City Council - Ordinance Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED MEMBERS James Tillotson, Chairman Fred Krampits, Vice-Chairman Frank Laflamme Timothy McLellan Jerry Roy MINUTES March 8, 2016 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 6:45 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present: Tillotson, Krampits, Laflamme, McLellan Not Present Roy Also Present: Dan Garvey (Asst. City Solicitor), Councilor, Councilor Vieau (arrive 6:43 pm), Councilor Courchesne, Lee Pouliot (Planning Director) The meeting was called to order at 6:45 PM. In compliance with the open meeting laws the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. ITEM #1 Chapter 7 Revisions BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED THAT CHAPTER 7 OF THE ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF CHICOPEE IS HEREBY AMENDED BY INSERTING THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL SALARIES AND BENEFITS AS DETAILED BELOW: CHAPTER 7 Group 1 A. Mayor $85,000.00 B. President of the City Council 13,000.00 C. City Councilors (12) 12,000.00 (each) D. Vice Chairman of School Committee 6,500.00 E. School Committee Members 6,000.00 (each) F. Assessors (3) 60,000.00 G. Treasurer 75,000.00 1  H. Collector 65,000.00 I. City Clerk 65,000.00 J. Law Department a. City Solicitor $41,600.00 b. Assistant City Solicitor 41,600.00 c. Chief of Litigation 44,427.49 d. Associate City Solicitor (3) 41,600.00 (each) e. Council – Legal Counsel 41,600.00 Group 1 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive longevity as defined by the Administrative Employees Collective Bargaining Unit/Agreement, Health-Dental-Eye Insurance and Retirement. Group 2 K. Office of the City Council a. Administrative Assistant $39,544.00 b. Clerk 26,069.86 L. Office of the Mayor a. Chief of Staff $47,977.02 b. Staff Assistant 40,061.83 c. Special Projects Manager 40,061.83 d. Grant Specialist 10,000.00 M. Auditing Department a. Senior Accountant $57,173.60 N. Office of the Treasurer a. Assistant Treasurer $53,583.47 O. Law Department a. Paralegal $45,000.00 P. Human Resources a. Generalist (1) $37,797.67 b. Generalist (1) N/A c. Benefits Coordinator 41,600.00 d. Assistant Human Resource Director 47,500.00 Q. Office of the City Clerk a. Compliance Officer $19,912.00 R. Planning Department a. Development Manager $47,941.38 S. Council on Aging a. Program Coordinator $30,646.00 2  b. Program Assistant 14,229.93 c. P.T. Office Receptionist 2,118.40 Group 2 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive those benefits as defined by the Administrative Employees Collective bargaining Unit/Agreement. Group 3 T. Auditing Department a. Assistant Auditor – Stipend $ 4,000.00 U. Office of the Treasurer a. Assistant Treasurer – Stipend $ 4,000.00 V. Office of the Registrar a. Board of Registrar’s (3) $ 1,000.00 each W. Liquor License Commission a. Chairman $ 700.00 b. Commissioners (4) 600.00 each X. Planning Department a. Environmental Stipend $10,000.00 Y. Council on Aging a. Wellness/Health Nurse N/A b. Sub. Transportation Coordinator $ 3,023.56 Group 3 employees as defined above shall NOT be entitled to any additional benefits. The following positions shall be established by the City of Chicopee along with the following hourly rate of pay as detailed below: Group 4 Z. Library Department a. Part Time Page $ 10.00 per hour AA. Engineering Department a. Seasonal Jr. Engineer $ 10.00 per hour BB. Highway Department a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour CC. Sanitation Department a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour 3 DD. Parks Department a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour EE. Flood Control Department a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour FF. Golf Department a. Seasonal Golf Assistants $ 10.00 per hour b. Pro-Shop Assistant 12.00 per hour c. Cashiers 11.00 per hour GG. Water Department a. Seasonal Employees $ 10.00 per hour HH. Waste Water Treatment Plant a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour b. Intern 12.18 per hour II. Parks & Recreation Department a. Ranger $ 10.00 per hour b. Special Care Taker 10.00 per hour c. Lifeguard 10.00 per hour d. Head Lifeguard 10.75 per hour e. Leader of Recreation/Art 10.00 per hour f. Assistant Recreation Leaders 10.00 per hour g. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 9-10) 10.00 per hour h. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 11-12) 11.00 per hour i. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 13-14) 12.00 per hour j. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 2/game (Age 9-10) 12.00 per hour k. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 2/game (Age 11-12) 15.00 per hour l. