City Council - License Committee

City of Chicopee City Council License Committee Approved 2-27-2023 Members Shane Brooks, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair George Balakier Mary Beth Pniak-Costello Derek Dobosz MINUTES November 17, 2022 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6:30 PM held in the Auditorium, 2nd floor, City Hall, 17 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 and via Zoom. Members Present Brooks (zoom), Krampits, Dobosz, Balakier Not Present Pniak-Costello Also Present Daniel Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Laflamme, Jerry Rivera (IT) 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 BE IT ORDERED THAT Absolute Motors, Inc., 245 East Street, be called before the City of Chicopee License 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. Violations – 1. Cars being parked on opposite side of Butler Street 2. Snow being pushed across Butler Street 3. Review of plot plan Mahoud Awkal was present at the meeting. Councilor Krampits stated that he has received complaints from neighbors that vehicles belonging to the business are being parked on Butler Street. He continued that there should be no business activity on the street. Mr. Awkal stated that the cars on Butler Street are not part of the business and the City should tow them. Councilor Krampits asked that Mr. Awkal instruct his customers to not utilize the street when doing business at his shop. Mr. Awkal stated that he will put a sign on his door for customers to not park on the street. 1 Councilor Krampits also stated that during the winter months snow is being pushed from the business property onto Butler Street and the snow gets compacted onto the sidewalk. He continued that there is an ordinance that prohibits this type of action. Mr. Awkal stated that he helps to remove the compacted snow at the corner of Butler and the fire hydrant. Councilor Krampits informed Mr. Awkal that all businesses whether new or existing are required to have a professional engineer stamped plot plan. The plot plan that is on file for this business still includes the other business that occupied the property which has not been in business in some time and it is hand drawn. In the next few months the applicant is to submit a stamped and signed plot plan. Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to place on file. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #2 Application for a Class II License for United Sons Auto Sales, LLC located at 400 D East Main Street. Applicant Tala Hamad, 129 Center Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 Tala Hamad and Al Lafleur were present at the meeting. Mr. Hamad stated that he intends to sell and repair vehicles. Reports read from the following departments: Engineering – It appears the 1,100 SF building is yet to the constructed. Engineering department review will happen as part of the Building Department checklist process where a site plan is required. Fire – This proposed space is new construction and requires an inspection from Fire and Building Departments. Application says “1 Bay” but there are actually two bays as part of new construction. What is the status of the other bay? Plans submitted are over 3 years old 6/13/2019 and do not show the Renee B’s Sandwich and Ice Cream Shop. Need updated drawing? Planning – Property is zoned Business A; use is permitted in the zone (275-59 B (B) (20); Planning understands that this is a request for a transfer of an existing license. Planning recommends approval of the License; with the condition all previous conditions have been satisfactory met. Mr. Lafleur stated that the building has been constructed. The other bay right now is being used for storage. 2 Councilor Laflamme stated that the plan submitted doesn’t show what is currently happening on the property and what is proposed. There is no curb cut on the plan; no paving. Councilor Brooks stated that a revised accurate plan must be submitted at which time he will schedule a License Committee meeting. This could be done as soon as the beginning of December. Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to postpone to the call of the chair. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #3 Application for an Auto Repair License for United Sons Auto Sales, LLC located at 400 D East Main Street. Applicant Tala Hamad, 129 Center Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 Tala Hamad and Al Lafleur were present at the meeting. Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to postpone to the call of the chair. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #4 Application for an Auto Detailing License for United Sons Auto Sales, LLC located at 400 D East Main Street. Applicant Tala Hamad, 129 Center Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 Tala Hamad and Al Lafleur were present at the meeting. 3 Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to postpone to the call of the chair. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #5 Application for a Class II License for M.A.R. Auto Service, Inc., located at 31 Prospect Street. Applicant Anthony Witman, 7 Misty Court, South Hadley, MA 01075 Anthony Witman and Michael Pawlishen were present at the meeting. Mr. Witman stated that he is purchasing the business from Mr. Pawlishen. Reports read from the following departments: Engineering – The first “A” parking space (Yelle Street side) is not wide enough to park a vehicle. Plan is of existing conditions. No site work proposed. No other engineering comments. Fire – None Councilor Laflamme stated that he is concerned about parking a vehicle at the corner of the property – corner of Yelle and Prospect. The car parked in this corner creates a blind spot for drivers as well as pedestrians walking to the crosswalk. Mr. Witman stated that he agrees with removing that parking spot. The plan was amended to remove the parking spot at the curve. Mr. Witman initialed the change. Restrictions Good housekeeping No outside storage No junk cars No outside repairs License holder must secure a Certificate of Occupancy prior to exercising the rights granted under this license Total number of vehicles 37 (0 inside, 37 outside, 4 employee, 6 customer) 15 vehicles for sale, Applicable to all 3 licenses Hours of operation M-F 7 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM Committee discussed continuing this license to expire December 31, 2023. Attorney Garvey stated that unfortunately, that is not possible. The license will expire December 31, 2022 and the applicant will need to apply to renew the licenses for 2023. 4 Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to approve with restrictions. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #6 Application for an Auto Repair License for M.A.R. Auto Service, Inc., located at 31 Prospect Street. Applicant Anthony Witman, 7 Misty Court, South Hadley, MA 01075 Anthony Witman and Michael Pawlishen were present at the meeting. Mr. Witman stated that he is purchasing the business from Mr. Pawlishen. Restrictions Good housekeeping No outside storage No junk cars No outside repairs License holder must secure a Certificate of Occupancy prior to exercising the rights granted under this license Total number of vehicles 37 (0 inside, 37 outside, 4 employee, 6 customer), Applicable to all 3 licenses Hours of operation M-F 7 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM Motion made by Councilor Dobosz and second by Councilor Brooks to approve with restrictions. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #7 Application for an Auto Detailing License for M.A.R. Auto Service, Inc., located at 31 Prospect Street. 5 Applicant Anthony Witman, 7 Misty Court, South Hadley, MA 01075 Anthony Witman and Michael Pawlishen were present at the meeting. Mr. Witman stated that he is purchasing the business from Mr. Pawlishen. Restrictions Good housekeeping No outside storage No junk cars No outside repairs License holder must secure a Certificate of Occupancy prior to exercising the rights granted under this license Total number of vehicles 37 (0 inside, 37 outside, 4 employee, 6 customer), Applicable to all 3 licenses Hours of operation M-F 7 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Brooks to approve with restrictions. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits X Pniak-Costello Absent Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. ITEM #8 Minutes – October 11, 2022 Motion made by Councilor Dobosz and second by Councilor Brooks to approve. Roll call vote: Yes No Brooks X Krampits Absent Pniak-Costello X Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. Motion made by Councilor Balakier and second by Councilor Brooks to adjourn at 7:41 PM. Roll call vote: 6  Yes No Brooks X Krampits Absent Pniak-Costello X Dobosz X Balakier X Motion passed. 7