Public Safety Committee

CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 18, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Committee Chairman Councillor Craig Cormier called the Public Safety Committee meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom. Committee members Councillors Karen Hardern and George Tyros were present. Also present were Deputy Chief of Police James Trifiro and City Clerk Alan Agnelli. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §20, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Public Safety Committee was conducted via remote participation on Zoom. The audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings will be posted on the City’s website as soon as possible after the meeting and the meeting was broadcast live on Gardner’s YouTube Channel. Minutes of Prior Meeting(s). On a motion by Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, on call of the roll, it was voted to accept the Minutes of the February 24, 2020 Public Safety Committee Meeting, as printed. #10254, An Ordinance Amending the Code of the City of Gardner, Chapter 600 Thereof, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic,” Section 600-24, Parking Prohibited on Certain Streets, Nutting Street. Councillor Karen Hardern noted: • Two to three constituents contacted her with their concerns. • Most residents have off-street parking, but where will their visitors park. • On-street parked vehicles slow down the traffic and protect children. • The DPW never had a problem plowing the street with parked vehicles. • Cannot support restricting parking on the street. Councillor George Tyros noted: • He was contacted by a few residents of Nutting Street. • Observed that it is a tight fit with vehicles parked on the street. • Questioned whether a one-way configuration and/or restricting parking on one side of the street were considered. Deputy Chief James Trifiro noted: • One-way configuration was discussed and Commission expressed opposition due to emergency response concerns of Fire, EMS, and Police – impacts response no matter which way is allowed. 05-18-2020 Safety Committee Minutes Page 1  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 18, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Councillor Hardern noted: • Was advised that the street has been in existence since 1870. • Restricting parking would open up discussion for [restricting parking] on a lot of streets that are very narrow. • The City has a winter parking ban. Deputy Chief Trifiro noted: • The Traffic Commission reacted to a complaint about on-street parking on Nutting Street. • According to the City Code, the width of the street does not allow two-way travel. Code requires 28’ width. • The street is as narrow as 21’ resulting in 7’ of impassable distance. Road [travel] must be 10’ wide to accommodate the average car and commercial vehicles. • Only 1 reportable vehicle accident on Nutting Street was recorded in the last ten years. • Only 11 traffic citations issued since July 1, 2007 and 10 of the 11 were for violations of the overnight parking ban. Councillor Tyros questioned whether there are any other streets with similar characteristics. Deputy Chief said that there are; however, the Commission responds to complaints and is not searching for them. On a motion by Councillor George Tyros and seconded by Councillor Karen Hardern, on call of the roll, it was voted to refer the Ordinance (below) back to the Traffic Commission for further public comment and to recommend its removal from the Council’s Calendar. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GARDNER, CHAPTER 600 THEREOF, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Gardner as follows: Section 1. Section 600-24 of Chapter 600, Vehicles and Traffic, Parking Prohibited on certain streets, is amended by adding the following: Name of Street Side Location Nutting Street Both Entire length Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication as required by law. Applications for Licenses to Deal in Second Hand Articles On a motion by Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, on call of the roll, it was voted to recommend to the City Council that the following Licenses be granted: 05-18-2020 Safety Committee Minutes Page 2  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 18, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ • An Application by Gardner Coins & Cards, Inc. for a License to Deal in Second-hand Articles at 13 Pleasant Street (Renewal). • An Application by GameStop, Inc. for a License to Deal in Second-hand Articles at 376 Timpany Blvd. (Renewal). • An Application by ecoATM, LLC for a License to Deal in Second-hand Articles at 677 Timpany Blvd. (Renewal). Adjournment. On a motion Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, on call of the roll, it was voted to adjourn at 4:16 p.m. 05-18-2020 Safety Committee Minutes Page 3  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 24, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Committee Chairman Councillor Craig Cormier called the Public Safety Committee meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Room 219, City Hall. Committee members Councillors Elizabeth Kazinskas and George Tyros were present. Also present were Public Health Director Lauren Saunders and City Clerk Alan Agnelli. Minutes of Prior Meeting(s). On a motion by Councillor Elizabeth Kazinskas and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, it was voted to accept the Minutes of the January 28, 2020 Public Safety Committee Meeting, as printed. #10216 - An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the City of Gardner, Chapter 560 Thereof, Entitled “Solid Waste,” to Change Solid Waste Program Fees (In City Council and Referred to the Public Safety Committee, 12/02/2019). Ms. Saunders informed the Committee that she consulted with the City Auditor and if the rate is increased by $7.00 per quarter, then the City will have to increase the rate again sooner than with the proposed increase of $10.00. Councillor Craig Cormier suggested that an increase of $7.00 per quarter would be more palatable at the present time, since sewer user rates were increased fairly recently and that the trash fees be adjusted incrementally by $1.00 per quarter per year. Councillor Elizabeth Kazinskas agreed, noting that the cost to operate the system are being passed along to the consumers. Lauren Saunders noted that the last increase to the rates was in 2013. On a motion Councillor Elizabeth Kazinskas and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, it was voted to recommend to the City Council that the following Ordinance ought to pass: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GARDNER, CHAPTER 560 THEREOF, ENTITLED “SOLID WASTE,” TO CHANGE THE FEE FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Gardner as follows: Section 1. Section 560-3 B. of the Code of the City of Gardner, is hereby amended by deleting and repealing the sentence: “The annual fee for the collection and handling of rubbish, garbage, ashes and source-separated materials is set at $200 per apartment unit per building, effective July 1, 2013,” and by inserting in place thereof, the following: “For the collection and handling of rubbish, garbage, ashes and source-separated materials, the annual fee for each household and each unit of apartment buildings containing eight or fewer units in the City shall be, as follows: 02-24-2020 Safety Committee Minutes Page 1  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 24, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Effective July 1, 2020 $228.00 Effective July 1, 2021 $232.00 Effective July 1, 2022 $236.00 Effective July 1, 2023 $240.00 Section 2. Effective date. This ordinance shall become effective upon passage and publication as required by law. Adjournment. On a motion Councillor Elizabeth Kazinskas and seconded by Councillor George Tyros, it was voted to adjourn at 4:50 p.m. 02-24-2020 Safety Committee Minutes Page 2