Holyoke City Council Special Meeting January 22, 2024
7:00 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
Posted January 16, 2024, 3:33 PM
Updated January 18, 2024, 10:16 AM
Meeting will take place at Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can also be accessed remotely via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675284572?pwd=eUowdmxXVUJlMGJTaHJ3L0VFQ2IzUT09
Meeting ID: 836 7528 4572 Meeting Passcode: 845022 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Live Spanish interpretation will be available on local access channel 15 using the television’s SAP option, through the live stream on the city website, as well as on the Zoom feed by clicking the interpretation option and choosing Spanish.
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
January 22, 2024
7:00 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMUNICATIONS
1. From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, letter appointing Mr. David Blood, 35 South Street, South Hadley, to serve as a member of the Tourism Advisory Committee. Mr. Blood will
serve a three-year term; said term will expire January 1, 2027.
2. From City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee and CC Admin Asst Jeffery Anderson-Burgos, minutes of January 2, 2024 City Council Reorganization meeting and regular meeting
3. From City Auditor Tanya Wdowiak, 2024 YTD PILOT PAYMENTS 1-11-2024
4. From City Auditor Tanya Wdowiak, 2024 SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET VS ACTUAL 12-31-2023
5. From City Auditor Tanya Wdowiak, 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET VS ACTUAL 12-31-2023
6. From Holyoke Police Department, response to Councilor Israel Rivera’s order asking for the report of payouts for the Police Dept form the past 20 years.
7. Holyoke Historical Commission, minutes of October 2 and November 20, 2023 meetings
8. Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, summary of activities from November 2022 to October 2023
9. From Board of Fire Commission, meeting minutes for the December 18, 2023 meeting
PETITIONS
10. Petition of ACMJ for a special permit extension for the Marijuana Manufacturing Establishment at 532 Main St (026-03-012)
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
11A. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, NINE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND 13/100 Dollars ($9,768.13) as follows:
FROM:
11752-53010 OPED-CONTRACT SERVICES $9,768.13
TOTAL: $9,768.13
TO:
11751-51500 VACATION BUYBACK $4,770.36
11751-51510 SICK LEAVE BUYBACK 4,997.77
TOTAL: $9,768.13
Recommended that the order be adopted.
11B. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM, $90,000, NO MATCH ” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
Recommended that the order be adopted.
11C. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWENTY THOUSAND SEVENTY EIGHT AND 00/100 Dollars ($20,078) as follows:
FROM:
16101-51111 LIBRARY ASSISTANT (NIGHT) $20,078
TOTAL: $20,078
TO:
16101-51102 REFERENCE LIBRARY ASSISTANCE $20,078
TOTAL: $20,078
Recommended that the order be adopted.
11D. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, THIRTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($30,000) as follows:
FROM:
14101-51101 ENGINEER/ASST DPW SUPERINTENDENT $15,000
14101-51105 SR CIVIL ENGINEER 15,000
TOTAL: $30,000
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES $30,000
TOTAL: $30,000
Recommended that the order be adopted.
11E. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order The Law Department provide City Council with an updated legal opinion regarding the city’s supervisors association and include within it, at a minimum, the following: whether the association is a union: if it is a union, when was this designation approved and by what authority; under what general law is it affiliated; and please specify the department heads who serve at the Mayor’s pleasure. Further, please provide the specific department heads included within the association. Please provide any past legal opinions and relevant exhibits.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.
11F. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that the police and fire chiefs appear before the finance committee to document how much of the police overtime total of $266,682 expended through the end of October was to cover for vacations, sick time, injured on duty status, and grant related detail. The same information is requested for the fire department and the expenditure of $157,305 through October. In both cases, how many persons per shift being absent leads to use of overtime? The goal of this order is to determine if we are at our most cost effective staffing levels without jeopardizing public safety.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.
11G. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that as the city considers purchasing any replacement vehicles it reach out to the state to see if the city could be eligible for significant rebates off the purchase price of electric vehicles. The MOR-EV program offers rebates to private as well as public entities for purchasing electric vehicles now including trucks.
