C I T Y   O F   S P R I N G F I E L D

                City Clerk's Office     May 16, 2012

I hereby notify you that at twelve o'clock noon today the following items of business had been filed with this office and can be acted upon at the meeting in City Council Chambers, Room 200 at City Hall, 36 Court Street, Monday evening May 21, 2012 at seven o'clock according to Section 12, Rules and Orders of the City Council.

Roll Call

Present: Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; Absent Councilor E. Henry Twiggs

Moment of Silence

Pledge of Allegiance

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR

(1.)       Statement of Revenues and Expenses and Other Sources Period Ending 4/30/12 (Mayor) - Read and Patrick Burns, City Comptroller made presentation to the City Council relative to the period ending 4/30/12 with the City Council and the Report shows a balance budget for FY12.  Councilor Allen asked why the real estate and personal property taxes shows a decrease from $168 million to $163 million reflect a payment of $5 million into the Assessors’ overlay account to pay for abatements.  Councilor Allen also asked about the debt service being at 98% Mr. Burns stated that debt services is paid twice a year in September and March and that the reason for 98% rate of usage and has a small payment due in June which has been budgeted for FY12.  Councilor Allen asked if there would be a surplus this year and Mr. Burns said that City anticipate a $700 thousand dollars surplus for FY12.  Council received the Report by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent and he Report was put on file for the Finance Committee to discussion.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

(1A.)    The City Council General Government Committee met on May 17, 2012 (Councilors Lysak, Edwards, Luna and Councilor Allen also was in attendance) and Councilor Lysak gave a verbal and written report stating that the Committee had met with the Finance Team and Wayman Lee, City Clerk to discuss increasing some pf the clerk fees.  Clerk Lee said the fees has not been increased since 2004 and he was looking to increase the following fees: physician, tag sales, charitable solicitations, raffle and dog licenses and he would be bring a complete list of the Clerk fees for review and increases to the Council in July, 2012.  Council received the Report by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

(1B.)    The City Council Planning and Economic Development Committee met on May 21, 2012 (Councilors Williams, Shea and Luna) and Councilor Williams gave a verbal report stating that the Committee had met with MyRon Hatchett and Vincent Walsh to review their confirmation appointments to the Historical Commission.  The Committee reviewed the resumes of Mr. Hatchett and Mr. Walsh and unanimously referred their appointments to the full Council for confirmation.  Council received the Report by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

MyRon Hatchett was confirmed as a member of the Historical Commission by the following roll call vote: Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

Vincent Walsh was confirmed as a member of the Historical Commission by the following roll call vote: Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(1C.)    The Council Ad-Hoc Springfield Casino Site Committee met on May 15, 2012 (Paula Meara, Chairperson, James J. Ferrera, Bud L. Williams, Timothy Rooke, Timothy C.  Allen, Zaida Luna, William Pepin, Dr. Martin Markey, Maurice Thomas, Martin Loughman, Theresa Moses, Dr. Bobbie Rennix, Richard O’Connor, Reginald Green and Charles Wellington) and Chairperson Paula Meara gave a verbal report stating that the Committee had met for the first time to organize and had elected William Pepin as Vice Chair and Richard O’Connor, Vice Chair-Clerk to take minutes and would work with the Law Department to review the law and help the City chosen a site.  Council received the Report by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

FINANCIAL ORDERS

(2.)       Transfer $49,430 from Comptroller – Reserve for Contingency to Building Code Enforcement - Salaries and Wages (Mayor) - Read the first time and Rule 19 suspended and an explanation was given by Stephen Desilets, Commissioner of the Code Enforcement Department and T J Plante, Director of Finance that the transfer of $49,430 from Comptroller – Reserve for Contingency to Building Code Enforcement – Salaries & Wages is to fund a regular position for the remainder of the fiscal year.  The position was needed after the June 1, tornado to conduct building inspections of damages homes and commercial structures and read a second time and passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(3.) Transfer $2,431,556.00 from Certified Free Cash – Other Financing Uses to Stabilization Financial Reserves – Other Financing Sources (Mayor) - Read the first time and Rule 19 suspended and an explanation was given by T J Plante, Director of Finance that the transfer of $2,431,556.00 from Certified Free Cash – Other Financing Uses to Stabilization Financial Reserves – Other Financing Sources is money certified by the Department of Revenue for FY11.  The total amount for FY11 was $4,698,933, however, $809,077 was used for June 1 Tornado deficits and $1,458,300 was used for FY12 deficits leaving a balance of $2,431,556.00 bring the total amount in Stabilization $40,094,054.  Councilor Williams stated that when Mayor’s budget comes to the Council he will be asking the City to use more money reserves because it “raining” in Springfield, however, Councilor Fenton disagreed stating that we should not be “blowing” through the reserves and read a second time and passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL

