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 SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 JOHN P. MAHAN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PUBLIC HEARING, 6:50 PM C-13 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance updates. This ordinance update to Chapter 16. Personnel. Section 16-30 of the Leominster Revised Ordinances reflects: 1. Leominster Fire Department salary and wage adjustments for the FY 2022 through FY 2024. 2. Leominster Police Department Salary and wage adjustments for the FY2022 through FY 2024. 3. Dispatch salary and wage adjustments for the FY 2022 through FY 2024. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 8/22/2022; Public Hearing 09/12/2022 at 6:50 PM; 2/3 Vote) At 6:50 PM Councillor Angelini informed the City Council that the Mayor’s office contacted him and informed him that they had made a mistake with the initial submittal of the communication. They had omitted the DPW union pay scale. They requested that the City Council amend the communication and add this omitted item. The Legal Affairs Committee recommended that the communication be amended and that the Public Hearing be republished and readvertised for September 26, 2022. PUBLIC FORUM, 6:55 P.M. 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. Councillor David Cormier asked three times if anyone in the audience wished to speak about any matter listed on the agenda. No one spoke. Public Forum ended at 6:56 PM. I. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 7:00 P.M. The regular meeting of the City Council opened at 7:00 PM. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ROLL CALL OF COUNCILLORS IN ATTENDANCE Council President Cormier, Council Vice President Cormier, Councillor Bodanza, Councillor Ardinger, Councillor Angelini, Councillor Brady, Council lor Chalifoux- Zephir, Councillor Deacon, Councillor Freda. All nine members present. Others present: Katelyn Huffman City Clerk and Maribel Perez, Assistant City Clerk. IV. APPROVAL OF RECORDS Approval for the meeting minutes of August 22, 2022, was delayed because some of the Councillors did not have a copy of the minutes in their package for review. These Minutes will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the City Council. - August 22, 2022 Page 2 V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR Money Orders C-14 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request an appropriation of $10,000.00 be made to the Northwest School Library Project Account; the same amount to be transferred from the Stabilization Account. (Finance; Regular Course 09/12/2022; 2/3 Vote) This communication was given Regular Course. C-15 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that an appropriation of $500,000.00 be made to the Street Resurfacing Expense Account; the same amount to be transferred from the Stabilization Account. (Finance; Regular Course 09/12/2022; 2/3 Vote) This communication was given Regular Course. Appointments Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request the appointment of the following individuals to the Office of Emergency Management: Communication Unit: Ronald Girouard 140 Adams Street, Apt 404 Leominster, MA Emergency Operations: Shen Bergeron 54 Richard Road Leominster, MA (Ways & Means; Regular Course 09/12/2022; Interviews 09/26/2022 @ 6:45 PM; Majority Vote) These appointments were given Regular Course and interviews were scheduled for September 26, 2022, at 6:45 PM. Page 3 VI. PETITIONS FIRST TIME ON THE AGENDA 5-23 David Cormier Ward 3 Councillor and Pauline Cormier, Ward 2 Councillor; Request to amend Chapter 13 Section 13-29 of the revised ordinances entitled Handicapped parking spaces and add the following, Two reserved spaces on Summer Street closest to the entrance to Carter Park, opposite 60 Summer Street. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 09/12/2022; Public Hearing 09/26/2022 at 6:50 PM; 2/3 Vote) This petition was given Regular Course with referrals to the Mayor’s office and Traffic Division. By a vote of 9-0 the public hearing was set for September 26, 2022. 6-23 Elizabeth Wood, Planning Director, on behalf of the Planning Board: Request to amend the zoning ordinance pertaining to the parking of unregistered vehicles. See attached letter. