City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:10 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 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic” by amending Section 13-77 entitled “Stop Signs” by inserting the Montrose Street, against southbound drivers at Grant Street. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition to the ordinance. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:11 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017 Meeting was called to order at 7:31 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. The Committee on Records reported that there were no records to approve. A recess was called at 7:32 P.M. to hold a public forum. Meeting reconvened at 9:06 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received under SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-3 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Approve the CDBG Budget/Action Plan for Year 43. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-1 Relative to the appropriation of $1,300,000.00 to the School Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. C-2 Relative to the appropriation of $55,000.00 to the School Transportation Expense Account; same to be raised by Fiscal Year 2018 Revenues. The following PETITION was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. 1-18 Claire Freda: Eliminate Rule #34 entitled “Legal Opinions” regarding the City Council Rule that applies to Council access to the City Solicitor. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Department of Public Works. A hearing was set for July 24, 2017 at 6:50 P.M. Vt 8/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 2-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Central Street/Route 12 – Install four Jointly owned poles on Central Street/Route 12 beginning at a point approximately 360 feet north of the centerline of the intersection of Research Drive & Central Street/Route 12 and continuing approximately 90 feet in a northern direction. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Department of Public Works. A hearing was set for July 24, 2017 at 6:55 P.M. Vt 9/0 3-18 National Grid: Research Drive & Central Street – Install underground electric conduits beginning at a point approximately 360 feet north of the centerline of Research Drive and Central Street/Route 12 and continuing approximately 2500 feet in a westerly direction; also approximately 400 feet of concrete encased conduits and 1 manhole on west side of Central St/Route 12 from pole 150-5. National Grid to petition for approximately 2500 feet of concrete encased conduits and 9 manholes currently in Research Drive that were installed when the road was private as well as three new road crossing from manholes 4,7 & 8. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017, Cont. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt 9/0 69-17 Michael J. King: Grant an Easement for an existing driveway for the property located at 767 Willard Street. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt 9/0 Petition was submitted to the Mayor but he did not approve, therefore this is not in effect. 80-17 John M. Dombrowski: Accept the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 32 pursuant to Special Act 329 of the Acts of 1987 entitled “An Act Increasing Local Control Over the Annual School Budget”. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was AMENDED and GRANTED AS AMENDED. Vt 9/0 Amended to replace “north side” with “south side”. 81-17 Interim Chief Michael Goldman: Amend Section 13-34 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “ No Parking on Certain Streets” by adding the south side of Wachusett Street beginning at the intersection of Pleasant Street, 450 feet west on Wachusett Street. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt 9/0 (Hearing scheduled for July 24, 2017 at 7:00 P.M.) 82-17 Carolyn A. Parker for NJLJ Properties, LLC: Grant a license to store a total of 35,000 gallons of which 26,000 gallons is gasoline and 9,000 gallons is diesel fuel at 180 Central Street. Councillor Bodanza, Chair of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, read the Financial Report for the City into the record. Account balances are as follows: Stabilization Account $14,517,854.57 Free Cash $1,130,815.00 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was RATIFIED. Vt 8/0. Councillor Feckley opposed. C-106 Relative to the appropriation of $75,000.00 to the Health Refuse Collection Disposal Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was RATIFIED. Vt 9/0. C-107 Relative to the appropriation of $29,265.00 to the Insurance Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was RATIFIED. Vt 7/2. Councillors Chalifoux Zephir and Feckley opposed. C-108 Relative to the appropriation of $10,000.00 to the Municipal Building Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was RATIFIED. Vt 9/0 C-109 Relative to the appropriation of $35,000.00 to the Police Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Police Department Salary and Wages Account. Upon request of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt 9/0 C-110 Relative to the appropriation of $1,085,399.00 to the Street Resurfacing Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Highway State and Receipts Reserved for Appropriation Account. Page 2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017, Cont. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENTS were CONFIRMED. Vt. 9/0 2017-2018 Election Workers - terms to expire August 31, 2018 WARD 1A PARTY NAME ADDRESS Warden U Kathleen Kaldis 709 Main St Clerk U Dennis Grammont 30 Judy Drive Inspector D Jane Kalfus-Maine 770 Main Street Inspector U Emery Gaudet 25 Pierce Street Inspector U Jeannita Gaudet 25 Pierce St. Inspector U Chris Chiumento 30 Crystal Ave. Inspector U Mary Golas 371 Willard Street Inspector U Phyllis Grammont 30 Judy Drive Handi Inspctor D Domenic Marcantonio 73 Heritage Lane #B9 Dep Insp U Ann C. Loiselle 44 Lantern Way Shirley, MA Dep Insp U Charlene J. Renczkowski 44 Lantern Way Shirley, MA WARD 1B Warden D Margaret Woovis 44 Boutelle St. Clerk U James Woovis 44 Boutelle St. Inspector U Sandra L. Ricci 50 Stuart Ave. Inspector D Concetta Ayles 25 Warren Street Inspector R Betsey McPhee 77 King Ave. Inspector D Beatrice Robichaud 255 Pierce St. Inspector U Carmelita Giambrocco 78 Heritage Ln Bldg 13 -B4 Inspector R Evelyn Vignola 1103 Main Street Dep Insp U Elaine D.G. Greene 1099 Main Street Dep Insp R Francis X Gesel Jr. 45 Tina Street WARD 1C Warden U Priscilla Regopoulos 57 Linda St. Clerk U David Henderson 29 Princenton St. Inspector U Barbara A. Burque 121 Day Street Inspector U Philena Richards 48 Norwood Ave. Inspector U Janice LeDuc 13 Kinsman Ave. Inspector U Rosemary Cella 22 Farm Hill Rd. Inspector U Brenda Maffeo 24 Sanderson Street Inspector U Jeanne Jekanowski 17B Fernwood Drive Dep Insp D Rose MacDonald-Stirk 71 Keystone Drive WARD 2A Warden U Kelly Lyddy 70 Dillon Street Clerk U Taylor Lyddy 70 Dillon Street Inspector D Claire M. Lincoln 161 Spruce St. #306 Inspector D Ida Kendall 7 Arrowhead Road Inspector U Diane Aubuchon 42 Eugene Street Inspector U Barbara Lanza 225 Seventh St Inspector U Leonie M. Cormier 11 Theresa Avenue Inspector R Milagros Vazquez 73C Manchester St. Apt. 5C WARD 2B Warden D Kerry A. Boudreau 473 Johnny Appleseed Ln Clerk D Debra McNally 63 Weathervane Drive Inspector D Patricia C. Vallee 16 Arrowhead Road Inspector U Claire M. Babineau 240 Mechanic Street Inspector U Theresa Andrzejewski 46 Shire Road Inspector U Emilda E. Sauvageau 173 Stuart Ave. Inspector D Barbara E. Leblanc 245 Water Street Inspector R Nicole Cote 127 Berrington Rd. MAIL TO: PO Box 57, Winchendon WARD 2C Warden U Dennis M. Lyddy 70 Dillon St. Clerk U Amelia Piermarini 14 Lido Avenue Inspector U Jean Morel 792 Lancaster St. Inspector D Nancy Oxner 556 Central St. Lot #44 Inspector D Anna McCarthy 168 Central St. #3 Inspector U Rita Souliere 161 Spruce St. #608 Inspector U Marie J. Sharrigan 161 Spruce St. #603 Inspector U Anne M. Richard 109 Fourth Street Page 3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017, Cont. WARD 3A PARTY NAME ADDRESS Warden D Kathleen Haskell 18 Johnson St. Clerk D Patricia Porter Adams 387 Grant Street Inspector U Karen J. McNall 267 Willard St Inspector U Lucy Ciccolini 210 Central St. Inspector U Norma Surovich 44 Grant St. Inspector U John J. Caron 175 Chapman Place Inspector D John Purretta 78D Meadow Pond Drive Inspector D Claudette A. Guilmette 503 Union Street Dep. Insp. U Doris A. Quinn 556 Central St. - Lot 80 WARD 3B Warden U Nancy Koski 2 Debbie Drive Clerk U Laura Casey 5 Belgian Lane Inspector U Deanne Comeau 1174 Pleasant St. Inspector U Gail Cunningham 680 Union St. Inspector U Caroline Perla 5 Argentine St. Inspector. U Kathleen Lamb 171 Bayberry Hill Lane Inspector U Ronald A. St. Laurent 76 Chapman Place Inspector U Gail Purretta 78D Meadowpond Dr. Dep. Insp. D Christine Souter 82 Glenwood Drive Dep. Insp. U Paula Iacoboni Richard 207 Debbie Drive Dep. Insp. U Sushmita Basu 200 Brooks Pond Rd. #205 WARD 3C Warden U Louise Comeau 68 Avon Street Clerk U Nilah Gerhard 68 Sycamore Drive Inspector U Beverly Amedio 156 Lincoln Terrace Inspector U Gerald R. LeBlanc 18 Evans Court Inspector D Nancy A. Lee 42 Elm Road Inspector D Katherine Saunders 346 Central St. Inspector D Diana D. Giannetti 68 Chapman Place Inspector U Ralph Sacramone 592 Union Street Dep Insp. U Mary P. Richard 56 Dogwood Road Dep Insp. U Donna Henderson 112 Richard Road WARD 4A Warden R Janet Baron 150 Pleasant Terrace Clerk U Joyce LaFleur 970 Pleasant St. Inspector U Phyllis DelGiudice 265 Hill St. Inspector D Verna Charpentier 69 Eugene St. Inspector U Arnold Baron 150 Pleasant Terrace Inspector U Rosalie LaManna 135 Pleasant Terrace Inspector D Janet Flanagan 17 Knollwood Lane Inspector U Susan Sweeney 214 Lowe St. Dep Insp U Marcia J. Tarara 48 Dupont Circle Dep Insp D Linda Allard 53 Dupont Circle Dep Insp U Linda Vezina 22 Hill Street WARD 4B Warden R Janet Parker 34 View St. Clerk D Louise DiPalma 400 Brooks Pond Rd. #108 Inspector D Louise Bourque 6 Rose Avenue Inspector R Joan Nicholson 12 Monroe St. Inspector