City of Chicopee

The meeting included a briefing on Mayor's Orders concerning self-insured medical bills for on-duty injuries and a supplemental budget request for spring watering due to a dry season. A significant discussion centered on the retirement of the Auditor after 40 years of service, including appropriations for her sick buy-back and salary. The council accepted several monetary donations for the Chicopee Public Library in memory of Mary Ellen Czepiel-Terlik and general donations. An appointment to the Ambulance Commission was referred to the Human Resources Committee. Zoning matters involved continuing a request for a zone change application for a restaurant at 749 James Street, with concerns raised about notifying abutters about the continuance, and continuing a Special Permit application for a towing and storage business at 78 West Street, following prior legal proceedings. The Council also accepted nominations and reappointed members to the Library Board of Trustees and the Board of Health. Further actions included referring discussions on the Triad Program to the Senior Citizens & Education Committee, seeking reports on DPW employee vacancies, passing a resolution to thank first responders and city plow drivers for their work during a recent snowstorm, referring a discussion on modernizing municipal government technology, and referring proposed ordinances regarding handicap parking to the Ordinance Committee. An alteration of a Class 2 License and a 2026 Auto Detail License renewal were also approved.

The public hearing for the meeting addressed an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) for bordering vegetated wetlands along Lombard Road, near the City line with Ludlow. Staff confirmed the delineation, marked by seventeen flags within Chicopee, was accurate based on GIS data, and the Commission voted 4-0 to approve it. Discussions for upcoming projects included a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for 'Project Shade' at Chicopee Memorial State Park regarding construction within the Buffer Zone, a Request for Certificate of Compliance for the former Dr. Deegan's site at 480-510 Burnett Road, and a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a proposed commercial development on East Main Street, which is pending the closure of a current Order of Conditions (OOC). There were no bills presented for signing.

The Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing was called to order, but a quorum was not present, resulting in all agenda items being tabled until the next scheduled meeting on February 11, 2026. The primary substantive item addressed was a request for a Variance from Chapter 275-54 regarding frontage from 75' to 61.49' to create a single-family building lot at 1601 Westover Rd. The minutes for the December 10, 2025 meeting were listed for potential approval, although no action is recorded in the provided text. The meeting concluded shortly after it started due to the lack of a quorum.

The regular Park Commission meeting involved handling communications, including tabling a request from Monica Torres' office regarding park usage for City events in 2026, and approving a request from Cynthia Dineen to host the Great Strides Walk to Cure Cystic Fibrosis at Szot Park. Superintendent Strepka provided operational updates, noting DPW Parks staff were clearing brush and preparing for a snowstorm, and several staff positions were posted with interviews scheduled for Laborer positions. Program updates included ongoing Tang Soo Do, Adult Volleyball, and Basketball seasons. A vandalism incident at Stefanik was discussed, resulting in a player's removal and restitution handled by the School Department. Personnel planning included scheduling various certification classes for seasonal employees. Capital improvement project updates detailed that the design and permitting process for Phase II of the Abbey Brook / Bemis Pond Dam Removal project was ongoing, an application was submitted for Phase I of the Szot Park Master Plan project via the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, the Szot Pool Removal Additional Cleanup project awaited funding appropriation, and documents were being prepared for the Sarah Jane Splash Pad Removal project, awaiting PARC reimbursement funds. Dugout structures for Rivers Park were received by the contractor for installation, and plans were set to meet regarding a rededication event for Dulchinos Field. The 2026 Parks Calendar was presented, and the Commission approved holding the Szot Park Fireworks on June 27th. Attendance plans for the Massachusetts Park and Recreation Association annual conference were noted.

The public hearing addressed several items. For the first item, which was tabled from a previous meeting, the Commission decided to issue an Order of Conditions with special conditions for the construction of a new single-family house near the Connecticut River, emphasizing that no stormwater runoff can trespass onto the City property containing the flood control dike/levee. For a second item, concerning a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for wetland delineation and Terrace Escarpment soils at 340 Pendleton Ave, the Commission voted to issue a Positive 2A Determination, confirming the delineation as accurate. The Commission also voted to issue Certificates of Compliance for two prior Orders of Conditions: one for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (NOI 21-004) after restoration work was completed, and another for the NSTAR d/b/a Eversource Energy 1803 Line OPGW Project (NOI 25-005), noting no work was performed in the Terrace Escarpment soils. The meeting concluded with signing bills and scheduling the next meeting.