City Council

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JANUARY 08, 2018 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 from December 11, 2017 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. The following COMMUNICATIONS were received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-26 Relative to the appropriation of $142,000.00 to the Highway Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. C-27 Relative to the appropriation of $225,000.00 to the I.T.T.F. Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JANUARY 08, 2018, Cont. The following APPOINTMENTS were received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. Board of Health – Nicole Pare – Term to expire April 15, 2021 Library Board of Trustees – James Despo – Term to expire April 15, 2021 Emergency Management – Communications Unit – David Thomas, Jr. The following PETITION was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. 28-18 Richard M. Marchand: Amend the Rules and Procedure and Order of Committees Rule #3 – Committees, to reduce the number of members from five to three on the Public Safety & Traffic and Legal Affairs Committees. Upon request of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE the following PETITIONS were given FURTHER TIME. Vt. 9/0 14-18 John P. Bulger & Dorothy Rouleau 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 (Hearing Continued to January 22, 2017 at 7:00 P.M.) 18-18 David R. Cormier: Install a stop sign on Queens Road against west bound drivers at Dogwood Road. 19-18 David R. Cormier: Place a stop sign on Jay Avenue against southbound drivers at Beth Avenue. 20-18 David R. Cormier: Place a stop sign on Beth Avenue against northbound drivers at Debbie Drive. 21-18 David R. Cormier: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-66.6 entitled “Senior Citizen Parking” and repeal this section. 22-18 David R. Cormier: Create a left turn prohibition on Albert Drive, northwest bound to Central Street southbound. 23-18 David R. Cormier: Install a stop sign on Albert Drive against southwest bound drivers at Central Street. 24-18 David R. Cormier: Install a yield sign facing drivers on Albert Drive heading northwest bound onto Central Street. 25-18 David R. Cormier: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-79 entitled “Yield Signs” to reflect the existing signs as follows:  Litchfield Street – facing drivers on the exit to Litchfield Street from Central Street northbound.  Litchfield Street – facing drivers exiting Litchfield Street heading southbound on Central Street. 26-18 David R. Cormier: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-77 entitled “Stop Signs” by deleting the following:  Tanzio Road against eastbound and westbound drivers at Aspinwall Avenue.  Graham Street against east and westbound drivers at Central Street.  Litchfield Street against southwest bound drivers at Central Street  Willard Street, against northeast bound drivers at Lancaster Street.  Viscoloid Avenue against southbound drivers at Lancaster Street.  Whitney Street against northeast and southwest bound drivers at Mechanic Street.  Whitney Street against northeast and southwest bound drivers at Water Street.  Lindell Avenue against eastbound and westbound drivers at Merriam Avenue.  Washington Street against northeast and southeast bound drivers at Merriam Avenue.  Bel Air Heights against eastbound drivers at Old Mill Road. Page 2 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JANUARY 08, 2018, Cont.  Aspinwall Avenue against northbound drivers at Malburn Street.  Johnson Street, northwest bound entering Viscoloid Avenue.  Johnson Street, southwest bound entering Viscoloid Avenue.  Day Street, against southwest bound drivers at Main Street.  North Street, against east and westbound drivers at Main Street.  Mill Street, against westbound drivers at Haws Street.  Mill Street, against westbound drivers entering Haws Street.  Park Street, against southbound drivers at Monument Square  River Street, against northwest bound drivers at Hamilton Street.  River Street, against southeast bound drivers at Main Street.  Nichols Street, against northbound drivers at North Main Street.  Lindell Avenue, against eastbound drivers at North Main Street.  Cross Street, against westbound drivers at Central Street. 27-18 David R. Cormier: Amend Chapter 13, Section 13-77 entitled “Stops Signs” to reflect the following existing stop signs:  Bainbridge Street against southeast bound drivers at Willard Street.  Graham Street against westbound drivers at Union Street.  Gamache Lane against southbound drivers at Grant Street.  Decicco Drive against northbound drivers at Union Street.  Grant Street against eastbound drivers at Central Street.  Research Drive against eastbound drivers at Central Street.  Emerson Lane against northbound drivers at Holland Woods Road.  Holland Woods Road against westbound drivers at Pleasant Street.  Walden Court against northbound drivers at Holland Woods Road.  Tanzio Road against northeast bound drivers at Lancaster Street.  Tanzio Road against east bound drivers at Malburn Street.  Bel Air Heights against westbound drivers at Legate Hill Road.  