Historical Commission

Chicopee Historical Commission Voting Record and Minutes The Historical Commission of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 4:00 PM, in the RiverMills Senior Center, First Floor, Classroom 30, 5 West Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020 and via Zoom. Meeting was called to order at 4:06 PM, by Raymond Hoess-Brooks . Historical Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Joshua Clark, Chair X Ray Hoess-Brooks X Vice Chair Linda Menard-Mruk X Clerk Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Vacant Planning Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, X Director James Dawson, X Development Manager Patrick Collins X Nick Kiser X Item 1: Presentation by Valley Opportunity Council on the redevelopment of the former Belcher School into 20- 25 apartments. VOC is requesting a new letter of support from the Commission. The last letter of support was issued in July of 2024. Notes: Representatives of the Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) presented the Commission with an update of the project. VOC is anticipating occupancy of the building beginning in July of 2025. They plan to hold an open house prior to occupancy of the building. Motion to issue a letter of support was made by Louise Osetek and seconded by Linda Menard-Mruk. Vote was 4-0 to issue a letter of support. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Ronald Chimelis X Item 2: Board Elections – Nominations were made on June 11, 2024 (see below) Notes: • Linda Menard-Mruk nominated Raymond Hoess-Brooks for Chairperson; he accepted. • Raymond Hoess- Brooks nominated Louise Osetek for Vice Chairperson; she accepted. • Kathryn Gawron nominated Linda Menard-Mruk for Clerk; she accepted. Motion to approve the nominations from June 11, 2024 and approve the slate of officers as nominated. Vote was 4-0 to approve the slate of officers. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Ronald Chimelis X Item 3: Minutes from June 11, 2024 Motion to approve the minutes was made by Linda Menard-Mruk and seconded by Louise Osetek. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Ronald Chimelis X Item 4: Discussion/New Business Notes: Newly elected Chair of the Commission Raymond Hoess-Brooks presented several items he would like to address at the January 14, 2025 meeting. These included a meeting start time change to 5:30 PM; change of the month of the Commission Elections; an update of the granite stones at the RiverMills Senior Center by David Rice, head of the Facilities Department in City Hall, and other prospective accomplishments of the Commission in 2025. Item 5: Adjournment – Next regularly scheduled meeting is January 14, 2025. Motion to adjourn was made by Louise Osetek and seconded by Linda Menard-Mruk. Vote was 4-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Ronald Chimelis X Meeting adjourned at 4:28 PM