City Council

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. A recess was called at 7:35 P.M. to continue the informational meeting and to hold a public forum. Meeting reconvened at 7:52 P.M. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-13 Relative to the appropriation of $59,000.00 to the Building Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. C-14 Relative to the appropriation of $15,000.00 to the Police Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. C-15 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Relative to the appropriation of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for the purpose to pay costs of the repair and upgrade of the Morse Dam and the Pond Street Pump Station, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; that to raise this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 or 8 of the General Laws, and amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue and sell bonds or notes of the City therefore. C-16 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Relative to the appropriation of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) for the purpose to pay costs of converting City streetlights to LED, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; that to raise this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 of the General Laws, as amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue and sell bonds or notes of the City therefore. C-17 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request the following Refunding Loan Order be adopted. In order to reduce interest costs, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to issue refunding bonds, at one time or from time to time, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 21A of the General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, to refund all or any portion of the City’s general obligation bonds outstanding as of the date of adoption of this order and that the proceeds of any refunding bonds issued pursuant to this vote shall be used to pay the principal, redemption premium and interest on the bonds of the City to be refunded, and costs of issuance of the refunding bonds; and that the Treasurer is authorized to execute such documents as may be necessary or desirable to carry out this transaction, including one or more refunding trust agreements with a bank or trust company. The following APPOINTMENT was received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Office of Emergency Management –Auxiliary Unit Charlie Williams Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 6-16 Lynn A. Bouchard: Amend Chapter 12, Section 12-2 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Fee Schedule” by adding to Item 52- Dog Licenses, a $50.00 fee for Residential Kennels and a $100.00 fee for Commercial Kennels. Upon recommendation of the CITY PROPERTY AND PROPERTY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 7-16 Annmarie Sargent, Recreation Program Director and Greg Chapdelaine, Festival Event Director: Request the use of the parking lot between the Baptist and Unitarian Churches, on Friday August 5, 2016 from 7:00 A.M. to August 6, 2016 at 11:00 P.M. to hold the first annual “Johnny Appleseed Wine Festival” and the second annual “Johnny Appleseed Craft Beer Festival”. Also request the use of West Street (from Main Street to Church Street) and the Downtown Common on Saturday, August 6th, 2016 from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. to hold the second annual “Johnny Appleseed Craft Beer Festival”. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-11 Relative to the appropriation of $75,000.00 to the Gallagher Building Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Gallagher Building Revolving Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) be appropriated to the Gallagher Building Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Gallagher Building Revolving Account. RE: Operating Expense  2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, continued C-12 Relative to the appropriation of $90,000.00 to the Landfill Expense Capital Outlay Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) be appropriated to the Landfill Expense Capital Outlay Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. RE: Mechanic Street Landfill Flare Upon request of the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENTS were CONFIRMED. Vt. 9 “yeas” Election Officers – Rosemary Cella, Nicole Cote, Diane Aubuchon and Carmelita Giambrocco – terms to expire August 31, 2016 Upon request of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following LOAN ORDER was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9 yeas”. A hearing was set for October 13, 2015 at 6:45 P.M. 1st Reading Loan Order – ORDERED: - that the sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for the purpose to pay costs of the repair and upgrade of the Morse Dam and the Pond Street Pump Station, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; that to raise this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 or 8 of the General Laws, and amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue and sell bonds or notes of the City therefore. Upon request of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following LOAN ORDER was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9 “yeas”. A hearing was set for October 13, 2015 at 6:50 P.M. 1st Reading Loan Order – ORDERED: - that the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) for the purpose to pay costs of converting City streetlights to LED, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; that to raise this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 of the General Laws, as amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue