City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Hearing opened at 6:35 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Clerk of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present except Councillor Dombrowski. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 13, Section 13-77 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Stop Signs” by inserting Wilder Lane, against northbound drivers at Wilder Road. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition to the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 6:37 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Hearing opened at 6:40 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Clerk of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present except Councillor Dombrowski. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 22, Section 22-17 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Underlying Districts Table of Uses” by changing under Business Uses “Motor vehicle gas station minimart and car wash” to two separate lines that would read: 1. Motor vehicle gas station minimart, 2. Motor vehicle gas station minimart and car wash. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition to the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 6:41 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Hearing opened at 6:45 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Clerk of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. Present at the hearing was the Human Resource Director, John Harmon. All members were present except Councillor Dombrowski. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 16, Section 16-31 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Method of step advances” by adding to subparagraph (b); Effective July 1, 2014, officers and employees with positions classified in the “S” classification who are department heads (S-8, S-9, or S-10) will receive a starting salary within the minimum and maximum range of the classification of their position, subject to approval by the mayor. Councillor Cormier said he had some concerns at the last meeting about giving such a large pay scale range from minimum to maximum. He said through his experience no one usually gets a job upgrade and goes right to the top and basically what is petitioned here is what will potentially happen. He said he understands where the petitioner is coming from because there has been a problem with hiring a position, but the system is not entirely broken. We have hired other department heads that are of good quality and since he has been here we have also hired an Assessor and an Inspector of Buildings. So it is not totally broken but needs to be fixed with some flexibility. He said he needs to have Mr. Harmon explain as to why we want the entire range instead of a portion of the range, like minimum up through the mid would be more appropriate for him. Mr. Harmon said I don’t want to say we are trying to steal candidates from other pools or other municipalities but we do appreciate it when someone comes in and has years of experience from another location. Some municipalities pay more than us some pay less than us. To have that flexibility will allow us to be in that range. I wouldn’t come down here and say our top  2 HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued steps are extremely low but I could argue that the minimum steps for entry level are good. If we are trying to attract somebody from a community where they have been the Zoning Commissioner for ten years, the DPW Director for ten years or the Planning Director for ten years we are going to have to compete to get that talent here so we can be successful. We are unable to attract the talent because of our entry level salaries and our inability to pay what they are making in their prior place or in other communities that have open positions at the time. Our success depends on our managers so we need to make sure we have the capability to hire when they are available. Councillor Cormier asked during the hiring process what kind of data is kept on record. Basically you are collecting data or you are creating a precedent in terms of gender and other things. You have the data, people can look at it for a public job and people start to question why all the males that were hired got hired at the max and females got hired at mid. There could be burden put on the City now to justify why someone was hired and why started at that rate of pay. Mr. Harmon said that we have limited the burden, though the burden isn’t that great, it is just collecting data. We limited the burden by just saying we are just dealing with the department heads/managers. He said it is his job to make sure that we don’t fall into a trend where you have an issue like that. It would be education and experience that would go into the calculation of what potential employee would be worth. Councillor Cormier said you keep all that information and you have a certain criteria as to what you base education experience and things like that? Right now with the structure we have nobody could come after the City and make that accusation, am I correct? Mr. Harmon said there always would be a complaint that would rise no matter what process we have in place. He said that is not his major concern. Councillor Feckley asked what are other cities our size doing. Mr. Harmon said he can’t speak to an exact number. He said he is on a listserv with MMA and nearly unanimously all came back that this is how they have it set up. He said his request for information was a self selecting group that replied back. Most of them only have it for their department heads because of other issues they see. He said he feels comfortable with the petition that was put forward. Councillor Feckley asked Mr. Harmon if he thought this would solve a lot of issues in hiring. Mr. Harmon said he thinks it will help a great deal. When we have put out positions in the past we get a select group of people. He gets calls from numerous people who are extremely well qualified, willing to take a pay cut but at the end of the day there is a big difference from a pay cut and not being able to meet their bills. So we get the best crew that we can to interview. Councillor Marchand said basically this was driven as a result to one particular department head’s position that was challenging to fill because of the disparity. The person who was offered the position, in house, compared to what he was currently making, would take a pay cut. So, why would you take a major pay cut in order to do a job even though you are qualified. Mr. Harmon said that is a big portion of it. He said his concern is we have other positions in the