Historical Commission

Chicopee Historical Commission Voting Record and Minutes The Historical Commission of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Tuesday, February 11, 2025 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 4:00 PM, by Raymond Hoess-Brooks. Historical Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Ray Hoess-Brooks X Chair Louise Osetek X Vice Chair Linda Menard-Mruk X Clerk Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Vacant 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: Change of Meeting start time to 5:30 PM – At the December 10, 2024 meeting, Raymond Hoess-Brooks proposed a change to the meeting start time to 5:30 PM to accommodate potential new Commission Members work schedules. Notes: Raymond Hoess-Brooks was working out details of the proposed meeting start time as he also serves on another commission and may have to adjust the proposed start time for the Historical Commission. He requested tabling this item to the March 11, 2025 meeting. Motion to table to March 11, 2025 was made by Kathryn Gawron and seconded by Louise Osetek. Vote was 5-0 to table to March 11, 2025. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Item 2: Change the month to which Commission Elections take place. Currently Commission Elections take place in September each year. Notes: After discussion on the matter the Commissions decided to keep their Board elections in September which is the start of their new meeting year. Motion to keep the Board elections in September was made by Kathryn Gawron and seconded by Louise Osetek. Vote was 5-0 to keep the Board elections in September. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Item 3: Update on the status of the relocation of the granite stones on the front lawn of the RiverMills Senior Center. Dave Rice, Head of the Facilities Department in City Hall, will provide an update. Notes: David Rice, Director of the City’s Facilities Department and Sherry Manyak, Director of the Council on Aging provided an update on the status of the granite stones to the Commission. Mr. Rice provided the Commission with a cost estimate of $20,000 for a design to relocate the stones. This cost did not include implementation of the design. The consensus was that the cost was too expensive. Mr. Rice explained he could have the stones moved from the front lawn and placed behind the building by City Staff. He explained that he could have the lawn area repaired while the final location of the stones was determined. The desire is to have the stones utilized for benches at various locations on the property with some type of educational signage or plaques to educate people as to the historical significance of the stones. Directors Rice and Manyak are to provide a plan for the stones to the Commission at the March 11, 2025 meeting. Motion to allow the stones to be moved from the front lawn of the RiverMills Senior Center and have a plan for the stones for the March 11, 2025 meeting was made by Kathryn Gawron and seconded by Louise Osetek. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Item 4: Minutes from December 10, 2024 and January 14, 2025 Motion to approve the minutes was made by Linda Menard-Mruk and seconded by Kathryn Gawron. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Item 5: Discussion/New Business • Discussion about the Historical Commission Bylaws • Other prospective accomplishments of the Commission in 2025. Notes: Raymond Hoess-Brooks reminded the Commission that any proposed changes to the bylaws are to be made during the odd numbered years, 2025, 2027, etc. He also reminded the Commission Members that two vacant positions on the Commission need to be filled. He expressed interest in having a General Contractor fill one of the openings. Several Commissioners offered to reach out to various contractors to see if any were interested in serving on the Commission. The hope is to have the openings filled by April of 2025. Staff reminded the Commission that any interested individuals have to submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Mayor’s office and copy the Planning Department. New Historical Commission Members are solely appointed by the Mayor and do not need City Council Approval. Ronald Chimelis stated that a school program on the history of Chicopee would be beneficial. Item 6: Adjournment – Next regularly scheduled meeting is March 11, 2025. Motion to adjourn was made by Kathryn Gawron and seconded by Louise Osetek. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Raymond Hoess-Brooks X Linda Menard-Mruk X Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Ronald Chimelis X Meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.