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Chicopee council approves downtown purchase to house school department administration
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to buy a downtown building for the School Department administrative offices, approved related appropriations to complete the purchase and to acquire existing furniture, and agreed to reassign current school furniture to other city departments.
Chicopee's City Council on June 2 approved the purchase of a downtown building to house the School Department's administrative offices and passed related appropriations to complete the transaction.
Mayor Vieau told the council the city is under agreement to purchase the property and said the expected closing date is July 10. The council approved MO-1 to appropriate $2,350,000 from previously borrowed funds to pay for the purchase; Councilor Brooks said the move will make administration more accessible to parents and students and put the property to good use. Councilor Pniak-Costello called the move "a fantastic idea," noting savings from not paying rent.
The council also approved two Free Cash appropriations: MO-2, $10,000 toward the purchase of 219 & 225 Exchange Street, and MO-3, $20,000 to acquire furniture already in the building. Councilor Goff said furniture at the Dulong school will be redistributed to other departments in need, and Councilor Laflamme described the existing furnishings as "a great deal." Scott Chapdelaine told the council that cell-tower revenues that previously supported summer staffing are declining as towers are removed.
Separately, the council unanimously approved MO-4, a $2,000,000 transfer to the Stabilization Trust Fund designed to preserve the city's reserves while Free Cash is certified, and MO-5, a $31,617.80 transfer to fund special custodians for summer school programs.
The council voted on the measures by roll call; all motions passed through all stages unanimously. The purchase is now scheduled to close July 10 and the administration expects to relocate school administrative staff after completion of the transaction.