In addition, that the city look into the Massachusetts Green Communities grant program which provides funding to assist with the installation of EV charging infrastructure.
Awaiting disposition
MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS
12. Devine, J. Rivera, Givner- that RULE 3 MEETINGS 3(A) be changed to reflect that City Council meetings shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
(change from 7:00 p.m.)
13. Devine, J. Rivera, Givner- that RULE 4. CITY CLERK section A: In case of the absence of the City Clerk, a Clerk Pro-Tempore shall be appointed….the words Clerk Pro-Tempore shall be deleted and changed to “Assistant City Clerk, 2nd Assistant City Clerk or Administrative Assistant to the City Council shall resume the duties of the City Clerk when the City Clerk is absent.”
14. Devine, J. Rivera, Givner- that RULE 8 DECORUM/SPEAKING section C “ During debate, if objection is made thereto, no member shall speak more than twice to the same question without leave if the City Council, no more than once until all other members choosing to speak have spoken. CHANGE: Delete the words “without leave of the Council”
15. Devine, J. Rivera, Givner- RULE 6 DECORUM section E add the words or city employees after the words “another member”
16. Devine, J. Rivera, Givner- RULE 7 AGENDA section ii Delete all the words after “The Pledge of Allegiance”
17. Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FORTY SIX AND 34/100 Dollars
($35,446.34) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANTS $10,493.16
12101-51107 PATROLMEN 24,953.18
TOTAL: $35,446.34
TO:
12101-51180 INJURED ON DUTY (PAYROLL 1/6/2024) $35,446.34
TOTAL: $35,446.34
18. Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($20,000) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $20,000
TOTAL: $20,000
TO:
11212-53009 CONTRACTED SERVICES-MAYOR $20,000
…..-….. AMBULANCE FEASIBILITY ……
TOTAL: $20,000
19. Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($300,000) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANTS $115,000
12101-51107 PATROLMEN 65,000
12101-51117 E911 DISPATCHERS 120,000
TOTAL: $300,000
TO:
12101-51300 OVERTIME $300,000
TOTAL: $300,000
20. Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “MASS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, 26,800, 10% IN KIND/VOLUNTEER MATCH ” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
21. Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “2023 COMMUNITY MITIGATION FUND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT, $82,300, NO MATCH” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
22. Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY23 TDI EQUITY, $38,550, NO MATCH” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
23. Devine- That the DPW make the no parking sign outside of 88 Jarvis Avenue larger.
24. Devine- That a new sign BLIND DRIVEWAY AHEAD be placed at 35 mph sign heading toward 88 Jarvis.
25. Devine – Ordered, to add the position of City Engineer to the Ordinance under Schedule A, Grade 13.
26. Devine- Ordered, That the City Council resurrect the “Peace and Good Order Ordinance.” Copies to the Mayor, City Clerk, Law Department and Police Chief
27. Jourdain- That the Mayor please provide the City Council with his plan to bring our structural budget deficit to zero in FY 25 budget including a plan that does not raise the tax levy by more than $1 million per year.
28. Jourdain, Ocasio-That the Board of Health and Police dept come to the Public Safety Committee to discuss various issues in the community related to homelessness and how we can work towards better solutions.
29. Jourdain, Ocasio- That OPED come to the D&GR committee to discuss how to help people start new small businesses in the city.
30. Jourdain, Ocasio- DPW also install a flashing signal/stop sign for cars to stop at the crosswalk at Cabot and South Summer Street so residents can safely cross Cabot Street.
31. Jourdain, Ocasio- DPW please repaint the crosswalk lines at the corner of Cabot and South Summer Street, they were just done and already fading.
32. Jourdain, Ocasio- That the DPW clear the path on the sidewalk free from extra signs at the corner of Cabot and So Summer Street so residents can properly access the crosswalk with wheelchairs, scooters, or baby carriages, etc.
