EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow Town Council debated the topic of “unaccepted” streets at its meeting on Feb. 9. Department of Public Works (DPW) Department Head Bruce Feeney explained to the board that there was a backlog of “paper streets” that had been built as part of housing developments but never finished. Until the roads are made fully passable, they cannot be accepted by the town and are not eligible for plowing and maintenance. The town is also unable to factor those roads into state Chapter 90 funding.

Feeney said that there are 104 private and paper streets in East Longmeadow equaling 9.2 miles. He stated that at the current market rate for paving and wastewater infrastructure, it would cost $17,000,164 to bring them all up to town standards.

Councilor Ralph Page countered that not all paper streets are developed and the town would only be willing to complete the streets that have houses on them.

The question was, who pays for the streets to be finished? When developments are built, a bond is taken to assure that if left unfinished, there is money to complete the projects. The roads in question have been unaccepted for long enough that there are varying levels of money left on the bonds.

In a worst-case scenario, Councilor Donald Anderson said, taxpayer dollars could be used to make the streets “passable,” though, perhaps, not up to the standards set out in the zoning bylaws. By doing this, the residents on these roads could receive basic services from the town.

Council President Michael Kane instructed the DPW to create a list for the council with recommendations of priority roadways.

In the course of the planning board revoking the special permit for a dog daycare after a dog was mauled on the premises, it was discovered that the town’s regulations on the industry conflicted with the state‘s requirements. While the state requires a kennel license for any dog daycare facilities, the town prohibits kennels and does not sell such licenses. McNally brought it to the council since the remaining dog daycare in town was in violation of the law, “through no fault of their own.”

McNally related that the town counsel had suggested lifting the ban on kennels in East Longmeadow, but imposing such language on the licensing procedure would make it identical to the existing special permit provided to animal daycare businesses through the Planning Board. She said it would still block commercial boarding kennels from operating in town. The only exception is Porter Road Pet Care, which was grandfathered in before the prohibition.

Council Vice President Thomas O’Connor said that there is already a process in place to license private kennels, which include breeders and animal rescues, and recommended the issue be taken up by the bylaw subcommittee.

Page argued that there is already a bylaw in place and, therefore, the issue be handled as an amendment to the permit by the Planning Board. It was decided that the existing bylaw should be reviewed by the appropriate subcommittee.

The East Longmeadow School Committee joined the council meeting to discuss budget issues. Town Manager Mary McNally said that while she was cognizant of the School Department’s needs, she also understood the financial limitations of the town and was asking for a level service budget.

“We know that everybody is struggling. We know the sacrifices and the cuts that the School Committee voted last year in order to meet the budget proposal we had talked about in 2021. I’m optimistic and hopeful that COVID will abate or somewhat ebb as the months go by so that our budget process this year will not be as frenetic and fractured as it was last year,” McNally said.

School Committee Chair Gregory Thompson shared that the district was expecting more federal coronavirus relief funding that will be used to cover costs associated with substitute teachers and stocking personal protective equipment (PPE).

The council approved funding from the free cash account to pay bills left over from FY20, including $2,255 for invoices from Meadows Health Center, $6,077.50 for dispatch department services and $17,696 cash to replace damaged firefighter gear not covered by insurance. The gear was used during a fire at Quad Graphics, in which oil and ink mixed with water and stained the boots and gear of firefighters. Fire Chief Paul Morrisette said that the damaged gear creates a liability for the town. The department’s insurance will only cover $10,000 of the $27,000 cost of replacing the gear. The department is considering seeking repayment from the business’s insurance company.

McNally said that four former East Longmeadow dispatchers are suing the town for breach of contract over their dismissal during the transition to WestCOMM regional dispatch. Another former town employee is also suing, alleging that they were not properly paid out at the end of their employment with the town.