U Birdie Siciliano 13 Daley St. Inspector D Patricia Pinder 71 Exchange St. Inspector U Joanne Petricca 326 Pleasant St. Inspector R Rebecca Leavenworth 81 Granite Street Dep. Insp. R Anthony M. Fiduccia 75 Constitution Drive Dep Insp. U Deborah Nutting 1077 Mt. Elam Rd. Mailing address: 1077 Mt. Elam Rd. Fitchburg WARD 4C Warden U Joanne Anderson 42 Avon Streeet Clerk D Elizabeth Denis 40 Hickory Rd. Inspector U Deborah G. Hebert 198 Lowe Street Inspector U Nancy Hicks 861 West St. Inspector U Maureen Jennings 78 Anthony Rd. Inspector D Kathleen Vaillette 37 Avon Street Inspector D Karen Gustafson 31 Cotton St. Apt. A Inspector U Anna Mikels 15 Exchange St. Page 4 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017, Cont. WARD 5A PARTY NAME ADDRESS Warden U Cynthia Henderson 29 Princenton St. Clerk R Chester Carter 86 Lindell Ave. Inspector R Marilyn Carter 86 Lindell Ave. Inspector U Leslie Tobin 222 Grove Avenue Inspector U Therese M. Tobin 222 Grove Avenue Inspector U Edward A. Sullivan 700 Brooks Pond Rd. - #206 Inspector D Madeleine Marcoux 18 Green St. #1 Inspector D Marie Blondin 18 Green St. #2 WARD 5B Warden R Donald Piermarini 215 West Street Clerk U Doris DeCicco 187 North Main St. Inspector U Jean A. Gagne 30 Smith Street Inspector U Guilio G. Greco 175 Washington St. Inspector U Irene C. Greco 175 Washington St. Inspector D David W. Grimm Sr. 325 Merriam Ave. Inspector U Charles Hayes 23 George Street - Apt. 15 Inspector D Francis J. Giangrande 23 George St. - Apt. 35 Dep Insp D Arthur M. Tunnessen 120 Hall Street Dep Insp D JoAnn Tunnessen 120 Hall Street WARD 5C Warden U Diane Shepherd 221 West Street #5 Clerk U Margaret Allen 136 Hall Street Inspector D Anthony E. Stelluto 43 Thayer St. Inspector U Timothy Keller 13 Millette Ave. Inspector U Denise Lamkin 8 Shadowlawn Dr. Inspector U Marta Bahde 50 Robin Road Inspector U Rosalie O'Donnell 79 Orchard Street Inspector U Donna Allard 42 Orchard Street 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 seventeen 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: Montrose Street, against southbound drivers at Grant Street. Upon recommendation of the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following RESOLUTION was ADOPTED. Vt 9 “yeas” RESOLUTION – Regarding Department of Revenue Financial Management Review Whereas, the Leominster Public School System previously had a financial operation review done by the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (hereafter known as the MASBO report) which outlined many inefficiencies in the accounting systems between the School Department and City’s Administration. Whereas, many, if not all, of those inefficiencies outlined in the MASBO report have not been adequately addressed and continue to exist. Whereas, many of the same inefficiencies outlined in the MASBO report between the City’s Administration and the School Department, also exists in other city departments.1 Whereas, the Leominster Public Schools are currently experiencing significant difficulties including, but not limited to, an approximately 5.6 million dollar shortfall with resulting cuts in spending, cuts in education funding and layoffs of school personnel. Whereas, public hearings before the City Council have disclosed serious and prevalent communication breakdowns between the City Comptroller’s office and the School Administration. Whereas, the City Council is committed to increasing efficiency in city government and therefore reducing waste. Page 5 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 10, 2017, Cont. Whereas, the Department of Revenue offers Financial Management Reviews aimed at increasing efficiency in government at no cost to the city as per the DOR Division of Local Services website which states: “The Division of Local Services helps Massachusetts cities and towns achieve sound and efficient fiscal management through technical assistance, training and oversight. Its bureaus are responsible for ensuring the fairness and equity of local property taxation, the accuracy and quality of local accounting and treasury management, interpreting state laws that affect local governance, distributing local aid and maintaining a comprehensive databank on local finances. DLS meets these responsibilities through community advising, seminars, publishing, Internet services, research, software development and support and community specific management reviews and audits.” There, be it resolved, that the City Council of Leominster request that the Mayor of the City of Leominster request a financial management review with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to address these issues and offer insight and recommendations to remedy same. Respectfully submitted, John M. Dombrowski City Councilor At Large 41 Washington Street Leominster, MA 01453 Susan Chalifoux Zephir City Councilor At Large 437 West Street Leominster, MA 01453 Gail P. Feckley Ward 1 Councilor 70 Eastern Avenue Leominster, MA 01453 MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:45 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council Page 6