(4.)       Special Permit – 235 Berkshire Ave – Petitioner Requesting “Leave to Withdraw Without Prejudice” - Read and an explanation was given by City Clerk Wayman Lee that the Clerk office had received a written request from the Petitioner asking for “Leave to Withdraw Without Prejudice” because the tenant has lost a major contract and would not be moving to building and City Council granted “Leave to Withdraw Without Prejudice” by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

NEW BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL

ORDERS

(5.)       Authorizing the Expenditure of Grant Funds in the Amount of $6,600 on behalf of the Police Department (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Domenic Pellegrino, Comptroller Police Department that the grant was from Executive Office of Public Safety and Security “FFY12 Traffic Enforcement “Click it or Ticket” Grant” in the amount of $6,600.00 to fund 2 mobilizations at $3,300 each between May 14 and September 30, 2012 and the Order passed by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

(6.)       Authorizing the Expenditure of Grant Funds in the Amount of $70,000 on behalf of the Fire Department (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Chris Starzynski, Assistant Director of Emergency Preparedness stating that the grant is from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $70,000 to purchase equipment and supplies for the operation center and to buy a trailer to house the supplies and the Order passed by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

(7.)       Authorizing the Donation of Additional Goods (4,806 New Blankets) Valued at Approximately $100,000 on behalf of Springfield Fire Department - Emergency Preparedness from Charity Services International (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Chris Starzynski, Assistant Director of Emergency Preparedness stating that the donation is from Charity Services International, Fighter’s Support Services Division donating an additional 4,806 new emergency cold weather blankets valued at approximately $100,000 and the Order passed by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

(8.)       Authorizing the Mayor to Execute and Deliver a Quitclaim Deed re: WS Liberty Street to Better Homes Inc. (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Tina Quagliato from the Office of Housing that the property was being transferred to an abutter Better Homes, Inc. for green spaces for the amount of $5,000.00 and the Order passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(9.)       Authorizing the Mayor to Execute and Deliver a Quitclaim Deed re: NS Quincy Street  to Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Inc. (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Tina Quagliato from the Office of Housing that the property was being transferred to Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for a single family house for the amount of $5,000 and the Order passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(10.)     Authorizing the Mayor to Execute and Deliver a Quitclaim Deed re: SS Locust Street to City View Commons II, L.P. (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Tina Quagliato from the Office of Housing that the property was being transferred to an abutter City View Commons II Limited Partnership for green spaces and parking for the amount of $1,001.00 and the Order passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(11.)     Authorizing the Mayor to Seek Legislation Entitled “Order Seeking Approval of Act to Exchange Land” (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Kathleen Breck, Deputy City Solicitor that the City is exchanging certain parcel land for parking to Glenshane 1, LLC. known as the NS Garfield Street and Glenshane 1, LLC is exchanging 2 parcels of land to the City adjacent to the new Forest Park Middle School and the exchange has to be approved by the General Court and the Order passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

(12.)     Authorizing the Mayor to Seek Legislation Entitled “Order Amending a Prior Order and Special Act” (Mayor) - Read and an explanation was given by Kathleen Breck, Deputy City Solicitor that General Court had requested some technical changes to the exchange of the Hubbard Park and Plastic Park lands between UniFirst Corporation and the City approved by the City Council on December 12, 2011 and the Order passed by the following roll call vote: Yes, Twelve (12) Councilors Clodo Concepcion, Kateri B. Walsh, Kenneth E. Shea, Melvin A. Edwards, Bud L. Williams, Michael A. Fenton, John A. Lysak, Zaida Luna, Timothy C. Allen, Timothy J. Rooke, Thomas M. Ashe, James J. Ferrera, III; No, None (0); Absent One (1) Councilor E. Henry Twiggs.

ORDINANCES

(13.)     Acceptance Revised Code of Ordinances (Ferrera) - Read and an explanation was given by Wayman Lee, City Clerk that that Order is to accept a codification of the City new Code of Ordinances and this is the first time the Code of Ordinances has been updated since 1986.  The Code of Ordinances will be internet based by General Code and searchable by chapter, keywords or phrases and the Order passed by a majority voice vote with Councilor E. Henry Twiggs absent.

MATTERS LAID ON THE TABLE

Special Permit – 603 Hendee Street – No Action Taken

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Possible Public Speak-out time at 6:30 P.M.