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 2/game (Age 13-14) 18.00 per hour m. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 9-10) 11.00 per hour n. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 11-12) 12.00 per hour o. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 13-14) 13.00 per hour p. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 8-10) 22.00 per hour q. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 11-12) 25.00 per hour r. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 13-14) 30.00 per hour s. Camp Director 15.00 per hour t. Assistant Director 13.75 per hour u. Senior Counselors 11.75 per hour v. Specialist 11.75 per hour w. Junior Counselors 10.00 per hour JJ. Police Department a. Special Patrolmen $ 10.00 per hour b. Special Sergeant 11.00 per hour c. Special Lieutenant 12.00 per hour d. Special Captain 13.00 per hour KK. MIS Department 4  a. Intern $ 12.00 per hour LL. Law Department a. Legal Intern (2) $ 15.00 per hour MM. Planning Department a. Intern (2) $ 17.50 per hour Group 4 employees as defined above shall NOT be entitled to any additional benefits. Group 5 A. Police Chief B. Fire Chief The regular, full-time Fire Chief and the regular, full-time Police Chief of the City of Chicopee shall receive an annual compensation which shall not be less than (2) times the highest annual rate of compensation of a regular, full time firefighter, or a regular, full time police officer or patrolman, as the case may be. In addition, parity shall be maintained relative to compensation rates paid to the Police Chief and the Fire Department Chief for the City of Chicopee. The highest annual rate of regular, full time firefighter, or a regular full time police officer or patrolman, is to be construed and interpreted as the “base rate” and shall not include any other additional forms of compensation and, if given this definition, the rates of the Fire Chief and the Police Chief would mathematically come out to different levels of compensation, then the lower rate shall be adjusted to the higher rate in order to maintain parity between the two Department Heads. Group 5 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive those benefits as defined by the Patrolmen and Firefighter Collective bargaining Unit/Agreement. Motion to defeat – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 unfavorable ITEM #2 BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED THAT CHAPTER 7 OF THE ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF CHICOPEE IS HEREBY AMENDED BY INSERTING THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL SALARIES AND BENEFITS AS DETAILED BELOW: CHAPTER 7 Group 1 A. Mayor $85,000.00 B. President of the City Council 13,000.00 C. City Councilors (12) 12,000.00 (each) D. Vice Chairman of School Committee 6,500.00 E. School Committee Members 6,000.00 (each) 5  F. Assessors (3) 60,000.00 G. Treasurer 75,000.00 H. Collector 65,000.00 I. City Clerk 65,000.00 J. Law Department a. City Solicitor $41,600.00 b. Assistant City Solicitor 41,600.00 c. Chief of Litigation 44,427.49 d. Associate City Solicitor (3) 41,600.00 (each) e. Council – Legal Counsel 41,600.00 Group 1 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive longevity as defined by the Administrative Employees Collective Bargaining Unit/Agreement, Health-Dental-Eye Insurance and Retirement. Group 2 K. Office of the City Council a. Administrative Assistant $39,544.00 b. Clerk 26,069.86 L. Office of the Mayor a. Chief of Staff $47,977.02 b. Staff Assistant 40,061.83 c. Special Projects Manager 40,061.83 d. Grant Specialist 10,000.00 M. Auditing Department a. Senior Accountant $57,173.60 N. Office of the Treasurer a. Assistant Treasurer $53,583.47 O. Law Department a. Paralegal $45,000.00 P. Human Resources a. Generalist (1) $37,797.67 b. Generalist (1) N/A c. Benefits Coordinator 41,600.00 d. Assistant Human Resource Director 47,500.00 Q. Office of the City Clerk a. Compliance Officer $19,912.00 R. Planning Department a. Development Manager $47,941.38 6  S. Council on Aging a. Program Coordinator $30,646.00 b. Program Assistant 14,229.93 c. P.T. Office Receptionist 2,118.40 Group 2 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive those benefits as defined by the Administrative Employees Collective bargaining Unit/Agreement. Group 3 T. Auditing Department a. Assistant Auditor – Stipend $ 4,000.00 U. Office of the Treasurer a. Assistant Treasurer – Stipend $ 4,000.00 V. Office of the Registrar a. Board of Registrar’s (3) $ 1,000.00 each W. Liquor License Commission a. Chairman $ 700.00 b. Commissioners (4) 600.00 each X. Planning Department a. Environmental Stipend $10,000.00 Y. Council on Aging a. Wellness/Health Nurse N/A b. Sub. Transportation Coordinator $ 3,023.56 Group 3 employees as defined above shall NOT be entitled to any additional benefits. The following positions shall be established by the City of Chicopee along with the following hourly rate of pay as detailed below: Group 4 Z. Library Department a. Part Time Page $ 10.00 per hour AA. Engineering Department a. Seasonal Jr. Engineer $ 10.00 per hour BB. Highway Department b. