City Council

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 8, 2005 Meeting called to order at 8:00 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; All members present except Councillor Marchand. The Committee on Records reported that the records were examined through July 11, 2005 and found to be in order. The records were accepted. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-14 Relative to an appropriation reduction of $22,000.00 to the FY 2006 Sewer Expense Account; same reduction amount to be made from the Fiscal Year 2006 Sewer Department Rates to be Collected Account as authorized by Chapter 44, Section 53E of the Massachusetts General Laws. C-15 Relative to the appropriation of $2,149.00 to the Highway Labor Account; same to be transferred from the Emergency Reserve Account. C-16 Relative to the appropriation of $50,000.00 to the FY 2006 Workers Compensation Loss Fund; same to be transferred from the FY 2003 Workers Compensation Loss Fund. C-17 Relative to the appropriation of $13, 500.00 to the Sanitation Drainage Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Emergency Reserve Account. C-18 Relative to the appropriation of $5,200.00 to the Conservation Commission Salary and Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Wetlands Fees Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-19 Relative to the appropriation of $900.00 to the Conservation Commission Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Wetlands Fees Reserved for Appropriation Account. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-20 Relative to the appropriation of $54,175.95 to the C.D.B.G. Housing Rehabilitation Expense Account; $26,921.69 to be transferred from the C.D.B.G. Admin Expense Account, $12,105.82 from the C.D.B.G. Code Enforcement Expense Account and $15,145.44 from the C.D.B.G. Economic Expense Account. C-21 Relative to the appropriation of $5,723.40 to the C.D.B.G. Housing Rehabilitation Expense Account; $8.07 to be transferred from the C.D.B.G DPW-Pearl Street Account, $.93 from the C.D.B.G. Multi Service Center Account, $.96 from the C.D.B.G. Montachusett Home Care Account, $235.00 from the C.D.B.G. Mayors Office – State Pool Account and $5,478.44 from the C.D.B.G. Office of Business Assistance Account. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVCE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Planning Board and the Department of Public Works. 10-06 Richard C. Barnaby, President, DMC Hamilton Street LLC: Accept a portion of Lanides Lane, a public way, in accordance with a certain plan entitled “Street Acceptance Plan of Lanides Lane Extension in Leominster, Mass. July 11, 2005” and vote to abandon a certain portion of Lanides Lane reflected as Abandonment 1 on a certain plan entitled, “Plan of Land in Leominster Mass. being a Subdivision of Land Court Plan 25913C, February 4, 2004” recorded in the Land Court on May 2, 2005 as Documents No: 25913D and 25913E, to accomplish the creation of a street acceptance as reflected on the said Street Acceptance Plan of Lanides Lane Extention dated July 11, 2005, insofar as the purpose of this abandonment is to cure an encroachment onto the layout of Lanides Lane by an existing building on property of Richard J. King. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for August 22, 2005 at 6:40 P.M. Vt. 8/0 11-06 Massachusetts Electric and Verizon New England, Inc.:West Street: Relocate one jointly owned pole on West Street beginning at a point approximately 105 feet southeast of the centerline of the intersection of Granite Street and continuing approximately 8 feet in a southerly direction. The following PETITIONS were received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE, and referred to the Traffic Department. 12-06 Neil Axelrod: Modify Chapter 13, Section 13-24.5 and replace the signs on the west side of Main Street from Ferdinand Passway to Pine Grove Avenue as “No Parking – Any Time” and “Tow Zone” replacing and superseding previous signs and ordinances. 13-06 Captain Thomas J. Bisol, Leominster Police Department: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-24.5, entitled “Parking Prohibition -Tow Zone” and Section 13-28 entitled “Angle Parking” to implement new parking regulations at the Whalom Lakefront area of Main Street. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 8, 2005, continued The following PETITION was received, referred to the CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, and given REGULAR COURSE. 14-06 Richard Sandstrom: Grant permission to place signs at the corner of Vine and West Street, Merriam Avenue near the convenience store, Mechanic Street between Tenth Street and Twelfth Street, at the Merriam Avenue/Abbott Avenue lights and the intersection of Routes 12 and 13 advertising a music festival to be held on September 17, 2005 at Saima Park in Fitchburg. The following PETITION was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE, and referred to the Treasurer. 15-06 Scott Atwood: Renew the second hand dealer’s license for the Repair Place at Sears located in the Mall at Whitney Field Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were TABLED FOR STUDY. Vt. 8/0 C-9 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to file a home rule petition authorizing the City of Leominster to grant one (1) additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. C-10 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to file a home rule petition authorizing the City of Leominster to grant one (1) additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. C-11 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to file a home rule petition authorizing the City of Leominster to grant one (1) additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. C-12 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to file a home rule petition authorizing the City of Leominster to grant one (1) additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. C-13 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to file a home rule petition authorizing the City of Leominster to grant one (1) additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. Upon recommendation from the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 8/0 1-06 Thomas Shea, on behalf of Margot Xarras, Philip F. Desmarais and Dave Aronson: Change the zoning district of the land located at the intersection of Jytek Drive and Central Street from Industrial to Commercial as shown on Assessor’s Map 499 as lots 12, 21, 22 and 36.(A hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2005 at 7:30 P.M.) Upon recommendation from the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was TABLED. Vt. 8/0 5-06 Shannon and Michael Melanson: Grant a Special Permit to construct a second story on an existing dwelling at 908 Union Street, as shown on Assessors Map 396 as lot 17 located in a rural residential zone in the Flood Plain.(A hearing is scheduled for September 12, 2005 at 7:30 P.M.) Upon recommendation from the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 8/0 6-06 David Rowlands: Place additional “stop” signs at the intersection of Norwood Avenue and King Avenue to create a 4-way stop sign intersection. Upon recommendation from the CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, the following PETITIONS were GRANTED. Vt. 8/0 8-06 David K. Backus for the Friends of Sholan Farms: Grant permission to display A-Frame Signs on the median strips at the Leominster Connector/Mechanic Street, Monument Square, Route 12 and Litchfield Street, Route 12 and Hamilton Street and Route 13 and Hamilton Street from August 15, thru November 7th 2005 promoting the U-Pick Operation and from April 15th thru May 15th 2006 promoting the Apple Blossom Festival, as well as other festivals related to the farm. 9-06 David K. Backus for the Friends of Sholan Farms: Grant permission to place a banner between the granite pillars on the Leominster Connector from April 15th 2006 thru May 15th 2006, promoting the Apple Blossom Festival and any other festivals related to the farm. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following nomination was CONFIRMED. Vt. 8/0 Election of Assistant City Clerk – Deanna McNamara – term to expire April 15, 2008 Under New Business, Councillor Freda said that at the School Committee meeting last week, School Committee member, Susan Koehler, said that she would like to meet with the City Council regarding some of the School Departments Capital Projects. Councillor Freda said that they will be setting up a meeting for sometime in September. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 8, 2005, continued Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following TABLED PETITION, upon which ACTION was proposed, remained TABLED. 105-05 Neil S. Axelrod: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-24.5(e) to reflect a tow zone from 9:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M on the west side of Main Street for 120 feet in a southerly direction between Ferdinand Passway and Chase Avenue. MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:50 P.M. ______________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council