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Date: 12/3/2018
CHICOPEE – City Council President John Vieau said he would look into why a series of events recently caused problems for direct deposit of paychecks for Chicopee schoolteachers, confusions over dues being taken out of paychecks and other concerns. Vieau reacted to the information shared with the council by Chicopee Education Association President Laura Demakis during the public speak-out portion of the meeting conducted on Nov. 20.
Demakis said the recent problem with paychecks “caused a lot of stress in a lot of people.”
Demakis also relayed to the council what teachers had told her concerning problems with health insurance.
Although she said schoolteachers “don’t want to cause conflict,” she added, “One thing all of these problems have in common is they come from this building [City Hall].”
City Treasurer Marie Laflamme said that she “sensed a lot of frustration.” She told the council she met with Demakis that day and that she was sensitive to the issues brought by the teachers.
“You’re not being ignored,” she told the teachers who sat in the audience.
She did add that “some things you’re being told are not correct … there is definitely a disconnect.”
Vieau said he had been told the delay in making the direct deposits had been an accident.
Human Resources Director Evelyn Rivera-Riffenburg said a new state law required the city to review and obtain new signature cards for the deduction of union dues. She explained many of the signatures were not readable and required teachers to fill out new cards.
Rivera-Riffenburg said there had been “a ton of communication about the issue.”
In other action the council approved two more orders to fund the removal of Lower Bemis Pond in Szot Park.
In a document sent to the city from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs it was noted the dam was identified “a hazard structure in ‘poor condition’” in May 2016. It poses “a risk to public safety, property and infrastructure” if there was a complete failure.
The report continued, “Not only is a threat posed to downstream residents, built structures and the natural landscape, but the city also faces potential for a legal impact if this project is not pursued.”
Councilor George Balakier said addressing the issue now is “a good example of the city being pro-active.”