City Council - Ordinance Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Ordinance Committee Approved 11-24-2020 Members James Tillotson, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair Frank Laflamme Gary Labrie Jerry Roy MINUTES October 13, 2020 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, October 13, 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, Labrie, Roy Also Present: Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Zygarowski, Councilor Galecki, William Jebb (Chief of Police) The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM ITEM #1 BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council that the Code of the City of Chicopee for the Year 1991, as amended, be and is hereby further amended as follows: 260-22 Parking Prohibited Delete – “for more than 48 hours” To read: § 260-22 Parking prohibited. No driver shall stop, stand or park any vehicle, except that passenger vehicles may stop for not more than five minutes continuously for the receiving or discharging of passengers, at any curb adjacent to the reservation side of a parkway, the entrances of a school, church, theater, hotel, hospital, railroad station, railway station, public building or any place of public assemblage, provided that this regulation shall not apply to the service entrances to any such building. Nonmotorized vehicles (e.g., boats, trailers, campers) may not park on public streets. Councilor Tillotson stated that he does not think it’s fair to the people who want to park their camper and go to the grocery store, technically they can’t do that. He stated that he has not received any complaints on this. Councilor Courchesne stated that he has received complaint and in C Click Fix the cities website he has notices about a dozen complaints. He stated that this ordinance is there to give someone relief if they have a problem with it. He stated you can’t leave a camper in the street but you can park it in your driveway. Chief Jebb stated that we do not want to upset the residents of our community. He stated we have houses that are in thickly settled areas. He stated that if there is something that’s a blighted trailer that should be 1 removed, that’s the complaints we get. He stated that we do get complaints and we deal with them. He stated that he doesn’t see a trailer parked overnight in front of the home a problem. He stated that he doesn’t know how much of a problem you’re going to create to resolve another issue. He stated that he doesn’t see an issue the way it is now. Councilor Laflamme stated that he would like to keep it the forty eight hour parking. He stated that there are trailers everywhere and he doesn’t want to hurt the businesses. He stated that it should only be parked in front of their homes. He stated we may have to put that in the ordinance. Councilor Courchesne stated that there has been a trailer with junk in it parked in front of a resident’s house for the last two years. He stated that because of the way it is written he can move it one foot and get another forty eight hours. Chief Jebb stated when we have an issue like that we can document the time and date and ticket the vehicle. Councilor Laflamme stated to put a timetable on it. Councilor Courchesne stated that he has spoken to the man for two years to move his vehicles off the street. He stated that he has six trailers from; campers to boats to dump haulers. Councilor Tillotson stated that most people won’t do it again if told by a Police Officer. Chief Jebb stated that if anyone has an issue in the ward like described, bring it to his attention personally and we will pay special attention to that individual with the ordinance that exists. He stated we will ticket and they will have to defend their case. Chief Jebb stated that the officers don’t work around the ordinances a lot. He stated that he will make it part of their roll call for common problem ordinances. He stated that he doesn’t think changing an ordinance to deal with a handful of people in our community is well served. Councilor Krampits stated that he is willing to go along with the Chiefs recommendation but, if it doesn’t work out he suggested putting something in there that closes the loop holes. Chief Jebb stated that he has an open door policy. He stated to let him know what’s going on and he will put people on it. He stated if we can’t resolve it, then we will have to come to this point to have to make it work for us. Dan Garvey stated the fine in one hundred dollars. He stated what you might want to consider is adding the language within a seventy two hour continual period of time. Councilor Tillotson stated let’s see how it works with the Chiefs concept. He stated if it doesn’t work we have some good ideas for some other alternatives. Councilor Zygarowski stated that if a Councilor has a certain problem like the Chief says; he has an open door. He stated talk to him and maybe he can do something with that area. He stated that it doesn’t seem to be a problem throughout the city. Councilor Tillotson stated that I think we should leave this alone for now and if someone can come up with a new ordinance we will look at it and file it. Chief Jebb stated that he knows what the issues are now and he knows how to address it. He stated to give him the properties that you have issues with and he will deal with it. Engineering Department No comment. Favorable committee report not to delete for more than 48 hours Take Chief of Police suggestion notify him Councilor Laflamme motion to place on file – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed 2 Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #2 Empire Street - For a distance of 20 feet in a easterly direction beginning at the driveway at 53 Empire Street - PARKING PROHIBITED Councilor Galecki stated the cars are parked too close to the driveway and people can’t see when exiting. Engineering Department This is a good location to prohibit parking. The entrance to 53 Empire Street (Regency Commons Townhomes) does get hidden by vehicles parking on Empire Street adjacent to the entrance. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #3 Empire Street - For a distance of 20 feet in a westerly direction beginning at the driveway at 55 Empire Street - PARKING PROHIBITED Engineering Department This is a good location to prohibit parking. The entrance to 53 Empire Street (Regency Commons Townhomes) does get hidden by vehicles parking on Empire Street adjacent to the entrance Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #4 25 Thomas Street - HANDICAP PARKING Engineering Department The Engineering Department objects to providing handicapped parking at this location. Off-street parking is available at 25 Thomas Street in their driveway. Councilor Laflamme motion to deny – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #5 September 29, 2020 Minutes 3 Councilor Labrie motion to approve the Minutes of September 29, 2020 – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM 4