City Council

Council President Councillors-at-Large David R. Cormier Thomas F. Ardinger Council Vice President Susan Chalifoux-Zephir Pauline M. Cormier Todd M. Deacon Claire M. Freda Ward Councillors Ward 1 – William A. Brady Ward 2 – Pauline M. Cormier Ward 3 – David R. Cormier Ward 4 – Mark C. Bodanza Ward 5 – Peter A. Angelini MINUTES CITY OF LEOMINSTER CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 8, 2022 JOHN P. MAHAN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING, 6:50 PM. 62-22 Pauline Cormier, Ward 2 Councillor, requests stop signs to be placed at the junction of Eighth Street and Spruce Streets, both Northbound and Southbound. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 06/27/2022; Public Hearing 07/11/2022 at 6:45 pm; Further Time; 07/11/2022; Continued Public Hearing 07/25/2022 at 6:50 pm; Continued Public Hearing 08/08/2022 at 6:50 pm; Majority Vote) The public hearing was opened at 6:50 pm. Councillor Pauline Cormier requested that the petition be given leave to withdraw without prejudice. Councilor Angelini, chairman of Legal Affairs, open the public hearing for public comments. No one spoke. The public hearing closed at 6:54 pm. PUBLIC FORUM, 6:55 PM. The public forum is an opportunity for any member of the audience to speak on a matter specifically listed on the Council Agenda. Speakers will be asked to come to the microphone and state their formal name and address along with identifying the specific item(s) they wish to address. Each speaker is respectfully asked to keep their comments within a two (2) minute time frame. The Council will not be responding or answering any questions; however, at the discretion of the Council President, clarification may be given. The public forum opened at 6:55 pm. No one spoke. The public forum closed at 6:56 pm. I. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 7:00 PM. The regular meeting of the City Council opened at 7:00 pm. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ROLL CALL OF COUNCILLORS IN ATTENDANCE Councillor David Cormier, President, Councillor Pauline Cormier, Vice President, Councillor Bodanza, Councillor Ardinger, Councillor Angelini, Councillor Brady, Councillor Chalifoux, Councillor Deacon Councillor, Freda; others present Katelyn Huffman, City Clerk, Maribel Perez, Assistant City Clerk. IV. APPROVAL OF RECORDS - July 25, 2022 – These minutes were approved and placed on file. V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR VI. PETITIONS FIRST TIME ON THE AGENDA VII. MATTERS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL Page 2 VIII. FINANCIAL REPORT The balance of the stabilization fund was $20,446,448.00 IX. FINANCE C-06 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request an appropriation of $227,236 be made to the following expense accounts; the same amount to be from additional state funds released. This is to balance the current year budget. ● Landfill Expense $15,600 (additional maintenance on the property and law care) ● Landfill Expense $7,600 (increase in contract price for the current year) ● Plumbing inspector $445 (Key error in budget process) ● Police drug unit $5,250 (excluded from original departmental budget) ● Police PT Dispatchers $13,500 (excluded from original departmental budget) ● Planning Clerk $1,000 (change in current year rates) ● OPEB health insurance $100,000 (increases due to additional retirements) ● Health insurance $83,841 (increase in costs) (Finance; Regular Course 07/25/2022; Majority Vote) The Finance Committee recommended that the City Council GRANT the communication. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was GRANTED. ORDERED: By a vote of 9-0, the order was ADOPTED. C-07 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request an appropriation of $40,000.00 be made to the I.T.T.F Expense Account; the same amount to be transferred from Stabilization. (Finance; Regular Course 7/25/2022; ⅔ Vote) RE: This is to continue the necessary upgrades to the city wide WIFI network. Page 3  The Finance Committee recommended that the City Council GRANT the communication. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was GRANTED. ORDERED: By a vote of 9-0, the order was ADOPTED. C-08 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request an appropriation of $42,000.00 be made to the Fire Equipment Expense Account; the same amount to be transferred from Stabilization. (Finance; Regular Course 7/25/2022; ⅔ Vote) The Finance Committee recommended that the City Council GRANT the communication. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was GRANTED. ORDERED: By a vote of 9-0, the order was ADOPTED. C-09 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request an appropriation of an estimated $175,000.00 be made to the Police & Dispatch Department Salary & Wages Account; the same amount to be transferred from the Collective Bargaining Expense Account. (Finance; Regular Course 07/25/2022; Majority Vote) The Finance Committee recommended that the City Council GRANT the communication. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was GRANTED. ORDERED: By a vote of 9-0, the order was ADOPTED. Page 4  C-10 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request an appropriation of $464,000.00 be made to the Communication Project Fund; the same amount to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. (Finance; Regular Course 7/25/2022; ⅔ Vote) The Finance Committee recommended that the City Council GRANT the communication. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was GRANTED. ORDERED: By a vote of 9-0, the order was ADOPTED. X. LEGAL AFFAIRS 62-22 Pauline Cormier, Ward 2 Councillor, requests stop signs to be placed at the junction of Eighth Street and Spruce Streets, both Northbound and Southbound. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 06/27/2022; Public Hearing 07/11/2022 at 6:45 pm; Further Time; 07/11/2022; Continued Public Hearing 07/25/2022 at 6:50 pm; Continued Public Hearing 08/08/2022 at 6:50 pm; Majority Vote) The Legal Affairs Committee recommended that the City Council grant the petition leave to withdraw without prejudice. By a vote of 9- 0, the petition was given leave to withdraw without prejudice. XI. PUBLIC SERVICE XII. WAYS AND MEANS Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that the attached list of individuals be appointed as Election Officers. Term to expire August 1, 2023. (Ways and Means; Regular Course 07/25/2022; Majority Vote) The Ways and Means Committee recommended that City Council confirm the appointments of the Election Officers. By a vote of 9-0, the communication was confirmed. Page 5 XIII. NEW BUSINESS Vote to bring the purchasing down to City Council Chambers for an informational meeting relative to 6-year contracts on August 22, 2022, at 6:40 pm. Councillor Bodanza made a motion to bring the purchasing agent down to City Council Chambers for an informational meeting relative to 6-year contracts on August 22, 2022, at 6:40 pm. Councillor Chalifoux-Zephir seconded the motion. By a vote of 9-0, the motion carried. Councillor Brady requested that a citation be made for Judith Sumner and that she be invited to the next meeting to be presented to her. Councillor Brady informed the City Council that it is the first annual celebration of CELLOBRATION. XIV. OLD BUSINESS Councillor Angelini informed the Council that at the last meeting during the discussion of Leominster Day at Polar Park, it was reported that the first pitch was thrown by the mayor and children. It was brought to his attention that the Council President, David Cormier, threw the first pitch. Councillor Angelini welcomed and congratulated the new Assistant City Clerk, Maribel Perez. XV. COMMUNITY CALENDAR XVI. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Chalifoux-Zephir made a motion to adjourn. Councilor Bodanza seconded the motion. The motion was carried by a vote of 9-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Maribel Perez, Assistant City Clerk Page 6