requirements – Councilor Walczak 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable 1 Councilor Laflamme motion to take Item #2 out of order – Councilor Walczak 2nd the motion – motion passed ITEM #2 Application for Fuel Storage License located on Ed Lysek Dr. (1290 Burnett Rd) for 1,000 gal. (500 gal. gas & 500 gal. diesel) of aboveground fuel storage. Applicant Jean J. Croteau, Jr., City Messenger, for City of Chicopee 17 Springfield St. Chicopee, MA 01013 Applicant was present he stated that he did not realize the procedure involved and the tank has already been installed. The Golf Course had a problem with the underground tank and the Mayor asked me to get involved and I assumed the Golf Course would handle some of the paperwork. He stated that he was up there monitoring daily when the contractor started doing the work; the old one was taken out and the new tank installed. He stated it used to be two thousand gallons underground and now its one thousand gallons above ground; five hundred gas and five hundred diesel. Jean Croteau stated that they need less gas because all the golf carts are electric. He stated there are bollards around it to protect it. He stated it is over by the storage shed and nowhere around the public. He stated it’s up to date and modern a very safe system. Jean Croteau stated that this is not one of his buildings that he usually deals with. He stated that core testing was done on the tank and the soil around it and there was no leakage into the ground and the old tank was disposed of properly. Jean Croteau stated it was very nicely done and he was very pleased with it. Councilor Laflamme asked how many underground tanks do we have left to take out for the City of Chicopee. Jean Croteau stated that the Mayor asked him to get involved with this because he had some experience with the underground tanks. He stated that there are no more tanks to take out. He stated he was involved with the underground tank over at the Safety Complex and the tank at Fire Station III on Center Street is gone because it sprung a leak. Public Input Paul ? stated that why did we spend all this money notifying the abutters by certified mail when the tanks are already done. Councilor Walczak stated that the State of Massachusetts mandates by law that certified mail has to go out. Councilor Krampits stated that even though it has already been done, it’s a public hearing and we are giving them a license so we still have to go through the procedure. Engineering Department Contractor shall contact Engineering Department for trench permit. Contractor shall contact Water Department to mark out water lines. Planning Department Planning Department will not recommend approval until an updated plan set has been submitted for review. Plans were not reviewed and stamped by the Planning Department prior to the submission of the license application. Further we are not able to determine there are any conservation issues based on the plans submitted. Councilor Krampits motion to approve with restrictions – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #3 ORDERED THAT Absolute Motors, Inc., 245 East Street, be called before the City of Chicopee License 2 Committee and City Council to discuss the license (s) currently held by Absolute Motors, Inc. including compliance with restrictions imposed upon any licenses held by Absolute Motors, Inc. The Council may modify, suspend, fine, or revoke any license held by Absolute Motors, Inc. Attorney Anthony Faccini, property owner and license holder Mohoud Awkal were present. Councilor Krampits stated that he has received calls regarding the number of cars on the property. Your license states you can have seventeen cars. He stated that he has received reports that there have been up to forty cars and he counted twenty nine vehicles the other day. He stated that there is space on the property for that but, initially when you came in for this license there was another repair business there and we allowed the same amount of cars. He stated that we mentioned if they were to leave we needed something from your Landlord that you have the use of the entire property and then we could upgrade it. Mohound Awkal stated that he apologizes that he went over the limit. He stated it was tax season and busier than normal. He stated that it’s time to file for an amendment. Attorney Anthony Faccini stated that there was a misunderstanding that his client thought it was seventeen cars for repair plus additional but after reviewing the license it’s clear it is seventeen in total. He suggested to his client to file and amendment to put additional cars on the lot. Councilor Krampits stated that until you file the proper paper work he suggests that you reduce the cars down to the legal requirement. Mohound Awkal stated he can reduce the cars within a week. He asked if that includes registered vehicles. Councilor Laflamme stated for clarification the reduction is for all vehicles. Councilor Krampits stated that the class II and auto repair licenses both stating the total number of cars is seventeen with two being parked in garage and the remaining fifteen outside. Mohound Awkal stated he wants to make sure he’s in compliance and he will take care of this. Councilor Krampits stated that he has been notified from another business owner who is licensed for seventeen cars also. He stated that he maintains his license and asked why you are able to have more vehicles. Attorney Garvey stated to bring a new plan in that’s done by a surveyor and lay out where you want your spots. He stated you have to make sure that they are on the plan and they’re big enough according to our regulation. Councilor Laflamme stated it has to fulfill the requirements through a surveyor. Councilor Krampits stated what you will be doing is merging the two businesses into one. Councilor Krampits stated he knows your business has been successful and you have been keeping the property clean. Councilor Laflamme wanted to add that he also has received calls from other business owners that are maintaining their licenses but see other business’s not doing it. He stated that we are going to have every business owner in compliance with their license. Councilor Krampits motion that the issue be placed on file – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion- motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #4 Councilor Laflamme motion to approve the minutes from April 30, 2018 – Councilor Dobosz 2nd the motion – motion passed Meeting Adjourned 7:00 pm 3