City Council - Ordinance Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Ordinance Committee Members James Tillotson, Chair Fred Krampits, Vice Chair Derek Dobosz Gary Labrie Jerry Roy APPROVED 5-10-2022 MINUTES April 25, 2022 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Wednesday, April 25, 2022 at 7:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present: Tillotson, Dobosz, Labrie, Roy Not Present Krampits Also Present: Councilor Courchesne, Councilor Pniak-Costello, Councilor Laflamme, Patrick Major (Chief of Police) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 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 Chapter 7 Ordinance Revisions Pro-Shop Assistant $14.25 per hour to $14.50 per hour Councilor Roy motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 3 – 0 favorable ITEM #2 Add To Chapter 157 157-2 Multiple and Persistent Violations: Any person or entity that receives more than two Letters to correct or Notice of Violation for the same violation in a twelve-month period shall be charged an administrative fee for the third and subsequent Letters to Correct or Notice of Violation. He stated that this will be corrective action on people who are abusing this system. 1 157-3 Fees: 1st Offense: $40.00 2nd Offense: $60.00 3rd Offense: $80.00 4th and subsequent offenses: $100.00 Councilor Courchesne stated that there is a property owned by an entity in New York State. Every summer or winter when it comes to sidewalks or overgrowth it is reported and they get a letter from the Health Department. He stated they give him two weeks to correct it and he waits until he’s contacted again before he complies, so he is playing a game and using the system. He stated that this ordinance will be a good motivation to start following the rules and being a good neighbor. Councilor Laflamme stated that he has these problems in his ward also and will support this. Councilor Pniak-Costello stated that she met with the Board of Health Enforcers today and they do an excellent job following through making sure whatever is on the books is enforced. She is in favor of this ordinance. Councilor Roy motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable ITEM #3 Add to Chapter 260 260-31Towing: Any person or entity that receives two parking citations for the same violation in a seven-day period will be subject to towing on the third violation for the same instance. Councilor Courchesne stated that he has a vehicle that’s refusing to follow the parking laws and the Police keep ticketing them and the case gets thrown out from the hearings officer. He stated that there is no mechanism for them to tow the vehicle. He sated you’re going to get a couple citations for the same instance. He stated it will give them a tool to get rid of some of these problems from people playing the system. He stated that people should start respecting our ordinances and our laws and the people that are given the authority to enforce them. Councilor Laflamme stated that there are cases that the vehicles or trucks only move a couple of feet. Councilor Courchesne stated that there are cases where they are towed. He stated we may win or lose but the message is sent. Councilor Zygarowski asked if it is legal to tow these vehicles. Attorney Garvey answered yes it is. Councilor Roy motion to approve – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable 2 ITEM #4 Councilor Labrie motion to approve the minutes of April 13, 2022 – Councilor Tillotson 2nd the motion – motion passed Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. 3