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Date: 10/4/2018
CHICOPEE – The City Council accepted a $500,000 grant that will assist the city to pay for its combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) efforts.
The grant came from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. The funding is to be used for the sewer separation for the Baystate and Clarendon streets.
The Council also approved a re-appointment of City Engineer Elizabette Botelho as the Acting Department of Public Works Superintendent effective Sept. 27 and good for 60 days.
Mayor Richard Kos told the council the job search is still open, but he expects Botelho to serve through the winter with additional re-appointment.
“My intent is not to disturb operations in the winter,” he explained.
Councilor Stan Walczak said she has been doing “a great job” and the appointment is “well deserved.”
The council also approved a resolution that designated a Tax Increment Exemption for the Silverbrick Group LLC redevelopment of the Cabotville Industrial Park into housing.
The development will receive a property tax exemption based on the growth portion in the FY19 assessed value when the first Certificate of Occupancy is granted. From year one through 10 the exemption is 75 percent and from year 11 through 15 it will be 10 percent.
“This is a home run for that part of the city,” Councilor Frank Laflamme said.
The council voted to keep the report from the Finance Committee on file and return the proposal for a new garage for sanitation trucks to the mayor’s office for grater clarification about design and cost before approved $100,000 for design and bidding.
Councilor Shane Brooks said the committee had a “fairly robust discussion” about the proposed garage.
Councilor James Tillotson advocated for the rental of hanger space at Westover Air Reserve Base to house the trucks as a “short term solution until we come up with what we want to do.”
The motion to give the mayor “greater flexibility” to negotiate health care costs with the city’s unions was passed with two councilors Joel McAuliffe and William Corchesne voting against the motion.
Brooks said the measure was a way to realize cost savings to the city.
Councilor Joel McAuliffe refused supporting the measure as the city’s labor unions oppose the change. He suggested taking up the proposal at a later date.
Tillotson disputed that labor unions are upset with the city based on experiences he has had in the past.
“We just don’t represent labor, we represent the taxpayers … we represent both,” Tillotson added.
City Councilor President Vieau said the option only is available when a stalemate is met between the city and collective bargaining units.
The council also voted to put “under advisement” a motion to conduct a public hearing to “discuss the merits of a Charter revision changing the date of the annual municipal elections form the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November to the first Saturday in November.
McAuliffe explained he had wanted to see if changing the municipal election to a Saturday would increase participation. The proposed move would not affect state or federal elections.
Brooks said the city already offers ready voting and absentee ballots and did not see the need for a proposed move. City Clerk Keith Rattell said early voting is only for state and federal elections.
Councilor Robert Zygarowski expressed concern elderly voters would be confused.
Tillotson said to encourage greater voter participation elementary school teachers should have their students write a note home to their parents asking them to vote. He asserted parents would respond to this reminder.
“We would see a 10 to 15 percent increase [in participation],” Tillotson predicted.