City Council

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 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 January 26, 2015 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. A recess was called at 7:32 P.M. to hold an information meeting with Comptroller John Richard and Treasurer David Laplante regarding bonds. Meeting reconvened at 9:13 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received with an EMERGENCY PREAMBLE and referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE. Vt. 7/0 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 7 “yeas”, Councillors Cormier and Nickel abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. C-28 Relative to the appropriation of $70,000.00 to the Fire Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Emergency Reserve Account. ORDERED: that the sum of $70,000.00 be appropriated to the Fire Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Emergency Reserve Account. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-29 Relative to the appropriation of $522,000.00 to the Recreation Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 C-24 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Amend Chapter 6 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Dogs” by replacing it with a new Chapter 6. Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SCHOOLS & SCHOOL FACILITIES COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 C-27 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request that the City Council vote in favor of submitting an application to the MSBA for the replacement roof and windows at Johnny Appleseed School. The following ORDINANCE was read once, ADOPTED as presented and ordered published. A hearing was set for February 23, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. Vt. 9 “yeas” 1st Reading Ordinance Amend Chapter 6 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Dogs” by replacing it with a new Chapter 6. The following RESOLUTION was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. RESOLUTION - Accept a Resolution to file and accept grants with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Parkland Acquisition and Renovation for Communities Program for a new playground on Third Street in Leominster and to purchase land located at Wells Court and Mechanic Street. Council President Marchand said it is amazing the work that the DPW have to deal with this winter. He said if you went through downtown in the middle of the evening or early morning they are still working. Our DPW staff has been absolutely amazing. He said kudos to the subcontractors. He cautioned the drivers to be very careful and be watchful of the children at the corners and walking in the streets. He said it is very dangerous pulling out into traffic with the high piles and drifts. Councillor Freda said she is sure there are some complaints out there but she thinks we have a responsibility to thank these guys who are working at the DPW. They are down 7-8 guys and they just don’t quit and they are not all young guys. They have a remarkable attitude. She says we don’t say thanks enough to the people that work for us. She said the Police Department and the Fire Department deserve a thank you also. Councillor Nickel said the first storm we had on Monday the day shift at the DPW stayed over and plowed all night Monday night, all day Tuesday and didn’t leave until midnight Tuesday night. The vast majority of them came back four hours later and started at 4:00 in the morning. He said he can’t say enough about the job they did. Councillor Lanciani agreed wholeheartedly with the Councillors Nickel, Freda and Marchand. He said everyone in Leominster deserves to be thanked. People are out shoveling sidewalks and hydrants and working together and it’s great to see the National Guard come and help out. Councillor Freda asked the Chair of Finance if we had an estimate on how much this has cost us so far. Councillor Cormier said he has not heard anything. He requested a Snow and Ice report up to the last meeting but since then is when the bulk of the spending. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:37 P.M. ____________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council