Ordinance Committee Meeting January 13, 2026
Published January 7, 2026, 10:33 a.m.
City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Ordinance
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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 Ordinance Chair: Meg Magrath-Smith
Remote access via zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85954001735?pwd=y5Rx84ujk1Ou1CTdrZZbnqtEcgITIf.1
Meeting ID: 859 5400 1735 Meeting Passcode: 526496 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the 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
Item 1: Minutes of December 3, 2025 meeting.
Item 2: 2-20-24 From Jane Mantolesky, Assistant City Solicitor, Approval of Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Item 3: 12-2-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered – that an ordinance be drafted regulating the number of cars that can be parked on a residential property.
Item 4: 1-6-26 Magrath-Smith – ordered, that the necessary changes in Ordinance be made in order to establish a Finance Department and the roles and responsibilities of its members.
Item 5: 1-6-26 Magrath-Smith – ordered, that the Council holistically review minimum qualifications for all job descriptions for an established Finance Department based on the long-time DLS guidance to ensure internal controls, clear lines of accountability, and appropriate education and skill-level.
Item 6: 11-6-25 Jourdain, Vacon – (copy) That the Human Resources Department post the appointed , Treasurer position asap.
LAID ON THE TABLE
(Items taken up at previous meeting(s) and laid on the table. Discussion may or may not take place)
Item 18: 4-5-22 From Massachusetts Association of Realtors, Guide to Understanding housing choice and its opportunities.
Item 19: 12-20-22 (copy, original sent to Public Safety) Petition from Residents of Holyoke in support of a Tenant Bill of Rights.
Item 20: 3-7-23 JOURDAIN, MAGRATH-SMITH, VACON — Ordered, that the City Council work with the Treasurer to review and codify the city’s investment policy by ordinance.
Item 21: 10-17-23 From Board of Public Works, Mary L. Monahan, Chairperson letter re: FY24 Sewer Rate.
Item 22: 3-19-24 From Melissa Lafond, communication regarding speed hump petition from September 28, 2022
Item 23: 10-1-24 Speed Hump Petition from Hampshire Street Residents.
Item 24: 10-15-24 Bartley, Anderson-Burgos, Devine, Givner, Greaney, Jourdain, Magrath-Smith, Murphy-Romboletti, Ocasio, Rivera, I., Rivera, J., Sullivan, Vacon-A moratorium be established granting Holyoke’s multi-family property owners, as defined by 780 CMR 110.7, as amended and effective 10/11/24, more time to come into compliance with MA STATE BUILDING CODE regulations. In terms of rollout, the city’s building commission, seems to have imposed an unrealistic two-month turnaround for the hundreds of property owners impacted. Note that the Building Commission, for unexplained reason(s), admittedly dropped the ball on this regulation for decades. Thus, a moratorium of 18-36 months be established to allow property owners a realistic time to hire the appropriate professionals, make necessary improvements, and then contact the Building Commission for an inspection. During said moratorium, no fines shall accrue and any fines previously imposed will be rescinded. Property owners are nevertheless obligated to complete the requirements and to timely respond to the Building Commissioner during this moratorium. For authority to create a moratorium see M.G.L chapter 143, §§3, 3A.
Item 25: 10-15-24 Bartley, Anderson-Burgos, Devine, Givner, Greaney, Jourdain, Magrath-Smith, Murphy-Romboletti, Ocasio, Rivera, I., Rivera, J., Sullivan, Vacon-As a compendium to the moratorium, an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives from the Building Commission and multi-family owners and the city council be immediately formed. The building committee shall be charged with effectively and efficiently implementing the certificate of inspection requirements and ensuring that it is more efficiently complied with after this initial roll out. Note that as properties change hands and staffing resources change and institutional memory fades this committee will make sure Holyoke doesn’t face a similar issue in the future. For authority to create an ad hoc committee see M.G.L. chapter 143, §§3, 3A.