city department heads, not this year, not next year but within the next five years he will have to replace and he knows that we wouldn’t be competitive. Councillor Marchand said he is concerned about the rubric in order how to determine how you are going to upgrade. He asked Mr. Harmon if he has the rubric already established for the position that is in question at this point. Mr. Harmon said if and when this is approved we will be re-advertising. The pool selection may include the gentleman that you are speaking of, and other great candidates that applied that would be interested and there would be more applications. He said he would not pass judgment on the interview process. Councillor Marchand asked if you have something set up and ready to go. Mr. Harmon said not with the administrations approval. Councillor Marchand said it would be helpful to him if he had a chance, not necessarily be involved with the hiring process, but to see the rubric so we can see the measurement to determining what the final salary value will be. Councillor Bodanza said when you go out to advertise you are going to have to demonstrate why you are choosing to give this person “x” salary. If the salary is a range then there needs to be certain points that this particular candidate or special candidate meet, correct? Mr. Harmon said correct. Councillor Bodanza said before you even go out to advertise you would create some kind of values for particular licenses or degrees. Mr. Harmon said you can give a rough estimate. Our salaries are not broken down to fractions or round numbers so you would end up possibly being in between two numbers. Councillor Bodanza said you have to have some kind of qualitative criteria to determine why you are offering a particular salary to a particular candidate and the qualitative criteria would have to be established before you advertise, correct? Mr. Harmon said correct.  3 HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued Councillor Bodanza said upon hiring that is something that you would keep to defend your selection as well as your particular salary. Mr. Harmon said correct. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition to the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:06 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Hearing opened at 7:07 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Clerk of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present except Councillor Dombrowski. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Operation of Vehicles” by deleting Sections 13-68, 13-71 and 13-72 in their entirety and replacing with new Sections 13-68, 13-71 and 13-72 thru 13-72.6 relative to traffic fines. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition to the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:08 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Hearing opened at 7:08 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Clerk of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. Hearing continued from April 28, 2014. All members were present except Councillor Dombrowski. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: 50-14 James Whitney and Ten Registered Voters: Amend the Leominster Zoning Ordinance Article I, Section 24-2 entitled Definitions by eliminating the sentence “Facilities that utilize animal testing of products are not included in this definition” from the Life sciences definition. Councillor Freda said the Planning Board has scheduled a hearing for June 3, 2014. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition to the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:11 P.M. AND CONTINUED TO JUNE 9, 2014 AT 6:45 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council  4 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. Councillor Dombrowski arrived late. The Committee on Records reported that the records through May 12, 2014 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. A recess was called at 7:31 P.M. to interview the appointee for Assessor and to have a discussion with Judith Sumner, Director of the Recreation Department, regarding the Leominster American Little League Field. Meeting reconvened at 8:36 P.M. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-82 Relative to the appropriation of $25,000.00 to the Fire Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. C-83 Relative to the appropriation of $162,265.00 to the Street Resurfacing Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Highway State Aid Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-84 Relative to the appropriation of $40,000.00 to the Veteran Services Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. C-85 Relative to the appropriation of $10,000.00 to the Water Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Water Salaries and Wages Account. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received under SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Vt. 9/0 C-86 Relative to the appropriation of $97,300.00 to the Police Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Police Salary & Wages Account. C-87 Relative to the appropriation of $12,000.00 to the Police Station Court House Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. The following PETITION was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the City Solicitor, the Comptroller and the Mayor. 84-14 Stephen J. Mullaney: Request the City Council ask the Mayor to submit an appropriation to pay certain unpaid bills due to S. J. Mullaney Engineering, Inc., as requested by the Mayor and the City Council in a Home Rule Petition to the General Court (Communication C-109, 2013), and as authorized by the General Court and the Governor in Chapter 192 of the Acts of 2013. The following PETITION was received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Health Director and the Chief of Police. 85-14 Mark C. Bodanza and Claire M. Freda: Adopt an ordinance regarding the use of medical marijuana on public property. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for June 9, 2014 at 6:55 P.M. Vt. 9/0 86-14 National Grid: Central Street-Install 1 singly owned pole beginning at a point approximately 2,000 feet east of the centerline of the intersection of Willard Street. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Planning Board, the Department of Public Works, the Fire Department and the Director of Inspections. 