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Date: 4/19/2018
CHICOPEE – Collective bargaining was a focal point for this week’s City Council meeting.
The City Council approved an allocation of $77,320.56 with little discussion to help pay for new pending contracts for police patrolmen and women who are members of Local 401 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.
This is the first one of several outstanding contracts to be settled and sent before the council for its approval, Councilor James Tillotson noted.
Aside from Tillotson’s brief comment, the order was approved with no other remarks.
Prior to the meeting, members of the Chicopee Education Association (CEA) conducted an informational picketing outside City Hall with some of the teachers attending the council meeting. During the public speak-out, Charles Clark, president of CEA, told the councilors it seems likely there will be layoffs of teachers this year due to the district’s financial challenges. Last year, 200 “pink slips” were issued, he explained, but nearly all of the affected teachers were called back. This year he feared the laid-off teachers would not all be called back.
He then explained the teachers pay for their health insurance for a full year and if laid off the district is still obligated to provide health insurance until through July and August as the insurance has been paid.
In other action, the Council approved an allocation of $16,000 for a hazardous waste disposal day on April 28. Chicopee residents are to safely dispose a variety of items that can not be accepted in the regular trash pickup. Residents will have to register for an appointment and there will be 180 scheduled times.
Mayor Richard Kos asked people to sign up, but also asked those people who may not be able to keep the appointment to relinquish their time so someone else could use the time. Waste Management is sponsoring the program and will be reimbursing the city.
To register, residents should go to http://www.chicopeema.gov/783/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Collection-Day.
Among the items that should be brought ot the collection day are: antifreeze, automotive fluids, watch and hearing aid batteries, drain cleaners, dry gas, flea killers, gasoline, kerosene, insecticides, herbicides, motor oil, paint thinners and other solvents, spot removers, swimming pool chemicals, wood stains and toilet bowl cleaners.
The web page also has an extensive list of what will not be accepted. That list includes latex and other water-based paints, aerosol cans, ammunition, car waxes, polishes and cleaners, cosmetics, explosives, smoke detectors, medical waste, fertilizer and propane tanks.
Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation letter five to seven days before the event.