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| By Paula Canning Staff Writer CHICOPEE The Board of Alderman is waiting for more information before deciding whether to endorse Mayor Richard Goyette's plan to take a Front Street property by eminent domain. Last Tuesday, the Board voted to send the mayor's proposal to the Finance Committee for a public hearing after Goyette briefly explained his intentions for the former Midland Farms grocery store. The property was recently sold to the Holyoke Health Center for $585,000 for the organization to expand its services, now operating out of an overcrowded Exchange Street office. Goyette has said purchasing the property would allow the city to consolidate it's municipal offices there, while providing a space for additional parking for patrons of the main branch of the Chicopee Public Library, which is directly next door to the property. But the Board is waiting to say if they agree with Goyette, and some alderman are already expressing reservations about the purchase. "Many of the [Board] members are definitely skeptical of this," said Aldermanic President Keith Rattell. "It doesn't sound like a very wise financial move on the mayor's part." Rattell sent a memo to Goyette last Friday, informing him that the Finance Committee will not schedule a meeting to address the matter until they have received specific details on the plan for the property. "We don't want to be presented this information on the night of the meeting and then be expected to make a decision right away that's going to affect the city in a huge way for years to come," Rattell said. "I'm curious to see what [Goyette] comes up with that will justify taking the property by eminent domain," said Alderman Jim Tillitson. He said he's waiting on Goyette to hear the facts such as how exactly the building will be used and how costs for the purchase and renovation of the property will be covered. "There are a lot of questions out there about this," Tilliston said. "My position is that I have to have the plan and gets all the facts and then go from there." Alderman Robert Zygarowski, who chairs the Finance Committee, said that he was surprised when he first learned of the city's interest in the property. But after listening to both Goyette and Holyoke Health Center's Executive Director Jay Breines present their views at the meeting last week, he said he's "keeping an open mind". "I listened to both sides and I see both the pros and the cons," Zygarowski said. He said that while he's worried about how the city would finance the renovations for the building, he's also concerned about the city's loss of potential tax dollars with either the city or a non-profit organization owning the property. Zygarowski is also said it seems "unfair" that the city would acquire the property for a purchase price of $550,000, which is $35,000 less than the price paid by the Health Center. "Once we get all of the questions answered, the Finance Committee will take a real good, hard look at this and decide what is best for the city and for the city's taxpayers," he said. |