City Council

CITY OF LEOMINSTER SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY 19, 2018 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL OF COUNCILLORS IN ATTENDANCE Seven (7) Councillors present, including Councillors Richard Marchand, Claire Freda, Thomas Ardinger, Pauline Cormier, David Cormier, John Dombrowski and Mark Bodanza. Councillor Gail Feckley was absent. Others Present: City Solicitor Brian Riley. Motion was made at 7:33 P.M for recess to wait for Councillor Susan Chalifoux-Zephir. 7:36 P.M. Meeting was back in session. Councillor Susan Chalifoux was not able to attend meeting. RECONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF 1ST READING ORDINANCE Relative to the reconsideration the adoption of the first reading ordinance relative to amending Article XVIII, Section 22-105 of the Leominster Zoning Ordinance to include language regarding recreational marijuana facilities. (Legal Affairs 40-18, 2/3 Vote to qualify). Council President Marchand clarified the process, the reason for a special meeting, why it has occurred, why the City Solicitor is involved and how it qualified to lead to tonight meeting. Councillor Freda raised a question regarding Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure on Special Meetings. The rules state that written notice must be delivered in hand or to the place of residence or business of each member at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set, and which includes notice of the subject(s) to be acted upon at such meeting. She also mentioned that a public forum was not listed on the agenda. Attorney Brian Riley responded that Rule 1 pre dates modern times. An email of the special meeting was sent to the Councillors and he felt that it should be sufficient but cited that the rules should be changed in the future. A motion was made by Councillor Mark Bodanza, seconded by Councillor David R. Cormier to Suspend the Rules for the public forum requirement and hand delivery notice. Councillor Freda stated that she was upset because she wanted her petition for a moratorium on tonight’s meeting and was denied. Council President Marchand responded that he only wanted one item on the Special Meeting and stated that the moratorium was not an emergency. Page | 1  CITY OF LEOMINSTER SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY 19, 2018 MINUTES A motion was made by Councillor Bodanza, seconded by Councillor D. Cormier for Suspension of the Rules to have a public forum and public hearing notice. By a vote of 5/2, five (5) “yeas” Councillor Marchand, D. Cormier, P. Cormier, Ardinger, and Bodanza, Dombrowski, two (2) “nays” Councillors Feckley and Freda, to suspend the rules. A motion was made by Councillor D. Cormier, seconded by P. Cormier, to recess and have a public forum. PUBLIC FORUM, 8:07 P.M. Tim Hardigan of 19 Pierce Ave ADJOURNMENT 8:11 P.M. Respectfully Submitted Titi Siriphan Assistant City Clerk Page | 2  CITY OF LEOMINSTER SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY 19, 2018 MINUTES Page | 3