87-14 James E. Rheault: Rename the most westerly portion of Nancy Court, a private way, to Connors Way, a private way with the result that the premises at #18 Nancy Court (Assessors’ Map 359, Parcel 2) would henceforth be known as #18 Connors Way, and that the premises at #24 Nancy Court (Assessors’ Map 359, Parcel 9) would henceforth be known as #24 Connors Way. The following APPOINTMENT was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Police Department – Patrolman - Corey Donnelly  5 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued Upon request of the WAYS & MEANS/VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 69-14 Matt Zvacek: Renew the Second Hand Dealers License for Gold Buyers of America located at 100 Commercial Road, Unit 89. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS/VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITIONS were GRANTED. Vt. 9 “yeas” 73-14 Christopher J. Espinola: Renew the license for two pool tables at Kona Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Captains Lounge located at 1536 Main Street. 76-14 Kevin P. Caefer: Renew the Second Hand Dealers License for GotGoldand SilverGetCash.com. 77-14 Fred R. Tousignant: Renew the Second Hand Dealers License for Fred’s Auction located at 38 Spruce Street. 78-14 Eu Dong-Do: Renew the Second Hand Dealers License for Sam’s located at 710 North Main Street. 79-14 Joanne Atwood: Renew the Second Hand Dealers License for The Repair Palace Inc., located at 100 Commercial Road. 80-14 Robert A. Cornetta: Renew the License for two pool tables at Miranda’s Pub located at 488 Lancaster Street. 81-14 Carol and David Shields: Renew the License for three pool tables at South Leominster Lounge d/b/a Forte’s Lounge located at 1030 Central Street. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was AMENDED and GRANTED AS AMENDED. Vt. 9/0. Amending Section IV.A.3.: by deleting “ft2” and replacing with “square feet”, Section IV.B.: by deleting the “.” at the end of the section and inserting ”, and, if required, will direct the applicant or potential applicant to the designated contact person at the Department of Public Works.”, Section VI.H.: by deleting “a court of competent jurisdiction” and replacing with “the Superior Court Department or the land Court Department of the Trial Court in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A.”, and in Section VI.E.4: inserting “.” after $300.00 and deleting the balance of the sentence, and in Section VII.E.5.: create a new paragraph 5 reading: “Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate violation. Each day of non-compliance shall constitute a new and separate violation.” C-71 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Approve a Stormwater Ordinance which will provide reasonable guidance for the site planning and for the control of the pre and post-development stormwater runoff for protecting local water resources from degradation. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 40-14 Leominster Planning Board: Amend the Leominster Zoning Ordinances by adding Article XVIII, Section 22-105 entitled “Medical Marijuana Facilities” to allow and regulate medical marijuana facilities in the city. (Hearing continued to June 9, 2014 at 7:00 P.M.) 50-14 James Whitney and Ten Registered Voters: Amend the Leominster Zoning Ordinance Article I, Section 24-2 entitled Definitions by eliminating the sentence “Facilities that utilize animal testing of products are not included in this definition” from the Life sciences definition. (Hearing continued to June 9, 2014 at 6:45 P.M.) Upon recommendation of the CITY PROPERTY AND PROPERTY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was AMENDED. Vt. 9/0. Amended to read “Leominster American Little League”. Upon recommendation of the CITY PROPERTY AND PROPERTY OVERSIGHT the following PETITION was GRANTED AS AMENDED. Vt. 8/1, Councillor Freda opposed. 82-14 Judith Sumner, Recreation Director: Accept a donation from James L. Xarras and/or Leominster American Little League at no cost to the city, for an electronic scoreboard currently located on private property adjacent to Bachand Field. Letters from Judith Sumner, the Leominster Recreation Direction and Rob Lora, President of the Leominster American Little League were read and are on file in the City Clerk’s office. Councillor Salvatelli, Chairman of the Finance Committee, read the Financial Report for the City onto the record. Account balances are as follows: Excess and Deficiency Account (Free Cash) $ 1,969,828.00 Stabilization Account $12,166,817.88 Interest $ 27,409.95  6 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-75 Relative to the appropriation of $253,000.00 to the Emergency Management Agency Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: that the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Three Thousand Dollars ($253,000.00) be appropriated to the Emergency Management Agency Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. RE: Training area and general area renovations $ 93,500.00 Roof repair $159,500.00 C-76 Relative to the appropriation of $100,000.00 to the Highway Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: that the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be appropriated to the Highway Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. RE: Machine rental and disposal expenses (i.e. trucking and landfill costs) for material in DPW yards to comply with DEP requirements. C-77 Relative to the appropriation of $2,000.00 to the Mayor’s Salary and Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: that the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) be appropriated to the Mayor’s Salary and Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. RE: Summer intern to cover during maternity leave. C-78 Relative to the appropriation of $8,000.00 to the Parking Meter Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. ORDERED: that the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) be appropriated to the Parking Meter Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-79 Relative to the appropriation of $10,000.00 to the Parking Meter Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. ORDERED: that the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) be appropriated to the parking Meter Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-80 Relative to the appropriation of $24,000.00 to the Sanitation & Drainage Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: that the sum of Twenty Four Thousand Dollars ($24,000.00) be appropriated to the Sanitation & Drainage Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. C-81 Relative to the appropriation of $125,000.00 to the Fire Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00) be appropriated to the Fire Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 8 “yeas” and 1 “nay” , Councillor Freda opposed. ORDER was ADOPTED. Vt. 9/0. 