33. Magrath-Smith- Ordered, that the City Clerk provide information outlining the procedures for submitting changes to Municode and ensuring accurate publication of the City Charter.
34. Magrath-Smith- Ordered, that the City Forester and DPW Director provide information outlining the criteria for tree-cutting on private property and procedures for communication to property owners.
35. Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered, that the City Council vote to approve the attached Memorandum of Understanding allowing the City of Holyoke to receive transportation reimbursement in accordance with the provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act, and as allowed by the provisions of M.G.L. c. 44, s70.
36. Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered, that the City of Holyoke establish a Health Insurance Trust Agreement pursuant to MGL c. 23B, Section 3A. MGL c. 32B, Section 3A permits a municipality to establish a health insurance trust to “organize, arrange, or provide for the delivery or payment of health care coverage or services”. The establishment of a trust by the City to administer health care payments will create a significant savings to the FY’25 proposed budget.
37. Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered, that 3 salary reports for calendar year 2023 be provided to the City Council as an update to the past reports published on the City website: the top 100 salaries for the City of Holyoke, the top 100 salaries for the Holyoke Public Schools, and a report of salaries for elected officials. Reports should not include confidential identifying information such as social security numbers.
38. I. Rivera — Ordered, that the City Council be provided with a report of retirement payouts for the Police Department for the past 20 years.
39. Vacon, Jourdain- That DPW/Veolia clean the storm drains on Mountain Road.
40. Vacon, Jourdain-That Mountain Road be evaluated for the installation of berms and berms be installed where needed.
41. Vacon, Bartley- That permanent radar feedback signs be placed on Homestead Avenue, Northbound and southbound (from Westfield Rd to Lower Westfield Rd & from Cherry Street to Westfield Road for a total of 4)
42. Bartley- The city council invite the Parade Committee winners for the purposes of bestowing a city council proclamation; and invite the president, its members and their guests as well as invite the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band to its March 5 regular meeting. The parade is scheduled for March 17 and this will be the only regular CC meeting prior to the Parade. This is a tradition started in city council that is now in its 10th year. Receive and Adopt.
43. Bartley- The DPW and the City Engineer (or its consultant) provide an update on traffic signal improvements the at the main gate to HCC and the Hitchcock/Martin St intersection. Please send a communication on the plan ASAP to City Council or at the latest by its 2/20/24 meeting.
44. Bartley- In light of the recent announcement of Holyoke’s allocation from the State of nearly $500,000.00 in tax appropriation for its infrastructure, the Mayor and DPW Superintendent provide a plan on how to use the funds for this fiscal year. So the public is aware, please see agenda item #8 from the 1/2/24 meeting (Fair-Share Amendment). Refer to Finance.
45. Bartley – The DPW paint markings on the east side of Martin St at the intersection with Hitchcock to indicate no parking. This is a constituent request to allow better visibility for motorists. Receive, Adopt and Refer to DPW.
46. Bartley- The DGR chair invite into committee the Governor’s representative for western Mass and Sen Markey’s representative for western Mass. to a future meeting.
47. Bartley- The DGR chair invite the state delegation to a future meeting.
LATE FILED ORDERS AND COMMUNICATIONS
LATE FILES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
A. Givner, Jourdain, Greaney — Ordered that the City Council make a rule change to be added to “meetings” section for our first meeting.
2. MEETINGS
A. Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 o’clock p.m sharp. All City Councilors are to be in the City Council Chambers or present by remote access by 6:45 p.m.
B. No meeting of the City Council shall go beyond 10PM EST unless, upon a motion of any councilor, the meeting is extended for a period of time stated in the motion, and so long as the motion is unanimously approved by all members present. If a motion to extend the meeting past 10PM EST is not approved, all remaining items shall be continued until the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. If items are continued to the next meeting pursuant to this rule, those items shall appear at the beginning of the next agenda B. The President and/or Committee chairs can cancel meetings due to inclement weather.
Addendum:
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 not listed may also be
brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law
____________________________________________________________________
City Clerk