Mayor John Vieau discusses capital purchases with the City Council on Aug. 6.
Reminder Publishing screen capture by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — During the City Council meeting on Aug. 6, Mayor John Vieau looked for the appropriation of 12 capital purchases totaling approximately $2.3 million in total funds for the City Council to approve.
The City Council approved the first 11 purchases but sent the last one to the Finance Committee to learn more about it.
Vieau said every year Chicopee prepares for the capital needs as a city and had put aside $2 million under the guidance of the City Council and finance team to fulfill those needs.
The Capital Planning Committee met last month and presented their recommendations for “urgent and highest needs for each department,” according to Vieau.
Mayor’s orders 5-8 dealt with the DPW.
Mayor’s order 5 was the appropriation of $69,785 to the DPW central maintenance garage special account for purchases of vehicles in the stabilization fund for capital budgeting.
The funds will be used to replace a 1995 F-250 truck for central maintenance.
DPW Superintendent Elizabette Batista said central maintenance does an excellent job maintaining vehicles and maximizing their life, but this truck is too old and no longer safe for driving.
“This is a really critical piece to be replaced for central maintenance,” she added.
Mayor’s order 6 was the appropriation of $97,120 to the DPW administration special account for purchase of vehicles as well.
The city is looking to mobilize a second electrician and the funds will be used to purchase an F-350 truck for the position.
Chicopee currently has two electricians but is looking to enable meeting the demands of the city.
“We have right now a demand for a lot of electrical work throughout, low voltage, high voltage work. Specifically working on our signals, our rapid flashing beacons, our signs and many other electrical components throughout the city and this would mobilize a second unit and be available for snow removal during the winter months,” Vieau explained.
Mayor’s order 7 was the appropriation of approximately $159,175 to the DPW parks special account for purchase of equipment.
The funds will be used for a new gang mower for the Parks Department. The department mows approximately 400 acres on a weekly basis, but the current mower is constantly getting repaired and is at the end of its lifespan.
Batista said it is a critical piece of equipment for the Parks Department considering all the parks in Chicopee and their attempt to keep them clean for its residents.
Mayor’s order 8 was the appropriation of $384,796 to the DPW sanitation special account for the purchase of sanitation packer.
The funds will be used to order another side loader for daily trash pickup throughout Chicopee.
“It’s something we obviously need to maintain curbside service. They get used five days a week, sometimes more to ensure we’re picking up trash, recycling, yard waste and it’s one of those things we can’t not move forward with,” Batista said.
Mayor’s order 10 to 12 were to purchase vehicles within the Fire Department.
Mayor’s order 10 was the appropriation of $459,800 to the fire special account for the purchase of a new ambulance and mayor’s order 11 was the appropriation of $50,650 to the same account for the purchase
Mayor’s order 12 was the appropriation of $35,000 to the same fire account for the purchase of a 2024 Ford Bronco replacing a 2009 Chevy Cobalt.
Vieau said Chicopee needs to make sure its fleet of ambulances is up and operable.
“People count on us as an ambulance service here in the city and it’s no secret we run two ambulances during the weekdays and two impact shifts. One during peak hours and another on the weekends for a tool of four that’s available on weekend time and we want to make sure our fleet is in excellent shape,” he said.
Vieau added that if Chicopee was to order the new ambulance in the immediate future, it probably wouldn’t receive it until early 2027.
Fire Chief Dan Stamborski said the $50,650 will be used to purchase an F-150 pickup truck to replace a 2008 Chevy Tahoe that’s currently used by fire prevention and the $35,000 appropriation will be replacing a 2009 Chevy Cobalt with a 2024 Ford Bronco.
Mayor’s orders 16 and 17 had to do with renovations to different buildings in Chicopee.
Mayor’s order 16 was the appropriation of $187,700 to the City Hall maintenance account for the replacement of the senior center HVAC BAS system.
Vieau explained that with the senior center approaching approximately 10 years, the control system has been problematic and has never worked properly so the funds would replace the control systems with a new modern system.
He added, “Frankly the goal is to make sure that we’re able to maintain proper temperature in the Council on Aging. Our senior center is thriving and there’s been many complaints of it either being too hot or too cold and we believe this will be the ultimate solution.”
Mayor’s order 17 was the appropriation of $97,500 to the City Hall maintenance account for the replacement of the golf clubhouse roof.
The clubhouse has a roof that is over 20 years old and has presented many problems leading for it to be replaced.
Facilities Director Dave Rice said this appropriation is just a baseline and only explored one quote before going out to public bid.
Mayor’s orders 19 and 20 were appropriations to the police special account for purchase of cruisers and weaponry equipment.
The council approved $391,737 for the replacement of six vehicles for the Police Department and $31,583 to replace 10 AR-15 rifles for the special response team that are from 2012 and believed to be outdated.
Police Chief Patrick Major said the rifles are recommended to be replaced every 10,000 to 12,000 rounds and said approximately 20,000 rounds have been fired through them.
Mayor’s order 21 was the appropriation of $350,000 to the planning special account for zoning ordinance and development regulation overhaul.
City Council recently endorsed the Envision Our Chicopee: 2040 plan and Vieau said one of the main components of that plan is an overhaul of the city’s zoning ordinance that dates back to the 1970s.
“It’s nearly 50 years old and we believe it’s time to update our zoning ordinance,” Vieau added.
Planning Director Lee Pouliot said the goal would be to start a two to three year process to review and rewrite the zoning code based on the comprehensive plan.
The City Council agreed to move this appropriation to the Finance Committee so that the public can be apart of the discussion for rewriting the zoning ordinance and the council can learn more about the process.
