City Council Meeting

C I T Y O F S P R I N G F I E L D
City Clerk's Office March 18, 2009

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 the City Council Chambers at City Hall, Monday evening March 23, 2009 at seven-thirty o'clock according to Section 12, Rules and Orders of the City Council.
Wayman Lee, Esq.
City Clerk

Roll Call
Present: Councilors Jose F. Tosado, Bud L. Williams, Kateri B. Walsh, Bruce W. Stebbins, Patrick J. Markey, Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty, James J. Ferrera, III, Timothy J. Rooke, William T. Foley, Jr.
Moment of Silence
Pledge of Allegiance

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

NONE

UNFINISHED BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL

(1.) Ordinance # 1 – Life Cycle Pavement Fees (3rd Step) - Read debated and passed 1st step by unanimous vote on February 2, 2009 and referred to committee on Ordinance – Passed 2nd step and referred to Committee on Enrollment passed by a unanimous voice vote on March 2, 2009 and the Committee on Enrollment met on March 23, 2009 and referred the Ordinance to the full City Council; passed 3rd step to be ordained by the following roll call vote, Yes, Nine (9); Councilors Jose F. Tosado, Bud L. Williams, Kateri B. Walsh, Bruce W. Stebbins, Patrick J. Markey, Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty, James J. Ferrera, III., Timothy J. Rooke, William T. Foley; No, Zero (0).

(2.) Ordinance # 2 – Public Consumption of Marijuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol (3rdStep) - Read and after debate and passed 1st step by unanimous vote on February 2, 2009 on a motion by Councilor Williams and seconded by Councilor Walsh referred to the Veterans Human Services and Administration Committee by a majority voice vote with Councilor Ferrera voting no. The City Council Veterans, Administration & Human Services Committee met on March 2, 2009 and Chairperson James J. Ferrera gave a verbal report to an Ordinance establishing a fine for the public consumption of marijuana or THC and stated after meeting with the Police Department and the public he was recommending a change to the Ordinance by set-up a tier fines structure instead of a flat $300 fine. After debate and questions the City Council received the report by a unanimous voice vote and Councilor Ferrera made a motion to amend the fine structure as follows: 1st violation $100; 2nd violation $200 and 3rd and subsequent violations $300 and was seconded by Councilor Rooke and the amendment passed by a unanimous voice vote. The City Council then took 2nd step and referred the Ordinance to the Committee on Enrollment by a unanimous voice vote on March 2, 2009 Committee on Enrollment met on March 23, 2009 and referred the Ordinance to the full City Council; passed 3rd step to be ordained by the following roll call vote, Yes, Nine (9); Councilors Jose F. Tosado, Bud L. Williams, Kateri B. Walsh, Bruce W. Stebbins, Patrick J. Markey, Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty, James J. Ferrera, III., Timothy J. Rooke, William T. Foley; No, Zero (0).

NEW BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL

REPORTS

(3.) Planning Board Zone Change – 265 State Street (Recommendation to Approve) (Hearing 3/30/09) - Read for 1st time and Council received the report by a unanimous voice vote.

ORDERS

(4.) Resolve – Opposing the Increase of 19 Cents in the States Gasoline Tax or any other Similar Increase (Williams, All Councilors) - Read and debated and passed by a unanimous voice vote.

(5.) Resolve – Opposing the Privatization of the State Lottery (Williams, All Councilors) – Councilor Foley rescued himself as he is an employee of Massachusetts’s Lottery Commission and left the chambers. City Councilor Vice President Bruce Stebbins took the podium Resolve read and debated and passed by a unanimous voice vote.

ORDINANCES

(6.) Amending RO 1986 – Board of Fire Commissioners (Williams) - - Read and after debate and on a motion by Councilor Williams and seconded by Councilor Walsh referred to the Public Health and Safety Committee by a unanimous voice vote.

SUSPENSION OF RULES

(7.) Suspension of Rule 12 – Passed by a unanimous voice vote. Resolve – Opposing the efforts of the Mayor and the Control Board to privatize the Forestry Division of the Park Department and the vehicle maintenance department of the DPW (Williams, All Councilors) - Read and debated and passed by a unanimous voice vote.

(8.) Suspension of Rule 12 – Passed by a unanimous voice vote. Affirmation - Councilor President Foley requested a vote to affirm his appointment of Councilor Timothy J. Rooke to Chief Administrative and Financial Officer search committee. Read and debated and passed by a unanimous voice vote.

MATTERS LAID ON THE TABLE

Special Permit – 603 Hendee Street - No Action Taken
Special Permit- 29 & 61 Chandler Street - No Action Taken

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Possible Public Speak-out time at 6:45 P.M

More Info:  Springfield City Council