City Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 15, 2013 Meeting was called to orders at 5:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present except Councillor Rowlands. A recess was called at 5:32 P.M. to discuss Petition 8-14 with the Mayor, Beth Greenblatt, Attorney Holland and Joanne DiNardo. Meeting reconvened at 6:14 P.M. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 8/0. 8-14 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request authorization to enter into two separate agreements for Net Metering Power/Credit Purchase for solar generated electricity metering credits for terms of more than three years and authorize the Mayor to execute such agreements and take such actions as necessary to implement such agreements. Councillor Nickel addressed the Council regarding a petition he will be submitting and said any Councillor that would like to sign onto it is welcomed. The petition was to amend a rule in the City Council’s Rules and Procedures regarding Resolutions. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:19 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 26, 2013 Hearing opened at 7:02 P.M. with Councillor Rowlands, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 2 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Administration” by inserting ARTICLE XXVIII. SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Section 2-111. Compensation. The members of the school committee shall receive an annual stipend of $2,000.00 for their services. Councillor Rowlands read an email from the Assistant to the Superintendent Chris Silverman stating that at the School Committee meeting August 22, 2013 a motion was made and accepted (5-0) to allow each serving school committee members to receive a $2,000 stipend annually for their services and the money would come out of the school’s stipend account. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition of the Ordinance. Councillor Cormier said they should include an effective date of January 2014. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:02 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 26, 2013 Meeting was called to orders at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present.  2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 26, 2013, continued The Committee on Records reported that the records through August 15, 2013 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-3 Relative to the appropriation of $1,088,720.00 to the Street Resurfacing Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Highway State Aid Revenue Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-4 Relative to the appropriation of $2,200.00 to the Cemetery Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Income Account. The following PETITION was received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Fire Department and the Director of Inspections. 10-14 Susan Chalifoux Zephir: Require any company that applies for a license to store, manufacturer, keep or sell inflammables or explosives or other hazardous materials return to the licensing authority for renewal every two years and must report any spills or incidents to such licensing authority. The following PETITION was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. 11-14 Wayne Nickel, David Cormier, Robert Salvatelli, Richard M. Marchand, James Lanciani, Jr., Susan Chalifoux Zephir: Amend Rule #26 of the City Council Rules and Procedures to require two readings for all resolutions. The following APPOINTMENTS were received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Office of Emergency Management – EMS Unit – Elizabeth Hill and William Coulter Rehab & Sheltering Unit – Christopher Simmers-Swanson Communications Unit – Michael Winters 2013 – 2014 Election Officers – Jeremiah E. Green, Jr. and Phyllis Grammont Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE the following COMMUNICATION was RATIFIED. Vt. 9/0 C-2 Relative to the appropriation of $350,000.00 to the Fire Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. (Granted with an Emergency Preamble on August 12, 2013) Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 5-14 Claire Freda: Request that a truck exclusion be authorized by Mass DOT for the residential neighborhoods of Debbie Drive, Beth Avenue, Barry Lane, Jay Avenue, Old Mill Road and the Legate Hill Estates subdivision. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 6-14 Greg Chapdelaine, Purchasing Agent: Allow the Purchasing Agent to award a contract for I.T. services for a six- year period. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 7-14 Claire Freda: Adopt a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana treatment centers. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 9-14 George Boulgarian: Grant a Second Hand Dealer’s License to George Boulgarian Jewelry Services at 109 N. Main Street. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE the following APPOINTMENTS were CONFIRMED. Vt. 9 “yeas” Office of Emergency Management – EMS Unit – Jonathan L. Crawford and Pamela P. Gage Rehab & Sheltering Unit – Robert N. Cote, Communications Unit – Charlie T. Williams  3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 26, 2013, continued The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED AS AMENDED and passed to be ordained. Vt. 9 “yeas” Amended by adding “effective January 6, 2014 after the swearing in ceremony.” City of Leominster In the year two thousand and thirteen AN ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 2 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Administration.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster, as follows: Chapter 2 of the Revised Ordinances is hereby amended by inserting the following: ARTICLE XXVIII. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Section 2-111. Compensation The members of the school committee shall receive an annual stipend of $2,000.00 for their services effective January 6, 2014. __________________________ Upon request of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following RESOLUTION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 RESOLUTION – Designating Leominster, Massachusetts a Purple Heart City Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following ORDINANCE was given FURTHER TME. Vt. 9/0 1st Reading Ordinance – Amend Chapter 22, Sections 22-79 and 22-79.2 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Zoning” by designating the City Council as the special permit granting authority for signs located on city property. The following ORDINANCE was read once, ADOPTED as presented and ordered published. A hearing was set for September 9, 2013 at 7:10 P.M. 1st Reading Ordinance – Amend Chapter 13 Section 13-77 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Stop Signs” by inserting Norfolk Drive, against southeast bound traffic at intersection with Cumberland Road. A Legal Affairs Committee was established on September 4, 2013 at 7:30 P.M. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken to request Greg Chapdelaine and David Laplante to come to the Legal Affairs Committee meeting on September 4, 2013 to discuss the I.T. contract and to request Richard Voutour, the Veterans Agent, to come to the meeting to discuss the Resolution designating Leominster, Massachusetts a Purple Heart City. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:10 P.M. _____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council