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Alderman await plan for Front Street property

By Paula Canning

Staff Writer



CHICOPEE Nearly two months have passed since Mayor Richard Goyette announced his intentions to take a Front Street property by eminent domain for city use and according to Aldermanic President Keith Rattell, the Board of Alderman is anxiously awaiting Goyette's complete proposal and detailed plans for the former Midland Farms grocery store.

Rattell said that since Goyette's Sept. 6 briefing to the Board regarding his decision to seize the property, Rattell has sent him three letters requesting a copy of his plans so that the Board could move forward with their decision.

The property was recently purchased by Holyoke Health Center Inc. at a price of $585,000 to expand its services, now operating out of an overcrowded Exchange Street office.

Goyette has said that seizing the property would allow the city to consolidate its municipal offices there, while providing a space for additional parking for patrons of the adjacent Chicopee Public Library.

Rattell said that, while he doesn't think acquiring the property is in the best interest of the city, the prolonged wait for more information "isn't doing anything," to help persuade him otherwise.

In his Oct. 25 letter to Goyette, Rattell wrote, "Your desire to take this parcel affects a great number of people, not only public, but private industry as well. It's been almost two months with no plan or response from you or your office.

"With everyone's best interest in mind, I hereby request a final time the information needed for the Finance Committee to make an informed and educated decision with regard to this property."

Rattell said he has not received a response from Goyette or anyone else in his office, and that he is no longer sure if the mayor intends to pursue the issue.

"There as been no communication," he said. "He hasn't done anything to indicate his wishes."

But Goyette said he is "very interested in moving forward," with this plans, and will be submitting a report "immediately following the election."

"Being as it's very close to the election, obviously certain people attempt to make issues out of these types of things," he said.

He added that it is "unfortunate," that it has become political and that what he has done is to try to "take the politics out of it."

Rattell said that the Board has been "extremely fair and patient with waiting for the information," from Goyette.

He also said that taking a piece of land by eminent domain is a "very serious" gesture that is typically "reserved for emergency purposes."

Moreover, Rattell said he is concerned about the kind of message that taking a property by eminent domain sends to private industries considering making Chicopee their home.

In talking to other Board members, Rattell also said that he has found that several alderman are "curious" as to why Goyette has not submitted his plans.

"Out of fairness to everyone we have got to move forward," he said. "The Board is waiting for the information so that we can do our job and act responsibly. He's keeping a lot of people in limbo. I really hope he provides us with the information as soon as possible."