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 09/12/2022; Public Hearing Tuesday, 10/11/2022 at 6:50 PM; 2/3 Vote) This petition was given Regular Course with referrals to the Building Inspector and License Commission. By a vote of 9-0 the Public Hearing was set for October 11, 2022, at 6:50 PM. VII. MATTERS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL VIII. FINANCIAL REPORT The balance of the stabilization fund was $19,408,858.00. IX. FINANCE C-11 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that an appropriation of $15,000.00 be made to the Dog Officer Expense Account; the same amount to be transferred from Stabilization. (Finance; Regular Course 08/22/2022; 2/3 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-12 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that an appropriation of $58,000.00 be made to the following Insurance Expense Accounts; the same to be transferred from Stabilization. (Finance; Regular Course 08/22/2022; 2/3 Vote) Risk management $16,000 Liability Insurance $4,000 Workers Compensation $38,000 RE: Due to contract increase 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 Councillor Angelini made a motion to recess, Councillor Ardinger seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by a vote of 9- 0. The meeting went into recess at 7:17 PM. The meeting reconvened at 7:45 PM. The reason for the recess was to allow the Fire Department to discuss the following three items. 2-23 Peter Angelini, Ward 5 Councillor: Request that the City accept the provisions of Massachusetts General law Chapter 32, Section 3, Group- Paragraph allowing EMT’s as members of Group 4. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 08/22/2022; Majority Vote) The Legal Affairs Committee recommended that the City Council Grant the Petition. By a vote 9-0 the petition was GRANTED. 3-23 Peter Angelini, Ward 5 Councillor: Request that the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 111N, Indemnification of EMT’s. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 08/22/2022; Majority Vote) The Legal Affairs Committee recommended that the City Council Grant the Petition. By a vote 9-0 the petition was GRANTED. 4-23 Peter Angelini, Ward 5 Councillor: Request that the City accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 111M, EMTS’s Leave without loss of pay. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 08/22/2022; Majority Vote) Page 5  The Legal Affairs Committee recommended that the City Council Grant the Petition. By a vote 9-0 the petition was GRANTED. C-13 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor; Request that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance updates. This ordinance update to Chapter 16. Personnel. Section 16-30 of the Leominster Revised Ordinances reflects: Leominster Fire Department salary and wage adjustments for the FY 2022 through FY 2024. Leominster Police Department Salary and wage adjustments for the FY2022 through FY 2024. Dispatch salary and wage adjustments for the FY 2022 through FY 2024. (Legal Affairs; Regular Course 8/22/2022 Public Hearing 09/12/2022 at 6:51 PM; Public Hearing 9-26-2022 at 6:51 PM; 2/3 Vote) Councillor Angelini made a motion to amend the communication to add a fourth bullet listing the DPW Salary and Wages pay scale. Councillor Bodanza seconded the motion. By a Roll Call vote of 9-0 the communication was amended. This communication was given Further Time and a Public Hearing was set for September 26, 2022, at 6:51 PM. By a vote of 9-0 this communication was given further Time and the Public Hearing was set. XI. WAYS AND MEANS Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Request the reappointment of Paul Kennedy, to the position of Forest Warden: term to expire 04/15/2024. (Ways & Means; Regular Course 08/22/2022; Majority Vote) The Ways and Means Committee recommended that the City Council confirm the reappointment of Paul Kennedy. By a vote of 9-0 the reappointment was confirmed. XII. NEW BUSINESS Page 6 XIII. OLD BUSINESS XIV. COMMUNITY CALENDAR • Johnny Appleseed Festival Reminder Councillor David Cormier informed the Council that the Johnny Appleseed Festival will take place on September 24, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Councillor Pauline Cormier informed the City Council of the cookout at the Johnny Roe Park. It was held in recognition of the Veterans. Councillor Brady attended the International Veterans Ceremony Chorus at the Common. Councillor Freda spoke in memory of the Leominster lives that were lost in 9/11. Councillor Freda also spoke of Matthew Tidman who was severely beaten at Shirley prison while supervising an inmate. Future fundraisers will be held to help him and his family. XV. ADJOURNMENT Councillor Angelini made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councillor Chalifoux-Zephir seconded the motion. By a vote of 9-0 the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 PM. - Katelyn Huffman, City Clerk Page 7