City Council - Ordinance Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED MEMBERS James Tillotson, Chairman Gary Labrie, Vice-Chairman Robert J. Zygarowski Frank Laflamme Timothy McLellan MINUTES February 10, 2015 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present: Tillotson, Labrie, Laflamme, Zygarowski, McLellan Also Present: Frank Czepiel (Handicap Commission for Disabled), Councilor Lamontagne, Councilor Krampits, Councilor Vieau, Janina Surdyka (Registrar of Voters), Steve Frederick (City Engineer), William Jebb (Chief of Police). The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM. In compliance with the open meeting laws the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. ITEM #1 Chapter 7 be amended as follows: Section 2 – Registrars Census Taker $16.00 per hour Said ordinance to be effective upon passage Janina Surdyka stated we have always considered the Census Takers as a regular contract. They establish their own hours and use their own transportation. We have been instructed by the IRS that they have to be city employees because they are perceived by the public as a Census Taker for the City of Chicopee. Councilor Zygarowski asked how many Census Takers there are. Janina Surdyka stated it varies from year to year. Last year we only had one Census Taker to do follow up in the Willimansett area. It’s a rather difficult and challenging job. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Zygarowski 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. 1 Councilor Tillotson motion to take Item #7 out of sequence – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed ITEM #2 Parking Prohibited – Meadow Street – both sides from Meetinghouse Road to Stedman Street. Wendy Pepin, Vice President of Stefanik School stated that we are requesting the No Parking signs because at the end of the day the traffic is unbelievable and it’s become very unsafe for the students. We are asking for your help to make it a safer place. Councilor Vieau stated people are parking on Meadow Street and creating chaos and an unsafe environment. I really don’t see any need for on-street parking from Meeting House Road all the way down to Stedman Street. Stefanik School has their own parking lot as does McDonalds’ and J.Polep. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Zygarowski 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #3 260 – 34 D DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX Montgomery Street – East side at the entrance to Sunoco gas station – DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX Steve Frederick stated that there is a Mass General Law Chapter 89 Section 9 that talks about not proceeding through the intersections and the fine is one hundred and fifty dollars. The original intention for DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX is to enforce the law of not entering an intersection and not being able to travel through. We should move forward with getting the data collected for this whole intersection so we can get a better history on accidents as well as turning movements. Councilor Tillotson said in the meantime we’ll make what’s there legal. I suggest we pass these two ordinances and refer the signage to Engineering and Public Works. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #4 260-34 D DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX Montgomery Street – East side at the entrance to Big Y/BJ’s Plaza – DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX Councilor Zygarowski motion to approve – Councilor LaFlamme 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #5 Parking Prohibited – Robak Drive – West side for a distance of 80 ft. from the intersection of Burnett Road – Parking Prohibited Here to corner. Councilor Zygarowski motion to approve - Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed 2 Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #6 TABLED Handicap Parking – 163 Horseshoe Drive Councilor Laflamme motion to remove from the table – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion - motion passed Councilor Tillotson stated that this has been studied and re-studied. Frank Czepiel stated that the consideration that was made was; the limitation of space between the driveway which is five feet and with the mailbox there will severely limit that area. The association states everyone there has an assigned driveway or parking space. Steve Frederick stated there’s a twenty five foot width of the street, very narrow and the space doesn’t meet the dimensional requirements for Handicap parking. Council motion to deny – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable to deny ITEM #7 Parking Prohibited – Maple Street – South side entire length. Councilor Krampits stated the signs are already up and this is to just update the Ordinance book and comply with the ordinance. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion - motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable Councilor Laflamme motion to take a five minute recess – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed ITEM #8 Delete 77-1 A Police Department in its entirety and replace with the following: The Police Department of the City of Chicopee shall consist of one (1) Chief, five (5) Captains, seven (7) Lieutenant Detectives, fourteen (14) Sergeant’s, not more than one hundred eight (108) Patrolmen, not more than three Police Matrons, such number of reserve patrolmen as prescribed by chapter 314 of the Acts of 1896 (MGL C. 147, Section 11 and 12), and Special Police Officers as may from time to time be appointed The committee recommends the following changes; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF CHICOPEE BE AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: DELETE 77-1 (A) POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACE WITH THE FOLLOWING: 77-1 (A) POLICE DEPARTMENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF CHICOPEE SHALL CONSIST OF ONE (1) CHIEF, FIVE (5) CAPTAINS, SEVEN (7) LIEUTENANTS, FOURTEEN (14) SERGEANTS, NOT MORE THAN 3 ONE HUNDRED EIGHT (108) PATROLMEN, SUCH NUMBER OF RESERVE PATROLMEN AS PRESCRIBED BY CHAPTER 314 OF THE ACTS OF 1896 (MGL C. 147, SECTION 11 AND 12), AND SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS AS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE APPOINTED. The Police Chief stated that we still want to keep the Special Police and to create a reserve officer program where young citizens of the community that have taken the civil service examination can apply and go on to the reserve intermittent academy. We can have a selection process from those individuals when it’s time to hire. This is a legitimate sanction civil service program; it will allow us to take the residents from the City of Chicopee who meet those qualifications. They are required to work with us so many days per year and we can see whether or not they will be successful. We are working diligently do make the Department more efficient and we are trying to restructure it slowly. Councilor Vieau asked if they were in the process of hiring right now. The Police Chief stated we interviewed seven positions and they received notifications and we are working with the Commissioner in Springfield for the Academy which will start in April. We are not at full complement and by August we will be down by nine officers. Councilor Zygarowski stated that the Reserve Officer Program will help with this process. Councilor Lamontagne asked what the function of the Special Police Officers are. The Police Chief answered they perform road job details and also election dates. When we revamp the program we want them to work in an eight hour day function within the Police Department. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tilloston 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #8 Minutes – January 13, 2015 Motion made to approve. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM. 4