Moreau sees new police station being approved

Date: 6/20/2012

June 20, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — City Council President George Moreau said the recent vote by the City Council not to purchase a piece of land for a new police station "doesn't stop the process at all."

Moreau said the property owned by Yves Demers "wasn't clean enough, environmentally" and the council didn't want the city to be responsible for a brownfield cleanup. He said councilors were concerned the city would be "left holding the bag" for the cost of preparing the property for construction.

Moreau believes a new police station would ultimately be located near the new senior center on the former Facemate property. He noted the city would incur no expense for the property and it is "the cleanest portion [of the Uniroyal/Facemate location] so far.

Police Chief John Ferraro Jr. has long advocated for a new police headquarters and Moreau the councilors, "want to do it as soon as possible."

"The building is not the best area to work in," Moreau said. "It's antiquated."

Although Moreau said that his colleagues have suggested various budgets for the new building, he believes the range is $10 to $15 million. Because some of the city's bonds for other projects will be completed this year, Moreau said the city could afford to build the new station.

Moreau said the immediate concern of the council is passing the new fiscal budget by June 30. Budget hearings have begun and he said, while he can't speak for the rest of the council, he "doesn't see any big issues" in Mayor Michael Bissonnette's proposed budget.

Bissonnette submitted his budget for fiscal year 2013 to the council on June 11. In a statement he posted on Facebook, the mayor wrote, "Last night I submitted the fiscal 2013 budget to the City Council. No layoffs for police, fire, DPW [Department of Public Works] or teachers, no reductions in services, no trash fees, no athletics fees. City funding is up due to $1.8 million in pensions/health insurance. Schools up $2.9 million with increase in state aid for education. Sewer and water about the same (for the last time due to EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] mandates that we have to pay for). We will use about $1.2 million in stabilization funds to balance the budget and cut tax increase in half (from $150 per household on average to about $75 — depends upon your assessed value)."

Bissonnette also announced a new bond rating of A+ from Standard & Poor's meaning the city could borrow money at the rate of three-tenths of one percent.

Last year's budget process was marked by cuts made to the mayor's staff by the council and very contentious discussions.

"I think people in the city don't want conflict," Moreau said.

He said the only question he has heard from councilors concern seeing the job descriptions for several of the new positions in the budget.

The council recently restored the chief of staff position it cut from the mayor's staff.

Moreau did call for greater communication between the mayor and the council.