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour CC. Sanitation Department 7  b. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour DD. Parks Department b. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour EE. Flood Control Department a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour FF. Golf Department d. Seasonal Golf Assistants $ 10.00 per hour e. Pro-Shop Assistant 12.00 per hour f. Cashiers 11.00 per hour GG. Water Department b. Seasonal Employees $ 10.00 per hour HH. Waste Water Treatment Plant a. Temporary Laborer $ 10.00 per hour b. Intern 12.18 per hour II. Parks & Recreation Department x. Ranger $ 10.00 per hour y. Special Care Taker 10.00 per hour z. Lifeguard 10.00 per hour aa. Head Lifeguard 10.75 per hour bb. Leader of Recreation/Art 10.00 per hour cc. Assistant Recreation Leaders 10.00 per hour dd. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 9-10) 10.00 per hour ee. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 11-12) 11.00 per hour ff. Youth Basketball Scorekeeper 1/game (Age 13-14) 12.00 per hour gg. Youth Basketball Referee 2/game (Age 9-10) 12.00 per hour hh. Youth Basketball Referee 2/game (Age 11-12) 15.00 per hour ii. Youth Basketball Referee 2/game (Age 13-14) 18.00 per hour jj. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 9-10) 11.00 per hour kk. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 11-12) 12.00 per hour ll. Youth Soccer Referee 2/game (Age 13-14) 13.00 per hour mm. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 8-10 22.00 per hour nn. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 11-12) 25.00 per hour oo. Youth Baseball/Softball Official 1/game (Age 13-14) 30.00 per hour pp. Camp Director 15.00 per hour qq. Assistant Director 13.75 per hour rr. Senior Counselors 11.75 per hour ss. Specialist 11.75 per hour tt. Junior Counselors 10.00 per hour JJ. Police Department e. Special Patrolmen $ 10.00 per hour f. Special Sergeant 11.00 per hour g. Special Lieutenant 12.00 per hour 8  h. Special Captain 13.00 per hour KK. MIS Department b. Intern $ 12.00 per hour LL. Law Department b. Legal Intern (2) $ 15.00 per hour MM. Planning Department b. Intern (2) $ 17.50 per hour Group 4 employees as defined above shall NOT be entitled to any additional benefits. Group 5 C. Police Chief D. Fire Chief The regular, full-time Fire Chief and the regular, full-time Police Chief of the City of Chicopee shall receive an annual compensation which shall not be less than (2) times the highest annual rate of compensation of a regular, full time firefighter, or a regular, full time police officer or patrolman, as the case may be. In addition, parity shall be maintained relative to compensation rates paid to the Police Chief and the Fire Department Chief for the City of Chicopee. The highest annual rate of regular, full time firefighter, or a regular full time police officer or patrolman, is to be construed and interpreted as the “base rate” and shall not include any other additional forms of compensation and, if given this definition, the rates of the Fire Chief and the Police Chief would mathematically come out to different levels of compensation, then the lower rate shall be adjusted to the higher rate in order to maintain parity between the two Department Heads. Group 5 employees as defined above shall also be entitled to receive those benefits as defined by the Patrolmen and Firefighter Collective bargaining Unit/Agreement. Councilor Tillotson stated that this is the updated version. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor McLellan 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM 3 Discussion of Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installation Overlay District Dan Garvey stated that the state statue allows you to go by way of the ordinance or go directly to site plan review that’s the avenue that you have. All the solar farm petitioners are trying to go the easier way which is the site plan review. I do know that Lee Pouliot or Kate Brown started an ordinance for all renewable energy. Lee Pouliot stated he is trying to update the ordinance. Lee passed around a copy of the zoning map for Canton, Massachusetts. Theoretically if a solar developer