City Council - Ordinance Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Ordinance Committee Members James Tillotson, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair Frank Laflamme Gary Labrie Jerry Roy APPROVED 1-8-19 MINUTES November 27, 2018 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present: Tillotson, Krampits, Laflamme, Labrie, Roy Also Present: Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Courchesne, William Jebb (Chief of Police), Al Kendall (Commissioner on Disability) 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. Hearing none the meeting continued. ITEM #1 BE IT ORDAINED THAT Chicopee City Council does hereby amend Chapter 275-50 (B) (3) (a) and hereby inserts at the end of said section the following: Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Chicopee Police Department, Chicopee Fire Department and Chicopee Emergency Management personal shall be exempt from this section. This proposed ordinance has already been through the Planning Board and Zoning Committee. This is the final step. Motion made by Councilor Roy and second by Councilor Laflamme to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #2 Debra Drive – From 100 Debra Drive to 84 Debra Drive – PARKING PROHIBITED Councilor Courchesne stated that he would like to amend this ordinance to read as follows: From 100 Debra Drive to 54 Debra Drive – PARKING PROHIBITED BETWEEN SIGNS Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Roy to approve as amended. 1 Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #3 Debra Drive – From the beginning to the right of the driveway at 77 Debra Drive to the property line – PARKING PROHIBITED Councilor Courchesne stated that he would like to amend this ordinance to read as follows: From the beginning to the right of the driveway at 77 Debra Drive 125 feet to the property line. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Roy to approve as amended. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #4 Striking From – Abbey Street – Within 20 feet of the driveway to 27 Tremont Street east and west side – PARKING PROHIBITED Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Roy to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #5 Abbey Street – Within 20 feet to the west of the driveway to 27 Tremont Street and within 50 feet to the east of the driveway to 27 Tremont Street – PARKING PROHIBITED Motion made by Councilor Roy and second by Councilor Laflamme to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme to take Items 10 and 11 out of order. Motion passed. ITEM #10 556 Chicopee Street – HANDICAP PARKING Chairman Tillotson read the following from Chris Chaban, Acting City Engineer: “Regarding the current requests, the handicap space on Chicopee Street is not recommended. Chicopee Street has a 5’ wide striped shoulder. Any vehicle parked on Chicopee Street in this area is parking with a 1’-2’ encroachment in the travel lane. Allowable parking here should be reviewed as a whole.” Mr. Kendall stated that the Commission on Disability is not in favor of a handicap parking space on Chicopee Street for safety reasons. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Roy to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 unfavorable. (Proposal defeated) ITEM #11 46 Rivers Avenue – HANDICAP PARKING 2 Councilor Tillotson read the following from Chris Chaban, Acting City Engineer, “Massachusetts Office on Disability reference: “Currently, accessible on-street parking spaces don’t look much different than your standard on-street parking spaces. The difference is subtle; however, the placement of accessible on-street parking spaces is crucial. First, signage must be provided at the head of the parking space to reserve it for people using HP plates or Placards much like you would find in a parking lot. Second, if there is a sidewalk adjacent to the location of the accessible on-street parking space, it should be located close to a curb cut so someone exiting on the driver’s side of the vehicle can travel the shortest distance to get onto the sidewalk. Third, if there is a sidewalk adjacent to the space, there should be enough space for a lift to lower onto the sidewalk without hitting an obstruction, like a tree, waste barrel, sign or other piece of street furniture.” Al Kendall stated that the Commission on Disability is in agreement on this proposed handicap parking space. The location meets the state guidelines. Motion made by Councilor Laflamme and second by Councilor Roy to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #6 Crestwood Street – North side from Wildermere Street to the driveway of 170 Crestwood Street – PARKING PROHIBITED Motion made by Councilor Labrie and second by Councilor Krampits to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #7 15 Rivest Court – HANDICAP PARKING Councilor Labrie stated that the resident requested this handicap space because she has help aides that come to assist her and they have nowhere to park. She parks in the street and the aide parks in her driveway. Councilor Laflamme stated that he is not in favor of approving a handicap space if the home has a driveway. Al Kendall stated that the Commission on Disability is not in favor of this request. Motion made by Councilor Roy and second by Councilor Laflamme to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 unfavorable. (Proposal defeated) ITEM #8 49 Elm Street – HANDICAP PARKING Al Kendall stated that the Commission on Disability is in favor of this request and the location meets the state guidelines. Motion made by Councilor Roy and second by Councilor Laflamme to approve. 3 Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. ITEM #9 21 Elmer Drive – HANDICAP PARKING Al Kendall stated that this handicap parking space would restrict already tight on street parking. There are other handicap parking spaces in the area. He recommended that the committee postpone this request while he works with the Chicopee Housing. Motion made by Councilor Krampits and second by Councilor Laflamme to postpone. Motion passed. ITEM #12 6 Riverview Place – HANDICAP PARKING Al Kendall stated that this is a very narrow street and the Commission on Disability is not in favor because it does not meet state guidelines. Motion made by Councilor Roy and second by Councilor Laflamme to approve. Committee vote 5 – 0 unfavorable. (Proposal defeated) ITEM #13 Minutes – September 26, 2018 Motion made by Councilor Labrie to approve. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7 PM. 4