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Date: 5/23/2022
CHICOPEE – Mayor John Vieau, along with members of the City Council and School Committee, will be meeting with residents of each ward as a part of his spring neighborhood meetings.
The first meeting occurred on May 16 with Ward 1 City Councilor Joel McAuliffe and Ward 1 School Committee member Timothy Wagner at Heights Hall. Vieau said community meetings were a hallmark of previous mayoral administrations, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, he was unable to host the gatherings during his first term.
“It’s something that is traditionally done…I feel that it’s important to hear the point of view of the public,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Vieau intends for each meeting to address specific issues within each ward along with resident’s general concerns around the city. For the first meeting, Vieau, McAuliffe and Wagner discussed the repaving of streets in Ward 1 and the impacts of a trucking company in the area. As for common issues, Vieau anticipates that speeding and the renewed presence of illegal dirt bikers will be focal topics for discussion.
Reflecting on the first neighborhood meeting, McAuliffe considered the gathering productive. “It was a great meeting. There was quite a bit discussed…It’s really an awesome opportunity to really post questions directly to folks,” said McAuliffe during the City Council’s May 17 meeting.
The mayor also expects for other city personnel to attend the meetings, such as department leaders, public safety personnel and other elected officials.
“I want to know how we can work even better on the behalf of our constituents,” said Vieau.
Each meeting will run for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The full meeting schedule for the Spring Neighborhood Meetings is as follows:
Ward 4 and 5 hosted a joint meeting at the RiverMills Senior Center on May 23. City Councilors George Balakier and Fred Krampits were joined by School Committee members Sandra Peret and Grace Schofield.
Ward 3 – May 26 at the Stefanik School Cafeteria. City Councilor Delmarina Lopez and School Committee member Saulo DePaula will be present.
Ward 8 – June 8 at Lambert-Lavoie School. City Councilor Gary Labrie and School Committee member Doug Girouard will be present.
Ward 2 – June 16 at the City Hall Auditorium. City Councilor Shane Brooks and School Committee member Dave Barsalou will be present.
Ward 9 – June 22 at a location that is to be determined. City Councilor Mary-Beth Pniak-Costello and School Committee member Ron Bernard will be present.
Ward 7 – June 23 at Church of New Covenant. City Councilor William Courchesne and School Committee member Donald Lamothe will be present.
Ward 6 – June 29 at Litwin School. City Councilor Derek Dobosz and School Committee member Samuel Shumsky will be present.