Item 26: 11-7-24 Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that the fine for violating the ordinance on parking in front of driveways be increased. The amount of increase can be discussed based on what is reasonable and what is allowable.
Item 27: 11-7-24 BARTLEY, VACON-The city council ordain a new crosswalk near the main gate to Holyoke Community College.
Item 28: 11-7-24 Bartley, Ocasio, Vacon – DPW post ‘no left turn’ and ‘no U-turn’ signs at the traffic light near Brightside Ave and the jug handle. Motorists are consistently making illegal (and very dangerous) turns.
Item 29: 11-7-24 Vacon, Givner, Ocasio- ORDER: that the city engineer provide draft language for a formal program to prioritize and schedule placement of speed humps and recommend other traffic calming/safety interventions based on data collected from speed data collection via tubes or radar. That additional traffic speed data collection units be purchased as needed for the program.
Establish a method for seeking traffic safety/calming recommendations so that citizens can request measures for improvements to neighborhood traffic issues before completing a petition for a speed hump or raised crosswalk.
Please include police department input for the enforcement component.
Item 30: 1-7-25 Devine, Givner – ORDERED: that all Collective Bargaining Agreements or Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement that are sent to the City Council for passage be red-lined ONLY TO THOSE ITEMS pertaining to appropriations and that no other subjects be entertained or red lined except appropriations.
Item 31: 2-4-25 BARTLEY, VACON – The City Engineer review the feasibility of a mid-block crosswalk on Homestead Ave. proximate to the secondary entrance to HCC. (This entrance is N of the main gate). If it is feasible and if there is financing to install (you would need to make it ADA compliant) then please send a report to Ordinance. If not feasible, please send a communication to City Council by its first meeting in May 2025.
Item 32: 2-4-25 BARTLEY, VACON – The city ordinances shall be amended to order the city Treasurer and/or Auditor to send an annual communication to City Council on the financial status of the Community Preservation Fund by the council’s first meeting in March. Items to be included are: the most recent account balance; where the funds are deposited or invested; the dates and the amounts of any deposits either from the Commonwealth or the Municipality or any other source; the dates and the amounts of any withdrawals // payments in support the CPA’s mission. Please also separately delineate any payroll or consultant information.
Item 33: 2-4-25 From the Office of the Governor, Public Settlements Policy – Jan. 2025
Item 34: 2-4-25 JOURDAIN, VACON – Ordered, that the City Council create an ordinance that creates a settlement policy and further prohibits the use of non-disclosure agreements in the City of Holyoke consistent with what Governor Healey has done at the state level. Please see attached policy.
Item 35: 3-18-25 Magrath-Smith, ordered that a procedure for tracking updates in Municode be created for Ordinances similar to the grant reporting procedure established by Councilor Bartley.
Item 36: 3-18-25 Magrath-Smith, ordered that the Ordinance Committee make necessary changes in order for us to align city ordinances to the revised notification procedure for regular, sub-committee, and special meetings recently drafted in Charter and Rules.
Item 37: 4-15-25 Bartley, Vacon -Winter parking in Holyoke could be simplified by the following ordinance change -Ordered that during the winter months between November and· March no parking will be allowed in odd-numbered years on the side of the street with odd numbers; in even-numbered years, no parking will be allowed on street sides with even numbers.
Item 38: 4-15-25 Bartley, Magrath-Smith – To alleviate confusion, the city of Holyoke hereby adopts an ordinance to post prominent signage onto street signs if the street is an unaccepted way. In Springfield (and other municipalities), such signs are affixed to street signs and labeled “private ways.” This may help to better educate and inform the public.
Item 39: 5-6-25 Vacon, Magrath-Smith- ORDER: That the ordinance for battery storage be reviewed, and revised language be considered for small & large scale battery storage projects, due to new information documenting safety concerns.