Samoset Drive against southeast bound drivers at Willard Street.  Spindletop Drive against southwest bound drivers at Samoset Drive.  Ballard Court against northwest bound drivers at Samoset Drive.  Keeneland Circle against southeast bound drivers at Samoset Drive.  Candlewood Drive against northwest bound drivers at Keeneland Circle.  Candlewood Drive against eastbound drivers at Willard Street.  Samoset Drive against northeast bound drivers at Candlewood Drive (intersection closest to Willard Street).  Candlewood Drive against southeast bound and northwest bound drivers at Samoset Drive.  Samoset Drive against southwest bound and northeast bound drivers at Candlewood Drive. Councillor Bodanza, Chair of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, read the Financial Report for the City into the record. Account balances are as follows: Stabilization Account: $10,892,544.00 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt. 9 “yeas”. C-24 Relative to the appropriation of $14,300.00 to the Highway Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($14,300.00) be appropriated to the Highway Department Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATION was GRANTED. Vt. 9/0 C-25 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request that the City Council allow the deficit spending of the Snow and Ice Expense Account in the amount not to exceed $250,000.00 as authorized by M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 31D. Page 3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, JANUARY 08, 2018, Cont. Upon recommendation of the WAYS AND MEANS & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENT was CONFIRMED. Vt. 8/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. Disability Commission – David R. Cormier – Term to expire 4/15/2019 The following ORDINANCE was read once and ADOPTED as presented. 1st Reading Ordinance - Amend Chapter 22 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Zoning” by amending Section 22-14 entitled “Adoption and Amendment” by deleting and replacing said section. The following ORDINANCE was read once, ADOPTED as presented and ordered published. A hearing was set for January 22, 2018 at 6:50 P.M. Vt. 9 “yeas” 1st Reading Ordinance - Amend Chapter 13 of the Revised Ordinances entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic” by amending Section 13-77 entitled “Stop Signs” by inserting Queens Road, against eastbound drivers at Dogwood Road. The following RESOLUTION was received, referred to the WAYS AND MEANS & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. RESOLUTION – To enter into a Tax Increment Financing Agreement between the City of Leominster and Process Cooling Systems, Inc. located at 800 Research Drive, Map 503, Lot 3-10. Under old business, Councillor Chalifoux Zephir requested the Mayor provide information on the Open Space Fund regarding the current balance of the account and detail of all expenditures to date. Councillor Feckley requested further elaboration on the information presented by the Mayor and Chief Assessor earlier in the evening relative to the qualification of tax classification. Under new business, Councillor Feckley read the following letter into the record: December 18, 2017 Leominster City Council Dear Council Members, I would like to advise you of my retirement effective June 29, 2018. During my remaining six months I would be happy to assist you in your selection of a new City Clerk. My hope is for a smooth transition, so please let me know if there is anything I can do to facilitate that. I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve as your City Clerk. The support you have given me during my tenure is very much appreciated. Sincerely, Lynn A. Bouchard City Clerk Councillor Feckley provided an overview of the process that will take place in the search for a new City Clerk. Councillor Marchand requested a subcommittee meeting to be scheduled with an invitation to the Human Resources Director and the City Clerk to establish the process for the search of a new City Clerk. Once the job description is ready to publish, he also requested that the committee provide a copy to the City Council. A committee meeting was established for the Finance Committee on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 5:00P.M. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter, a vote was taken to have the Planning Director attend the January 24, 2018 Finance Subcommittee Meeting to discuss zoning of recreational marijuana. Vt. 9/0 Councillor Freda mentioned that she had heard from a few new businesses that have told her that they have been held up by a month or more by the electric company. She said she would coordinate with Councillor Pauline Cormier, Chairperson of the Small Business and Economic Development Committee to have them come to an upcoming meeting to discuss this issue. Councillor Chalifoux Zephir announced that the Library has hired a new Director, Sandra Murphy. Councillor Marchand suggested for her to invite the Director to an upcoming meeting to introduce her to the public. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:21 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council Page 4