City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 Hearing opened at 7:00 P.M. with Councillor Dombrowski, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. 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 Roche Avenue, against northeast bound drivers at Merriam Avenue. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:02 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 Hearing opened at 7:05 P.M. with Councillor Dombrowski, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. The following ORDINANCE was the subject of the hearing: Relative to amending Chapter 13, Section 13-33 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Schedule of Parking Fines” in Group E, number 22, by deleting the words “one hundred dollars” and inserting in their place the words “two hundred dollars.” No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition of this petition. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:06 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 Hearing opened at 7:10 P.M. with Councillor Nickel, Chair of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present except Councillor Marchand. Rick Nolesky from National Grid was present. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 10-17 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Central Street – Install 1 jointly owned pole on Central Street beginning at a point approximately 40 feet NE of the centerline of the intersection of Union Street. Mr. Nolesky said he works for National Grid as an engineer out of the Athol office. The pole in question is needed to take the place of guy wires that are now located in a tree in a grassy area near the intersection of Central Street, Union Street and Lancaster Street. The City requested the guy wires be removed. No one in the audience spoke in favor or in opposition of this petition. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:14 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council  2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 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 August 8, 2016 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. A recess was called at 7:32 P.M. to continue the interview with the Cultural Commission appointee. Meeting reconvened at 7:34 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-20 Relative to the appropriation of $500,000.00 to the School Department Expense Account; same to be raised by Fiscal Year 2017 Revenue. The following COMMUNICATION was received with an EMERGENCY PREAMBLE and referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE. Vt. 9/0 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-21 Relative to the appropriation of $5,000.00 to the Building Inspector Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be appropriated to the Building Inspector Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. RE: Temporary Assistant Building Inspector The following PETITION was received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Police Department-Traffic Division and the Fire Department. 11-17 Officer Richard D. Shea: Establish No Parking Zones on Nashua Street on the west side across from Pole #27 for 990 feet south ending at Lawrence Street and on the east side from Pole #27 for 990 feet south ending across from Lawrence Street. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for September 26, 2016 at 7:05 P.M. 12-17 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Hale Street-Install one jointly owned pole on Hale Street beginning at a point approximately 30 feet NW of the centerline of the intersection of Bartlett Street. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for September 26, 2016 at 7:10 P.M. 13-17 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Blossom Street-Install one jointly owned pole beginning at a point approximately 30 feet SE of the centerline of the intersection of Bartlett Street. The following APPOINTMENTS were received, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Election Officers- terms to expire August 31, 2017 Nancy M. Oxner, Sushmita Basu, Karen Gustafson and Susan Sweeney Emergency Management – Rehab Unit- Jeffrey Yalian The following APPOINTMENT was received under SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, referred to the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Vt. 9/0 Human Resource Director – Wendy Hurley- term to expire September 27,2019 Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was AMENDED and GRANTED as AMENDED. Vt. 9/0 Amended by striking “and bowling alleys.” 9-17 Richard M. Marchand: Authorize the License Commission to issue licenses for pool tables. Upon request of the WAYS & MEANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEES the following PETITION was AMENDED. Vt. 9/0. The following PETITION was GRANTED AS AMENDED. Vt. 8/1, Councillor Feckley opposed. Amended to strike “support or”. 54-16 Edward J. Bartlett, Jr., CFO for Middlesex Integrative Medicine: Request a letter of support or non-opposition to operate a registered marijuana cultivation facility at 25 Mohawk Drive.  3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016, continued Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION were given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 2-17 President’s Committee on City Ordinance Review: Request that Chapter 3, Section 3-2 entitled “Injurious Noise Prohibited” be deleted and replace with the following: “No person, partnership, company, corporation or association leasing or controlling any device (or property) shall willfully, negligently or through failure to provide effective available control technology, shall allow the creation of noise that will cause injury, fatigue, interference with the quiet enjoyment of life and property”. 4-17 President’s Committee on City Ordinance Review: Request that Chapter 10 “Solicitors, Hawkers and Peddlers”, Section 10-2 entitled “Definitions” be revised to add “the foregoing definition shall not include political campaigning”. Councillor Bodanza, Chair of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, read the Financial Report for the City into the record. Account balances are as follows: Stabilization Account $13,958,574.15 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas” C-17 Relative to the appropriation of $11,500.00 to the Cemetery Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Income Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($11,500.00) be appropriated to the Cemetery Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Income Account. C-18 Relative to the appropriation of $12,000.00 to the Parking Meter Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) be appropriated to the Parking Meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. C-19 Relative to the appropriation of $6,000.00 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 Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) be appropriated to the Parking Meter Salary & Wages Account; same to be transferred from the Parking meter Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 8/0, Councillor Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 10-17 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Central Street – Install 1 jointly owned pole on Central Street beginning at a point approximately 40 feet NE of the centerline of the intersection of Union Street. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENT was CONFIRMED. Vt. 9 “yeas” Cultural Commission –term to expire April 15, 2019 - Donna DeCarolis The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 9 “yeas” City of Leominster In the year two thousand and sixteen 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 amended by inserting the following: Roche Avenue, against northeast bound drivers at Merriam Avenue. __________________________  4 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016, continued The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 8 “yeas”, Councillor Feckley abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. City of Leominster In the year two thousand and sixteen 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 13-33 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Schedule of Parking Fines” is hereby amended in Group E, number 22, by deleting the words “one hundred dollars” and inserting in their place the words “two hundred dollars.” _________________________ The following Committee meetings were established: President’s Committee on City Ordinance Review – September 28, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. Legal Affairs Committee – September 28, 2016 at 6:30 P.M. Councillor Feckley, Chair of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, moved that the following PETITION be removed from the table and placed on the calendar for action. It was so voted. 7/1, Councillor Freda opposed and Councillor Dombrowski abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. Committee reports as follows: TABLED Vt. 7/1, Councillor Nickel opposed. 53-16 Peter Campobasso, Esquire for Alternative Therapies Group Inc.: Request a local letter of non-opposition to locate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary in the City of Leominster. Councillor Feckley, Chair of the WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE, moved that the following PETITION be removed from the table and placed on the calendar for action. It was so voted. 7/1, Councillor Freda opposed and Councillor Dombrowski abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. Committee reports as follows: AMENDED TO STRIKE “support and” and was GRANTED AS AMENDED. Vt. 7/1, Councillor Freda opposed. 65-16 Pat Scorzelli-Agent for Prime Wellness Centers, Inc.: Request a local letter of municipal non-opposition for the siting and establishment of a Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensary in the City of Leominster on Locke Drive. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:25 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council