City Council - Ordinance Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Ordinance Committee APPROVED 10-13-2020 Members James Tillotson, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair Frank Laflamme Gary Labrie Jerry Roy MINUTES September 29, 2020 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 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 (remotely), Labrie, Roy Member Absent Also Present: Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Zygarowski, Councilor Galecki, Councilor Walczak, John Beaulieu (Assistant to the DPW Superintendent) The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM ITEM #1 13 Bonner Street – Handicap Parking Engineer Department There is no engineering objection to providing a handicapped parking space at this location. The resident who requested the space should realize that the space is not a personal space in that anyone with Disability Plates and/or Placard could park there. Councilor Galecki stated that the residents want the parking spaces for their selves. He stated that he will go on the recommendations of the Handicap Commission. Councilor Laflamme motion to deny – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #2 BEAUDRY AVENUE - Heading west from Memorial Drive for a distance of 50 feet - PARKING PROHIBITED AT ANYTIME Councilor Walczak stated that the parking on this street presents a hazard. 1 Engineer Department No Comment Fire Department I was asked by the council to take a look at a section of Beaudry Avenue headed west from Memorial drive 50’. It is my opinion that this is a narrow section of road that would make turning emergency apparatus difficult if cars are parked there especially when there are snowbanks in the winter months. If you need anything else don’t hesitate. Dan Stamborski, Fire Chief Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed ITEM #3 BROADWAY - West side – 21 feet before the intersection of Summer Street PARKING PROHIBITED HERE TO CORNER Councilor Zygarowski stated that Broadway is a race track. He stated that people cannot see coming out of Summer Street onto Broadway because of people parking there. Councilor Laflamme stated if this will affect the Hairdresser. Councilor Labrie stated the Ordinance is already twenty feet so all we are doing is putting up a sign. Engineer Department No Comment Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #4 BROADWAY - East side – for a distance of 21 feet from the intersection of Cochran Street in front of 139 Broadway - PARKING PROHIBITED HERE TO CORNER Councilor Zygarowski stated that this ordinance has already been passed Councilor Laflamme motion to defeat – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #5 ST. JAMES AVENUE - At St. James Avenue and Beauchamp Terrace - DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX Councilor Zygarowski stated they filed this in 2016 but nothing ever was done with it. Councilor Laflamme stated that this will be the first DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX we have done for the city. He stated that he is afraid this will open up a Pandora’s Box. Councilor Tillotson stated he is willing to give this one a chance, if it doesn’t work we can take it away. 2 Engineer Department This is a good location for “DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX” striping in Saint James Street across Beauchamp Terrace. Councilor Krampits motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #6 Striking - PENDEXTER STREET - Both sides – From Chicopee Street to a point 300 feet east thereof PARKING PROHIBITED Councilor Laflamme motion to defeat – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #7 Striking - PENDEXTER STREET - Both sides – From Meadow Street to a point 100 feet west thereof PARKING PROHIBITED Councilor Laflamme motion to defeat – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #8 Striking - PENDEXTER STREET - Both sides – All hours – From Meadow Street entrance for a distance of 250 feet - PARKING PROHIBITED – TOW AWAY ZONE Councilor Laflamme motion to defeat – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #9 PENDEXTER STREET - Both sides – entire length - PARKING PROHIBITED – TOW AWAY ZONE Engineer Department There is no engineering reason against prohibiting parking on this street. That being said, it could be an inconvenience to the residents to not allow parking at all on this street. Where do their guests park? A possible alternative solution for the Ordinance Committee to consider is making Pendexter Avenue and Lawndale Street (one street north of Pendexter) one-way streets in opposite directions and allowing parking on only one side of each street. Both of these streets are narrow – Pendexter is 18’-20’ wide typically and Lawndale 16’-17’ wide. Councilor Laflamme motion to amend – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Amended version 3 Pendexter Street – No Parking – Entire length odd side – TOW AWAY ZONE Councilor Galecki stated he spoke to some of the residents and they would like to leave it as is but, they agreed that one side parking would probably work because it does get narrow in the winter. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #10 BURNS STREET - At the intersection of Burns Street and Quartus Street - ISOLATED STOP SIGN Engineer Department There is no engineering reason to oppose a stop sign at this location Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #11 PHILATHEA STREET - At the intersection of Philathea Street and Grattan Street ISOLATED STOP SIGN Engineer Department There is no engineering reason to oppose a stop sign at this location. Councilor Labrie motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #12 PENDLETON AVENUE - For a distance of 30’ to Prospect Street - PARKING PROHIBITED HERE TO CORNER Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – Motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #13 6 RIVERVIEW PLACE 2L - HANDICAP PARKING Engineer Department There is no engineering objection to providing a handicapped parking space at this location. The resident who requested the space should realize that the space is not a personal space in that anyone with Disability Plates and/or Placards could park there. John Beaulieu stated that they looked at it today. There is no parking but there is no curb cut. Elizabette Botelho seems to think that this was denied before for this location. 4 No recommendation from Handicap Commission has been received Councilor Laflamme motion to postpone to the call of the chair – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #14 – Councilor Laflamme motion to approve the Minutes of July 28, 2020 – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM 5