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Aldermen reject two of mayor's proposals

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE Mayor Michael Bissonnette didn't fare very well with the Chicopee Board of Aldermen on Thursday night as the board rejected his efforts to take the first step to consolidate the Department of Public Works (DPW) and other city building and infrastructure services into one building.

The board also nixed an ordinance change the mayor proposed in the legal definition of a nursing home that would have included housing projects for people over 55 and assisted living facilities.

In April at a meeting conducted at the Chicopee Library, Bissonnette and DPW head Stan Kulig detailed a plan in which the city would purchase the Rock-Tenn building at 77 Champion Dr. to be used as the new DPW facility. Kulig said, at the time, that to consolidate the department at its Baskin Drive location would cost nearly $20 million as opposed to nearly $7 million to buy and renovate the Rock-Tenn building.

The proposal was part of Bissonnette's larger plan to create more convenience for city residents and greater efficiencies for departments by grouping them in a logical way. The new DPW building would house not only the DPW but also the office of the building commissioner, the Water Department and other related offices.

The Rock-Tenn building has been bought in the meantime, but Bissonnette has said the owners are interested in finding a tenant, possibly the city.

What Bissonnette wanted the board to approve was the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a structure large enough to fulfill his proposal. The RFP would give the owners of the Rock-Tenn building the opportunity to bid a leasing agreement.

It was the issue of renting rather than buying that stopped the proposal. Led by Alderman James Tillotson, the board, with the exceptions of Aldermen Jean Croteau and John Vieau, voted against the proposal.

"They could never write the lease tight enough to protect the city's interests," Tillotson said.

Alderman Ronald Belair said the interest in leasing the Rock-Tenn property went against a previous stance Bissonnette had taken against leasing.

Alderman George Moreau complained, the mayor had "dropped it on us at the last minute."

Bissonnette was in Washington D.C. at the time and therefore had not conducted his usual briefing with the board prior to its meeting.

Tillotson said there are greater physical plant priorities in the city such as the public safety complex. Several of the aldermen agreed.

In other action, instead of the board accepting Bissonnette's ordinance change for the definition of a nursing home, it took the first step in approving an ordinance change proposed by Tillotson that would establish separate legal definitions for assisted living facilities and senior housing developments. Alderman Shane Brooks said the change would mean residents would have greater control in approving projects in their neighborhoods.