City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 9, 2012 Hearing opened at 6:55 P.M. with Councillor Chalifoux Zephir, Chair of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 86-12 National Grid: Grant permission to excavate and install 300 feet of underground electric conduits, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, under and across Nashua Street in accordance with a plan entitled “Nashua Street, Leominster MA, Plan #12742558-A. Iris Price, representing National Grid, said this is for the second part of the work on Nashua Street. This will allow Eusey Press to have cranes come in to do renovation or remove any old product off the top of their building. Councillor Rowlands said this is a high traffic area and asked if this was going to affect traffic. Ms. Price said only certain portions of Nashua Street and they will hire Police detail. She said it was a very small portion where they have to put the conduit in. Councillor Rowlands asked what the length of time was going to be. Ms. Price said she couldn’t give him the length of time and said it was not at the intersection but is back 500-600 feet. Councillor Rowlands said please make note that that area is a very sensitive area. Councillor Chalifoux Zephir read the recommendation from the Department of Public works which said “We have no issues with the petition and can recommend granting of same . However, this recommendation in no way approves the excavation work without the NGrid contractor first obtaining any and all permits necessary to complete the work. This includes Street Openings and Trench Permits, which are payable to the City of Leominster and can be applied for at the DPW office.” No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition of this petition. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:00 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 9, 2012 Hearing opened at 7:02 P.M. with Councillor Rowlands, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. Present at the hearing was Stephen Mullaney and Mark Bodanza. The hearing is continued from March 26, 2012. The following COMMUNICATION was the subject of the hearing: C-68 (2011) Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Adopt the proposed changes to the Leominster Zoning Ordinance. Councillor Rowlands said that he is happy to report there is progress and their goal is to have the document ready by the end of the summer. Councillor Rowlands gave a synopsis of events leading to this point. He said their goal is to promote quality growth, ease of use and protect the integrity of the neighborhoods. A presentation was given by Stephen Mullaney outlining the changes to date to the document. He said 62 of the 168 pages have been edited. They added definitions, simplified some of them and added hyperlinks. Mark Bodanza said they want to make the document consistent and concise and make it streamline and clear as possible. He said they are about 35% there. The Council expressed their sincere appreciation to Mr. Mullaney, Mr. Bodanza and the Zoning Committee. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:40 P.M. AND CONTINUED TO SEPTEMER 9, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council  2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 9, 2012 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. The Committee on Records reported that the records through May 29, 2012 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. A recess was called at 7:33 P.M. to continue the public hearing and to hold the public forum. Meeting reconvened at 7:50 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-1 Relative to the appropriation of $4,000.00 to the Police Department Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from Police Salary & Wages Account – Prior year. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Department of Public Works and the Wire Inspector. A hearing was set for July 23, 2012 at 6:55 P.M. Vt. 9/0 1-13 National Grid and Verizon New England: Central Street: Install one jointly owned pole beginning at a point approximately 1200 feet south of the centerline of the intersection of Jytek Drive. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were RATIFIED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-103 Relative to the appropriation of $25,000.00 to the Police Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Police Department Salary & Wages Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on June 25, 2012; another vote is required.) C-104 Relative to the appropriation of $1,400.00 to the Planning Board Salary and Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on June 25, 2012; another vote is required.) C-105 Relative to the appropriation of $2,000.00 to the Sidewalk & Curbing Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on June 25, 2012; another vote is required.) C-106 Relative to the appropriation of $2,500.00 to the Cemetery Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on June 25, 2012; another vote is required.) C-107 Relative to the appropriation of $20,200.00 to the Fire Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Fire Department Overtime Account. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on June 25, 2012; another vote is required.) Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-108 Relative to the appropriation of $49,226.00 to the Gallagher Building Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Gallagher Building Revolving Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Forty Nine Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Six Dollars ($49,226.000 be appropriated to the Gallagher Building Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Gallagher Building Revolving Fund. RE: Ralph Sacramone Salary for FY’2013 Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0. Comments from the DPW to be forwarded to the petitioner which says they do not approve the excavation work without the National Grid contractor first obtaining any and all permits necessary to complete the work includes Street Openings and Trench Permits which is payable to the City of Leominster and obtained at the DPW. 86-12 National Grid: Grant permission to excavate and install 300 feet of underground electric conduits, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, under and across Nashua Street in accordance with a plan entitled “Nashua Street, Leominster MA, Plan #12742558-A. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0. A hearing is set on July 23, 2012 at 7:00 P.M.  3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 9, 2012, continued 87-12 Steve Boucher: Rezone from Industrial to Business B the properties located at 18-20 Elm Hill Avenue, as shown on Assessor’s Map 356, Parcel 17; at 435 Lancaster Street, as shown on Assessor’s Map 443, Parcel 1; and at 439 Lancaster Street, as shown on Assessor’s Map 442, Parcel 2/2. Upon request of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 88-12 Melissa Tierney et al: Request a crosswalk light be put in at the crosswalk in front of 106 Water Street. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0. C-109 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request that Debbie Consalvo be exempt from the provisions in M.G.L. Chapter 268A (20B) Conflict of Interest as she is currently employed by the City of Leominster School Department as a Junior Clerk Secretary and will be taking on a temporary summer position at the Department of Emergency Management as a Temporary Head Clerk. Under Old Business, Councillor Rowlands said he received an email from a constituent that received the water report. He said some of the numbers are elevated which could be because of the warm weather. He said we have a Consent Order for water that we have to meet before 2013. He said he would like to get an update on the status of the upgrades as part of the Consent Order and the filtration plant coming on line. Councillor Dombrowski said we will ask the DPW in writing. Under New Business, Councillor Freda said there was a dedication of the Roberge Bridge took place this morning. She said it was a very moving ceremony and was attended by many. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:10 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council