Item 40: 5-6-25 From Residents of Elm St-Speed Hump Petition
Item 41: 6-3-25 Vacon-ORDER: That we amend our ordinance so a request for evaluation for eligibility for speed humps or raised crosswalks can be requested without a petition.
Item 42: 6-17-25 Vacon- ORDER: that speed limit on Cypress & Sequoia be lowered to 15 or 20 mph due to safety concerns similar to Bemis. They are being used as a cut through.
Item 43: 8-5-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that the Ordinance Committee revise Section 74-98 of our ordinances concerning private property and vegetation to balance the need for public health and safety with emergent gardening practices focused on ecological stewardship. Revise the current language to create clarity concerning exemptions or alternative compliance measures for properties dedicated to native landscaping, pollinator habitats, or organic gardening practices.
Item 44: 8-5-25 Jourdain, Vacon – That Ordinance 2-421 regarding times when meetings are to be conducted be amended to add the elected multi-member bodies of city including the City Council and School Committee.
Item 45: 8-5-25 Devine-ORDERED that the ordinance committee review the ordinance for repairing cars on city streets or in driveways, particularly the changes that were made a few years ago that allowed certain repairs to be made on the street or in driveways.
Item 46: 8-5-25 MDAR – Wedgewood Terrace- Animal Health Order
Item 47: 8-5-25 Petition from Residents of Sequia Dr. and Cypress Rd- application for Speed Humps
Item 48: 8-5-25 Devine, Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that 2 lanes from Linden Street onto Beech Street be designated as a left turn lane and a right turn lane and painted with the appropriate turn arrows.
Item 49: 9-17-25 Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – create an Ordinance to match Council Rule 108. Rule 1 OB reads: ” The following information must be submitted to the City Council with every loan or bond order: A. A statement as of that date of the bonded indebtedness of the city, exclusive of the self-supporting bonds of the Gas and Electric Department and the Water Department. 8. A statement of the borrowing capacity remaining within the limits as set by law, after issuance of the bond being applied for.”
Item 50: 9-17-25 BARTLEY, VACON- ORDER the city start the process to review the petition to install speed humps on Kaster St. Petition attached.
Item 51: 9-17-25 BARTLEY, DEVINE, VACON – The city’s engineer and its law department review the definition of “motorized scooter” in Chapter 86-1 of city ordinances and advise the City council on whether the definition should be amended.
Item 52: 10-21-25 Bartley, Vacon – The crosswalk and pedestrian signal on Homestead Ave at HCC’s main gate remains in limbo. It’s now going on 8 years since original orders were filed. Some progress was nade under the tenure of Mike McManus but very little since. Order the City Engineer, HFD Alarm Division and DPW provide an update to City Council on when this dangerous situation will be corrected. Please respond with a communication in 30 days. Refer to Ordinance.
Item 53: 10-21-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that a crosswalk be placed across Hampden Street at Arlington, to aid schoolchildren and families. There is a school bus stop at that comer.
Item 54: 10-21-25 Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – Ordered, that the City Engineer, the Planning Board, and the Department of Public Works, take the following actions:
1. Initiate the process to layout Brookwood Road as a public way under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 82.
2. Conduct the necessary surveys, inspections, and approvals required for acceptance.
3. Place the matter before the City Council for a vote to formally accept Brookwood Road as a public way.
Item 55: 10-21-25 Bartley- That the Dpw install a Handicap parking sign for Anny Portes of 18 Clark St
Item 56: 10-21-25 J. Rivera – Ordered that a handicap sign be placed outside of 167 Elm St. for Zoila Diaz, handicap placard number PL000058.
Item 57: 11-6-25 J. Rivera – Ordered that the DPW install a Handicap Sign at 182 Lyman St. for Ricardo Oquendo
Item 58: 11-6-25 Devine – ORDERED: That this be added to the Zoning Ordinance that addresses NOISE VIOLATIONS: after the words: “At the point or points where such elements shall be most apparent” Noise, Vibration, Glare, Odors
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. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.