City Council

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. The Committee on Records reported that the records through January 26, 2009 were examined 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-60 Relative to the appropriation of $2,500.00 to the Rockwell Pond Improvement Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Emergency Reserve Account. C-61 Relative to the appropriation of $85,000.00 to the Library Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. C-62 Relative to the appropriation of $3,000.00 to the Cemetery Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Income Account. C-63 Relative to the appropriation of $1,000.00 to the Veterans Graves Service Office; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. C-64 Relative to the appropriation of $550.00 to the Economic Development Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were RATIFIED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-54 Relative to the appropriation of $50,000.00 to the Snow and Ice Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on January 26, 2009; another vote is required) C-55 Relative to the appropriation of $300,000.00 to the Snow and Ice Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on January 26, 2009; another vote is required) C-56 Relative to the appropriation of $754,000.00 to the Ice Storm Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on January 26, 2009; another vote is required) Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 7 “yeas” and 1 “nay”, Councillor Dombrowski opposed and Councillor Nickel abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. C-57 Relative to the appropriation of $23,070.00 to the Fire Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Seventy Dollars ($23,070.00) be appropriated to the Fire Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. RE: Overtime expenses to run second ambulance REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FEBRUARY 9, 2009, continued Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 8 “yeas”; Councillor Tocci abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. C-58 Relative to the appropriation of $22,179.92 to the Police Department Expense Account; same to be transferred form the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED:- that the sum of Twenty Two Thousand One Hundred Seventy Nine Dollars and Ninety Two Cents ($22,179.92) be appropriated to the Police Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. RE: Firearms Training Unit Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-59 Relative to the appropriation of $721,740.00 to the School Transportation Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Seven Hundred Twenty One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Dollars ($721,740.00) be appropriated to the School Transportation Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon request of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITIONS were given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 36-09 David Rowlands: Accept Wildflower Road as a public way. 37-09 David Rowlands: Accept Farm Hill Road as a public way. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 8/0; Councillor Freda abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 38-09 Gordon R. Edmonds, President and CEO of Leominster Credit Union: Grant a Special Permit to build a three story building connecting to the existing building with parking lot expansion at 20 Adams Street as shown on Assessor’s Map 14 as Lots 8, 9 and 10 and located within a flood plain. (A hearing is scheduled on February 23, 2009 at 6:30 P.M.) Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 39-09 Robert E. Wilson, GPD Associates: Grant a Special Permit to modify the existing foundation of the cell tower at 369 Nashua Street as shown on Assessor’s Map 372 as Lot 2 and located within a flood plain. (A hearing is scheduled on February 23, 2009 at 6:45 P.M.) Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 40-09 Joseph Lafrance, Mason Recreation Center: Renew the license for 7 pool tables and 24 bowling alleys at 640 R. North Main Street. Under Old Business, Councillor Marchand, Chairman of the President’s Drinking Water Oversight Committee, said he sent a communication to the Mayor requesting a meeting for March 4, 2009 or March 18, 2009 to give the Committee an update and provide answers to some questions that have not been answered. He said Councillors can direct their questions to the Clerk’s Office before the end of the month so they can be submitted to the Mayor’s Office. Councillor Salvatelli said currently we are not selling the wood chips from the December ice storm. He said we are going to add something to the bid to offset some expenses. He said if people want wood chips they are available year round and can call Ralph Person at the DPW at anytime. He said during the emergency there was an abundance of brush at each site and they were concerned about getting rid of it and not selling it. He said now there is some material at both sites they are attempting to sell. Councillor Salvatelli said they will be picking up debris from the emergency well into spring as long as they can. Under New Business, Councillor Marchand said he would like to have a better handle on the busing contract for this year including special education transportation along with school transportation in general. He wants to know how this is being generated and if we have enough money to offset some of the expenses to the point where the fee may be such a nominal amount of money. He said the fee that is being charged may also be discouraging ridership. He said there may be more of a need than ever for ridership. He said he believes this is grossly out of whack. Councillor Freda said she is planning on having the Superintendent of Schools down to explain how she came to the point of restructuring that department and get some insight to what is going to take place. No date has been set. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FEBRUARY 9, 2009, continued In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken and unanimously passed to request the Library Director, Susan Shelton and Attorney Mark Bodanza attend the Finance Committee Meeting on February 18, 2009 relative to Communication C-61. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken and unanimously passed to request the DPW Director, Patrick LaPointe and the Planning Director Kate Griffin-Brooks attend the Public Service Committee on February 18, 2009 relative to Petitions 36-09 and 37-09. Subcommittee meetings were scheduled for February 18, 2009; Finance Committee - 7:00 P.M. Public Service Committee - 7:30 P.M. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:13 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk And Clerk of the City Council