City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 14, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:08 P.M. with Councillor Pauline Cormier, 3rd member of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present except Councillors Feckley and Freda. David Flewelling from Comcast was present at the hearing. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 4-18 Comcast of Massachusetts III: Harvard Street – Starting at Utility Pole No. 31-50, place one (1) 3” PVC Conduit 187’± to a proposed 24”x36” vault; continuing from vault 22’± onto private property to service 391 Harvard Street. Mr. Dave Flewelling said he was present to speak in favor of the petition. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition to the petition. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:10 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 14, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:11 P.M. with Councillor Dombrowski, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were except Councillors Feckley and Freda. 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 13-34 entitled “No Parking on Certain Streets” by inserting Wachusett Street (south side), from intersection with Pleasant Street for four hundred and fifty feet west. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition to the ordinance. No Councillors spoke. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:12 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 14, 2017 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present except Councillors Feckley and Freda. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 14, 2017, Cont. At 7:33 P.M. a motion was made to go into Executive Session under the provisions of Chapter 30A, Section 21A of the Massachusetts General Laws. Council President Cormier declared that the reason for executive session is that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the City. Voted by roll call Vt. 7 “yeas”. Council President Cormier said the regular meeting would reconvene at the conclusion of the Executive Session. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:50 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-6 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Allow the City of Leominster to pursue $26,156.00 through the United States Department of Justice – Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-7 Relative to the appropriation of $268,000.00 to the Highway Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. C-8 Relative to the appropriation of $23,500.00 to the Emergency Management Agency Capital Outlay Expense Account Prior Year; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for August 28, 2017 at 7:05 P.M. Vt 6/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 5-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Christine Street – Install one jointly owned pole on Christine Street between poles 5 and 6. The following PETITION was received, referred to the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. A hearing was set for August 28, 2017 at 7:10 P.M. Vt 6/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 6-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Adams Street – Remove one jointly owned pole, pole 7, on Adams Street and relocate it beginning at a point approximately 115 feet northeast of the centerline of the intersection of Adams Street and Cotton Street. The following APPOINTMENT was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, and given REGULAR COURSE. Peter Niall – Disability Commission – Term to Expire April 15, 2020 Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt 7/0. 35-17 Kristen Kelly on behalf of the Planning Board: Modify Section 22-50.4.1 of the Leominster Zoning Ordinance to remove the words “shall service no more than two (2) lots” and replace with “are not permitted”. Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt 6/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 4-18 Comcast of Massachusetts III: Harvard Street – Starting at Utility Pole No. 31-50, place one (1) 3” PVC Conduit 187’± to a proposed 24”x36” vault; continuing from vault 22’± onto private property to service 391 Harvard 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 $12,031,354.57 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt 7/0. C-4 Relative to the appropriation of $2,000.00 to the Police Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Disability Commission Fines Reserved for Appropriation Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) be appropriated to the Police Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Disability Commission Fines Reserved for Appropriation Account. RE: Handicapped Parking Enforcement. Page 2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 14, 2017, Cont. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICIATION was RATIFIED. Vt. 7/0 C-5 Relative to the appropriation of $895,000.00 to the School Department Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. Councillor Marchand requested that the School Department provide the City Council with their financial information so they may become knowledgeable and privy to all school department expenses throughout the fiscal year. The following ORDINANCE was read a second time, ADOPTED as presented and passed to be ordained. Vt. 7 “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: Chapter 13, Section 13-34 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “No Parking on Certain Streets” is hereby amended by inserting the following phrases: Wachusett Street (south side), from intersection with Pleasant Street for four hundred and fifty feet west. Under Old Business, Councillor Chalifoux Zephir requested backup for Communications C-2 and C-7. Under New Business, Councillor Chalifoux Zephir requested a Public School Subcommittee meeting be scheduled with the Superintendent, Chair and Vice Chair of the School Department and the School Committee Members. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken to bring down the Building Inspector, Peter Niall, for an interview regarding his appointment to the Disability Commission. Vt 7/0. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:15 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council Page 3