Development and Governmental Relations Committee Meeting April 24, 2023

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Development and Governmental Relations (DGR)

Monday, April 24, 2023
6:30 PM

Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Tessa Murphy-Romboletti

Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89225119154?pwd=eXdCS1ovdGdwVGxhR2UxT1Q3ZDFMUT09
Meeting ID: 892 2511 9154 Meeting Passcode: 367955 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 2-7-23 PUBLIC HEARING Special permit application of Eloy Arocho for an auto body repair shop at 41 N Summer Street (038-01-004).

Item 2: 3-7-23 PUBLIC HEARING Special permit application of Jesus Candelario for non-conforming use per section 4.7.2 to increase occupancy to host large groups for indoor and outdoor events at 1109 Dwight St (074-00-012).

Item 2a: 3-7-23 Zone change application from R-2 to BG of Jesus Candelario at 1109 Dwight St (074-00-012).
*Note: a zone change is not being actively sought at this time. Item is a companion to the special permit application only.

Item 3: 3-21-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered, that the Honorable City Council, in accordance with M.G.L. Ch. 30B and the Holyoke Code of Ordinances procurement ordinance, declare 94 Newton Street (Assessors Map 011, Block 03, Parcel 010) as surplus property available for disposition. The property was acquired via a corrective judgement in a tax lien case in 2007. It is approximately 4,620 square feet in size, zoned Downtown Business and has an assessed value of $22,900.

Item 4: 3-21-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered, that the Honorable City Council, in accordance with M.G.L. Ch. 30B and the Holyoke Code of Ordinances procurement ordinance, declare Newton Street Parcel 011-03-009 (Assessors Map 011, Block 03, Parcel 009) as surplus property available for disposition. The property was granted to the City in 1969 by the Holyoke Community Development Corporation. It is approximately 9,680 square feet in size, zoned Downtown Business and has an assessed value of $25,900.

The following items are on the agenda for the purposes of disposal.

Item 5: 1-5-21 MCGEE — Order that the city council DGR committee invite in and meeting with Roca member.

Item 6: 1-19-21 BARTLEY — Ordered, That Dr. Alberto Vazquez Matos, HPS’ Receiver, appear before the DGR committee.

Item 7: 1-19-21 LEBRON-MARTINEZ — Ordered, That the city council thru the appropriate committee invite Dr. Vazquez Matos current superintendent to give us an update about the status of the schools during this pandemic and the future plans for students of HPS.

Item 8: 2-2-21 MCGEE — Ordered, that the City Council invite in Jennifer Howard and other members of DCR to discuss Mt. Tom.

Item 9: 8-3-21 MCGEE — Ordered, that the DG&R committee invite in the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke Leadership team to discuss their two ARPA proposals: child care expansion project and proposal to serve homeless/DCF involved youth.

Item 10: 10-5-21 BARTLEY — Ordered, The City Clerk please sent a communication to City Council in time for its 2nd meeting in October 2021 on the following (based upon the preliminary election of 09/21/2012):
A. turnout-did Holyoke meet expectations? How did Holyoke do compared to our neighbors?;
B. the new voting machines-any issues?
C. Satisfaction (or not) with the current polling locations
D. General impressions on Holyoke elections.

Item 11: 11-16-21 Letter from a Citizen of Holyoke, requesting a crosswalk be placed at the Whiting Street Reservoir.

Item 12: 3-15-22 PUELLO — Ordered, That the Office of Planning and Economic Development be invited to discuss the reasons behind the absence of medical marijuana providers in the city, the original intended reason for cannabis legalization. The goal of this discussion is to come up with a viable pathway to provide this service for residents so they may enjoy their tax benefits and have their medical needs fulfilled. If a plan is already underway this discussion will inform residents of their upcoming benefits.

Item 13: 10-4-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered, that the Committee on Development and Governmental Relations invite representatives from the Worcester Red Sox to learn more about its “Town Takeover” initiative in the 2023 season.

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos

The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Also one or two items may require the committee to enter into executive session at this meeting. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.