City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Hearing opened at 6:57 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 13-34 entitled “No Parking on Certain Streets” by inserting Spruce Street (north side) starting three hundred and six feet west of the intersection of Spruce Street and Whitney Street, for a distance of one hundred feet from pole number five to pole number four, between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Councillor Pauline Cormier asked whether they had received any clarification or a map that depicts exactly where these parking spots are located. Councillor Dombrowski thought they had confirmed it was the area where the loading docks are located. Councillor Pauline Cormier said she had taken a few trips by the location and she supports this petition because it is a very congested area during the work hours. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition of the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 6:59 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:00 P.M. with Councillor Dombrowski, Chair of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 11-18 Committee on Ordinance Review: Amend Chapter 22 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Zoning” by amending Section 22-14 “Adoption and Amendment” to require notification of abutters for zoning changes and the costs associated will be paid by the petitioner. Councillor Chalifoux Zephir provided an overview of the petition and said that at their last meeting there was a suggestion made by Councillor Bodanza to insert language to ensure that property owners are included in the notification. She said that the draft ordinance was amended accordingly and sent to the City Solicitor. They responded that it is in perfect legal form. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition of the ordinance. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:04 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote. All members were present. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-18 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Exempt Greg Chapdelaine, Purchasing Agent, from the Conflict of Interest Law as provided for in M.G.L. Chapter 268 A, Section 20B as he is currently employed by the City of Leominster as the Purchasing Agent and will be taking a position with the City Clerk’s Office for the set up and breakdown of election equipment. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017, Cont. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Assessor, Comptroller, Treasurer, Director of Health, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Building Inspector, and Conservation. C-19 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Authorize the Mayor to acquire, by gift and/or eminent domain for no consideration, for general municipal purposes and/or active or passive recreational purposes, the parcels of land located at 15 Narcissus Road and Olive Road and described more particularly in deeds recorded with the Worcester North District Registry of Deeds in Book 7543, Page 78 and Book 7543, Page 67. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Purchaser, Comptroller, and Treasurer. C-20 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Authorize the Mayor to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a perpetual software license agreement from FootSteps2Brilliance with financing through Government Capital Corporation. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Assessor, Comptroller, and Treasurer. A hearing was set for December 11, 2017 at 6:40 P.M. Vt 9/0. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter, a vote was taken to bring down the William Mitchell, Chief Assessor, to the hearing. Vt 9/0. C-21 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request that the annual Tax Classification Hearing be scheduled for December 11, 2017 for the purpose of setting the annual factor used for Fiscal Year 2018. The following COMMUNICATION was received with an EMERGENCY PREAMBLE and referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE. Vt 8/1. Councillor David Cormier opposed. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt 9 “yeas”. C-22 Relative to the appropriation of $8,000.00 made to the Election & Registration Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) be appropriated to the Election & Registration Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. The following PETITIONS were received, referred to the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, given REGULAR COURSE and referred to the Traffic Department. Vt. 9/0 16-18 David R. Cormier: Install a stop sign on Dogwood Road against north bound drivers at Queens Road. 17-18 David R. Cormier: Install a stop sign on Queens Road against east bound drivers at Dogwood Road. 18-18 David R. Cormier: Install a stop sign on Queens Road against west bound drivers at Dogwood Road. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0. C-16 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Adopt M.G.L., Chapter 31, Section 58A which allows the city to hire veterans over the age of 32 at the time of the appointment. A motion to amend the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0. Sections 14.3, 14.4, 14.4(a), 14.4(d) and 14.4(e) were amended to include notifying property owners. Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was GRANTED as AMENDED. Vt. 9/0 11-18 Committee on Ordinance Review: Amend Chapter 22 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Zoning” by amending Section 22-14 “Adoption and Amendment” to require notification of abutters for zoning changes and the costs associated will be paid by the petitioner. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was TABLED. Vt. 8/0. Councillor Dombrowski abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 13-18 Pat Scorzelli as Agent for Highland Manor Realty Trust: Accept the deed for Katie Lane and request the street be taken by eminent domain by the City of Leominster. Petitioner offers to pay any legal fees that may be incurred. Page 2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017, Cont. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 14-18 John P. Bulger and ten (10) registered voters: Rezone the following parcels on Pleasant Street and Lowe Street from Residence B to Residence A:  Pleasant Street West Side o Map 342, Lots 12 & 13 o Map 481, Lots 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 o Map 521, Lot 1 & 39 o Map 488, Lots 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 o Map 494, Lots 18, 3A, 3-1A, 3-2A, 3-2B, and 3-2C  Pleasant Street East Side o Map 561, Lots 35A, 36A, 37A o Map 340, Lots 1 & 2 o Map 410, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 22, & 23 o Map 496, Lots 1, 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 6A, & 7 o Map 481, Lot 16  Lowe Street o Map 488, Lot 5 Councillor Bodanza, Chair of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, read the Financial Report for the City into the record. Account balances are as follows: Stabilization Account: $11,871,189.00 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas”. C-14 Relative to the appropriation of $60,000.00 to the Sanitation & Drainage Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) be appropriated to the Sanitation & Drainage Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Account. C-17 Relative to the appropriation of $100,000.00 to the Police Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Police Department Salary and Wages Account. ORDERED: - that the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) be appropriated to the Police Department Overtime Account; same to be transferred from the Police Department Salary and Wages Account. Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt. 8/0. Councillor Bodanza abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 15-18 Karen Bruwer: Accept the westerly end of Sawtelle Road as a public way. Upon recommendation of the WAYS & MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENT was CONFIRMED. Vt. 9 “yeas”. Office of Emergency Management – Communications Unit – Kimberly K. Allen 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 13-34 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “No Parking on Certain Streets” is hereby amended by inserting the following phrase: Spruce Street (north side), starting three hundred and six feet west of the intersection of Spruce Street and Whitney Street, for a distance of one hundred feed from pole number five to pole number four, between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Page 3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 27, 2017, Cont. Under Old Business, Councillor Feckley requested an update on the new police station and would like to know why the Mayor called for a School Department Audit and not a Department of Revenue Audit. Under New Business, Councillor Feckley announced that the Route 13 Improvement Project Public Hearing was being held on Wednesday, November 28, 2017 at 6:00 P.M. in the City Hall Auditorium. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:22 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council Page 4