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Date: 8/9/2018
CHICOPEE – The City Council approved a motion to send a charter change in the form of home rule petition to the Legislature on Aug. 7 that would pave the way for reorganizing the Water Department.
“This has been in the works for over 20 years,” City Councilor James Tillotson said.
“What we are asking here is to be able to control it with ordinances which would clearly define the Water Department as part of the Department of Public Works (DPW),” Tillotson explained.
He added the charges that Mayor Richard Kos would be given more power with the passage of these changes is false, Tillotson said.
He said the city has been operating under a law formed in 1892.
There are only three water commissioners and Tilotson asserted there were times “nothing got done” because of a lack of having a quorum.
The Water Department is currently under the auspices of the DPW, but only because the three Water Commissioners voted to do so. The commission could vote to take the Water Department back out, several councilors said.
The change in the city’s charter would give the City Council the power to write ordinances that would govern the Water Department.
Tillotson said the independence of the Water Department has been a problem in light of the EPA mandate concerning combined sewer overflow (CSO). One commission covering both under the DPW would give the city more control in tackling the CSO issue, he added.
Councilor Fred Krampits said the vote was just for “a first step” to secure a home rule petition that would then allow the council to write ordinances defining the new Water Department.
Councilor Joel McAuliffe opposed approval because in part there is no permanent DPW head to advise the council. He believes there should be additional checks and balances with the separate departments.
Councilor Derek Dobosz also voiced opposition to the ordinance change and expressed the idea the Water Department would be a separate entity such as Chicopee Electric Light Department.
In other action, the City Council sent an allocation for $100,400 for the design and bidding of a storage garage to be used for sanitation and recycling vehicles to the Finance Committee for additional consideration.
Councilor Frank Laflamme explained the council has been “going around and around” the issue of the building. He said there are many questions about the garage.
Tillotson said the $104,00 was “just a foot in the water in a big pond.” He also questioned whether or not the trucks in question would actually benefit from being in a warm structure.
The council also approved $97,250 for a crack sealing program in the city’s streets. Streets that would be treated include Britton Street, Sheridan Street, Westover Road, New Ludlow Road, Syrek Street, James Street, Dale Street, Granby Road, Shaw Park Avenue, Roy Street, Lorraine Street, Stedman Street, Vivian Street, Irene Street and Prospect Street.