and sell bonds or notes of the City therefore. (Finance) Upon request of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following LOAN ORDER was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9 “yeas”. A hearing was set for October 13, 2015 at 6:55 P.M. 1st Reading Loan Order – ORDERED: - that in order to reduce interest costs, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to issue refunding bonds, at one time or from time to time, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 21A of the General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, to refund all or any portion of the City’s general obligation bonds outstanding as of the date of adoption of this order and that the proceeds of any refunding bonds issued pursuant to this vote shall be used to pay the principal, redemption premium and interest on the bonds of the City to be refunded, and costs of issuance of the refunding bonds; and that the Treasurer is authorized to execute such documents as may be necessary or desirable to carry out this transaction, including one or more refunding trust agreements with a bank or trust company. (Finance) Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following ELECTION ORDER was ADOPTED. Vt. 9 “yeas” CITY OF LEOMINSTER MUNICIPAL ELECTION ORDER NOVEMBER 3, 2015 ORDERED:-that the City Clerk be and she hereby is authorized and directed to notify and warn the voters of the City of Leominster to assemble in their respective polling places in the several wards and precincts of the City, designated by the City Council as follows: WARD 1A SKY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 500 KENNEDY WAY WARD 1B SKY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 500 KENNEDY WAY WARD 1C SKY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 500 KENNEDY WAY WARD 2A FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FORMALLY SOUTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE WARD 2B FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FORMALLY SOUTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE WARD 2C FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FORMALLY SOUTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE  3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, continued WARD 3A FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES HALL 456 LITCHFIELD STREET WARD 3B FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES HALL 456 LITCHFIELD STREET WARD 3C FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES HALL 456 LITCHFIELD STREET WARD 4A SENIOR CITIZEN DROP-IN CENTER 5 POND STREET WARD 4B LEOMINSTER VETERANS’ QUARTERS 100 WEST STREET WARD 4C LEOMINSTERVETERANS’ QUARTERS 100 WEST STREET WARD 5A AUDITORIUM, CITY HALL 25 WEST STREET WARD 5B AUDITORIUM, CITY HALL 25 WEST STREET WARD 5C FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LEOMINSTER 23 WEST STREET On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 then and there for the purpose of giving in their votes for the election of candidates for the following offices: Mayor; four Councillors-at-Large; one Councillor for each Ward; three School Committee Members-at-Large; one School Committee Member for each Ward; all for terms of two years, beginning on the first Monday in January, 2016 And it is further ORDERED:- that the polls shall be opened at 7:00 A.M. and closed at 8:00 P.M. and that notice shall be given by publication of this order in a conspicuous place in the office of the City Clerk. Per Order Leominster City Council True Copy Attest: Lynn A. Bouchard City Clerk _______________________________________ Councillor Salvatelli said he received a call from a constituent business man regarding the bidding process particularly in the water and sewer issues. He said he has the utmost respect and admiration for Greg Chapdelaine and he said he never got a bad answer from him and he is a straight shooter. Councillor Salvatelli said he went to the Chairman of Finance to get information about the payment to the company who is doing the water and sewer service work. He said the Finance Chair spoke with the Purchasing Agent, the DPW and Roger Brooks asking several questions. They were willing to meet with Councillor Salvatelli. The Mayor found out about it and squashed the meeting because he felt that Councillor Salvatelli should not be meeting with department heads and should bring it up at a meeting. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken to have Greg Chapdelaine and Roger Brooks come down to the Council to explain the bidding process when it comes to the construction of water sites and sewer. He said he is particularly interested in what the bid is, what the bid originally was, and what we end up paying the company that won the bid for the last three years. Vt. 9/0 Councillor Salvatelli said he has some answers and they are reasonable and rational. He said he is not accusing anybody, he is doing this because a constituent ask him to do it. Councillor Freda said she has received called throughout the weekend with all the festivities taking place. She said we overlook the patience of the community. She had one gentleman around the Doyle Field area that said he was awakened at 5:00 A.M. with backpack leaf blowers cleaning so everything would look nice. Maybe sometime in our haste we don’t think about the neighbors. We need to pay better attention the next time we do something to at least let people know in an area that is going to be affected. Councillor Freda wished Kate Griffin Brooks well on her retirement. She serviced the community well and we were very fortunate to have an Urban Planner with a Doctorate Degree in that office. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:20 P.M. ____________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council