83-14 Judith Sumner, Recreation Director: Request an appropriation of $9,999.00 to the Recreation Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars ($9,999.00) be appropriated to the Recreation Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS/VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENT was CONFIRMED. Vt. 9 “yeas” Assessor – Richard Dondero – term to expire 4/15/2016 Under Old Business, Councillor Nickel said he presented the list of pole locations to Mr. Poirier. He will be scheduling a committee meeting with National Grid Comcast and Verizon. He asked the Councillors if anyone else had more locations to put on the list and then handed out the list of pole location.  7 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued Upon request of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE the following RESOLUTION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 RESOLUTION – City owned parcels adjacent to the American Little League Field on American Way The following ORDINANCES were read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 9 “yeas” THE CITY OF LEOMINSTER In the year two thousand and fourteen AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster, as follows: Section 13-77 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Stop Signs” is hereby amending by inserting “Wilder Lane, against northbound drivers at Wilder Road.” __________________________________ THE CITY OF LEOMINSTER In the year two thousand and fourteen AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 22 of the Revised Ordinances, entitled “Zoning.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster, as follows: Chapter 22 of the Revised Ordinances, entitled “Zoning, Article II, Section 22-17, Table of Uses, is hereby amended as follows: Under “Business Uses,” the following use is deleted: “Motor Vehicle Gas Station Minimart and Car Wash”. In its place under “Business Uses, the following uses are inserted: RR RA RB RC BA BB C I MU1 MU2 V Motor Vehicle N N N N N N SPPB N N N N Gas Station SPA Minimart Motor Vehicle N N N N N N SPPB N N N N Gas Station Minimart and Car Wash ___________________________________ The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 7 “yeas” and 2 “nays”, Councillors Cormier and Nickel opposed. THE CITY OF LEOMINSTER In the year two thousand and fourteen AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 16-31 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Personnel.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster, as follows: Section 16-31 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Method of step advances’ is hereby amended by adding the following text to subparagraph (b): Effective July 1, 2014, officers and employees with positions classified in the “S” classification who are department heads (S-8, S-9, or S-10) will receive a starting salary within the minimum and maximum range of the classification of their position, subject to approval by the mayor. ___________________________________  8 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY 27, 2014, continued The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 9 “yeas” THE CITY OF LEOMINSTER In the year two thousand and fourteen AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic.” Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster, as follows: Article IV of Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances, entitled “Operation of Vehicles,” is hereby amended as follows: The text of Section 13-68 is deleted in its entirety and inserted in its place is the following: “Upon all ways the driver of a vehicle shall drive in the lane nearest the right side of the public way when such lane is available for travel. Violators shall be subject to a fine of fifty-five dollars for each offense.” Section 13-71 and 13-72 are deleted in their entirety and inserted in their place is the following: Section 13-71. Passing over restricted markings. No driver shall pass over restricted markings, e.g., over double yellow lines. Violators shall be subject to a fine of fifty-five dollars for each offense. Section 13-72. Blocking or causing gridlock at intersection. A driver shall not enter an intersection, when unable to proceed through and thereby block vehicles for traveling in a free direction. A green light when entering the intersection shall be a defense. The driver must wait for another cycle of the signal/traffic light if necessary. Violators shall be subject to a fine of fifty-five dollars for each offense. _____________________________________ The following RESOLUTION was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS/VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. RESOLUTION – Establish traffic fund A Public Service Committee Meeting was established for June 4, 2014 at 6:30 P.M. Councillor Marchand thanked Richard Voutour and his staff for the work they did for the Memorial Day Services. Councillor Feckley said that was the first service she attended as City Councillor and thought that everyone who participated was amazing. Councillor Cormier said everything went well and it was another successful Memorial Day Ceremony. He said this is the first time he remembered the White Cross Ceremony being held inside. He said how terrible Evergreen Cemetery looked again this year and is getting worse every year. The dead grass and roots were an annoyance and dangerous. Councillor Freda said the Envirothon took place at Sholan Farms. It was a statewide science competition. It was great to have it at Sholan Farms and there were a lot of positive comments. She said this was Leominster’s first time in the competition and came in 7th or 8th out of 34 teams. Councillor Lanciani thanked Mr. Voutour and said he is one of the best Veterans Agent in the state. He also thanked the high school band. Councillor Nickel thanked the Councillors that could make it to the dedication for Verne Brideau and congratulated the Leominster Police Department, Leominster Emergency Management, State Police, Sheriff’s office and National Guard who put on a nice program for the Molly Bish Program. Councillor Marchand also thanked the City employees and the different organizations in town including the school children, the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts involved in the Memorial Day Service. Councillor Marchand asked the Ways & Means Committee to come up with a Resolution within the next month to go after the situation that is happening now with the Veterans, and not just making it strong enough to pass it in the Council Chambers but also to send it to other communities, cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:02 P.M. __________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council