where interested in doing some 9 sort of a project in Canton, Massachusetts they would apply to town meeting to officially have a parcel of property designated under this overlay district. They’ve had one smaller scale project which had solar panels on top of a gas station canopy that went directly to site plan review and was in the final stages of receiving approval. This overlay district has not worked as anticipated because everyone knows they can just go to site plan review and move through the process that way. I think we need to clarify what our site plan process is for these types of projects and clarifying any questions in our zoning ordinances as they are. It seems like a lot to create an overlay district that really doesn’t have any boundaries when they can just go through site plan review and get what they need. Dan Garvey stated we certainly can create an ordinance but again there’s an option, the state statue is basically preempted local ordinance as to where it can go and they have provided us with site plan review which allows us to take a look at a particular plan. It’s nearly impossible to say this site is inappropriate for a solar farm or other renewable energy projects; therefore we are not going to allow you to do that. Lee Pouliot stated that he did some research and the state has developed a model renewable energy ordinance. I’m working on comparing what’s in the model and update the language to make sure we’re consistent with what the State is saying. Councilor Tillotson stated that he thinks we should review the site plan process and make that as respective as we can for the benefit of the neighborhood. Lee Pouliot stated whatever zoning district a proposed facility is in they would have to follow the base zoning regulations in that zone. If a project is in a residential A zone, whatever those setbacks and screening requirements are that is what the solar field would have to follow. Councilor Tillotson stated is there was anything we could put in our site review plan that was a little more protective in neighborhoods. Lee Pouliot stated that we can require additional screening. Councilor Lamontagne stated we can regulate more as a City. Councilor Tillotson stated within reason yes. Lee Pouilot stated in the case of solar we have limited ability to regulate because of the way the state laws are written however; we can incorporate some maintenance plans into our site review plan. Councilor Zygarowski stated when this is approved we can regulate with our zoning and control traffic, fencing and landscaping. Lee Pouliot stated yes through our site plan review process we’ve discussed screening designs. Councilor Tillotson stated that you’re going to take the best parts of the Canton Massachusetts ordinance and include it in the review of the site process. Lee Pouliot stated yes that’s correct. Planning Department to review site plan process. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #4 Parking Regulations – Springfield Street – In front of 405-407 Springfield Street for a distance of 20 feet – Parking Prohibited Here to Driveway Councilor McLellan motion to approve – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #5 10 Severe Weather Parking Regulations – Ashland Street – Both sides – entire length – Severe Weather Parking Regulations Councilor Krampits stated that Ashland is a short narrow dead end street but there are neighbors from the other street that park on it and don’t move their cars when the plows go by. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor McLellan 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #6 Parking Regulations – Springfield Street – East side between the north side of the driveway at #123 to the south side of the driveway at #111 – Parking Prohibited from 8 AM – 3 PM Councilor Brooks stated that hopefully this will alleviate some of the traffic that’s associated with Holyoke Catholic School. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor McLellan 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #7 Handicap Parking – 10 Nadeau Drive Frank Czepiel stated that the resident has a two car garage attached to the house with a double wide driveway and there is no need from what we can see for handicap parking. Motion to deny – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #8 Handicap Parking – 19 Hope Street Frank Czepiel stated that the gentleman in the apartment building has spinal problems. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor McLellan 2nd the motion – motion passed. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #9 February 9, 2016 Minutes – motion to approve – motion passed Motion made to adjourn at 7:33 PM. Motion passed. 11