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Date: 9/15/2021
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee City Council and Chicopee School Committee gathered to name Saulo DePaula as the new Ward 3 School Committee member during a special meeting on Sept 7.
The decision to inaugurate DePaula comes after the recent retirement of Marjorie Wojcik, who served on the School Committee for 36 years. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau spoke to the elected officials about Wojcik’s tenure.
“I’d like to thank Marjorie Wojcik for all her years in service, her dedication to the City of Chicopee and to the School Committee. She’s been an advocate for students for probably her entire life, and it’s something she should be very proud of,” said Vieau. After the mayor nominated DePaula, the council and committee voted unanimously to appoint DePaula to the Ward 3 seat. After Wojcik withdrew her papers in July, DePaula was running unopposed for the position.
After the special meeting, the Chicopee City Council met on Sept 7. to discuss developments since last month’s Aug 3. meeting.
Vieau provided the council with a COVID-19 update during his opening Mayor’s Orders. “What we’re seeing right now, like many other communities, is an increase in COVID-19 cases,” said Vieau. According to the mayor’s data, Chicopee had 323 open cases, with the city incurring around 60 cases over the Labor Day holiday weekend. He also shared that cases are increasing in the 20 to 40 age range.
To address the issue, Vieau stressed the importance of getting vaccinated. “Our goal is to get as many people vaccinated as we can,” said Vieau. Currently, Chicopee has a vaccination rate of 52 percent, which is considered one of the lowest figures in Western Mass., according to Vieau. The mayor highlighted the recent opening of vaccination centers at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Chicopee High School and Bellamy Middle School as areas where all citizens can get vaccinated. With cases increasing, Vieau also shared that the town is in talks to re-open their COVID-19 testing center. While he explained that the town has a site in mind, the final decision will be made after additional meetings.
A critical issue of debate was a recently signed memorandum between the City of Chicopee and the Patrolmen’s Union Massachusetts Coalition of Police (MassCOP). The memorandum will provide bonuses of $142,624 to the Police and Fire Department, with $139,671 being allocated to police and $2,953 going to firefighters. These sums would provide a COVID-19 bonus of around $1,350 for each patrol man, according to City Council member Frank Laflamme.
While the council were in support of the temporary solution, the consensus believed that the measure isn’t providing enough for policemen. “We’re a laughingstock of a lot of the communities I work with…this should be no less than a $10,000 raise for the starting salary,” said William Courchense of Ward 7, who shared that most starting officers make $38,000 to $40,000. The council echoed similar sentiments about the current police salary, with Joel McAuliffe of Ward 1, Courchense and Derek Doboz of Ward 6 agreeing that it needed to be increased to the level of other communities. After discussion, the council unanimously approved the memorandum.
An order on tax breaks for Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation (WMDC) was another focal point. The discussion was moved up after citizen William Smith addressed his concern with WMDC’s lack of financial contribution to the city of Chicopee, stating that the corporation has worked outside of their agreed upon deal. Doboz argued that the group should lose some tax benefits because of the corporation’s inequitable deal with the city.
“Why would the city of Ludlow get a better deal than Chicopee…they are clearly not looking out for the city’s best interest” said Doboz. He explained that WMDC works outside of their charter agreement, leasing different properties while still foregoing any tax payments. In Ludlow, WMDC must pay back taxes for any building that WMDC develops and opens, according to Doboz. McAuliffe explained that city should either acquire the land or put the issue as a referendum on the election ballot. Eventually, the motion was passed to remove some local tax benefits, but it will not become law until further legislation is developed on the issue.
The council also discussed issues with the Center Loop bike path in Chicopee. “Although it was well-intended, I believe it has missed the mark,” said Laflamme. He explained that Center Loop was integrated after the town accepted a quick turnaround grant. Laflamme shared that the bike path affects local businesses negatively due to the lack of parking, asking for the council to consider removing the addition during the council’s next meeting.
Council members James Tillotson and Courchense also believed the bike path wasn’t working, with Courchense citing the bike path as “a mess” to the community after citizens have filed numerous complaints. A motion carried for the final decision on the Center Loop to be made during the next City Council meeting.
The Chicopee City Council will meet again on Sept 21.