Asbestos removal referred to Council's Finance Committee
Date: 3/29/2013
By Aubri Bailly
aubri@thereminder.comCHICOPEE — Asbestos removal at the old Chicopee library is not the highest priority for the City Council, further delaying the School Department's plans to move its administrative offices into the facility.
Mayor Michael Bissonnette requested $230,000 for asbestos removal, a request that the Council voted 12-1 to refer to the Finance Subcommittee at its March 21 meeting.
"We definitely should look into removing the asbestos. I just don't think it's the right time. We have a lot of other open-ended projects," City Council Vice Chair Dino Brunetti said.
School Committee members discussed the issue at length during its meeting March 20, stressing the importance of a new location for administrative offices but not without some debate.
"Depending on the finance and what's going to happen at our next meeting, God only knows because it sounds like they [the City Council] want the School Committee to take a unanimous vote to come down here and I know there's a few of us who just can't do that," School Committee Vice Chair Marjorie A. Wojcik told
Reminder Publications, adding, "I would like to see a plan [about the School Administration Offices]."
School Committee member David Barsalou stated, "I'm pretty sure the City Council knows by now about our sentiments about the possible relocation and also that we want the asbestos removed."
During citizen's speak time, Chicopee resident Joel McAuliffe stressed the need for asbestos removal to the School Committee.
"I think it's extremely important that we act on the issue [to remove the asbestos]. We could see an increase in the cost to remove the asbestos. Asbestos is a poison. Regardless of whether the decision is made to move to the library or another location, it does need to be removed," McAuliffe urged.
The City Council Finance Subcommittee will meet on April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The next School Committee meeting will also meet on April 3 at 6:30 p.m. but in the School Administration Offices on Broadway.
