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Date: 12/9/2020
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee City Council met on Dec. 1 to discuss a variety of finance approvals, permit approvals, special ordinances and more.
The meeting opened with public input where there was one withdrawal of a Special Permit application. It then went into Mayor’s Orders.
The council approved a sum of $6,441.04 to the Human Resources Special Account for Indemnification of Police and Fire from available funds in the Stabilization Fund. According to the council, these are routine expenses and nothing out of the ordinary.
There was also discussion of a Mayor’s Order to approve the Falls Village Housing Development Zone and implement Tax Increment Exemptions in the zone.
This order works to create a housing development zone in the Chicopee Falls area. It also gives tax exemptions to builders coming in to build market-rate housing. It specifically only applies to market-rate housing. According to the council, Chicopee has been designated as a Gateway Community by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
City Clerk Keith Rattell read the mayor’s order which stated the building of market-rate housing is an important economic strategy, creates long term financial growth of Chicopee, brings new residents to the city, creates new tax revenue, provides additional disposable income to support retail and more.
Before moving onto special permits and ordinances, Lester T. Gagne was reappointed as a member of the Mobile Home Rent Control Board.
One permit approval of note was granted to Theory Wellness, a cannabis store located in Chicopee. The permit tentatively approved a drive-up fulfillment at Theory Wellness with some conditions. The drive-up will be by appointment only, and all items will be prepaid. Scheduled pickups shall not exceed 30 per hour and applicants shall apply with all requirements.
St. Stanislaus also applied for a permit to limit parking in front of their office for one hour only, Monday through Friday. This will give people an easy place to park to go in and out of the office quickly without dealing with a full parking lot during worship times. This permit was approved.
In total, there were 11 ordinance committee reports discussed and five license committee reports. A majority of the ordinance committee reports consisted of approval of prohibited parking signs, parking regulation signs and handicap parking notices.
One local automotive shop is on the verge of losing their license if they don’t comply with city regulations, as discussed by the council. Murray Automotive has to meet requirements given by the license committee or else their license will be revoked. The license committee has talked to the owner multiple times about necessary changes and has seen no progress, said the council. According to multiple members of the council, this is the last straw for the automotive shop.
The meeting then went into routine license renewals. To end, Councilor Joel McAuliffe spoke of an appearance by fellow Councilor George Balakier and his wife Kathy Balakier on Spectrum News.
McAuliffe told the public that the Balakiers went on the local news to discuss how Kathy is currently ill and looking for a donation of a liver.
The Balakiers are looking for someone for Type O blood to be a potential match. Those who think they could be of help are encouraged to reach out to the council.