Ordinance Committee Planning Board Joint Meeting May 23, 2023

Posted May 19, 2023, 9:55 AM

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
Ordinance
with hearings held jointly with the Planning Board

Tuesday, May 23, 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: Linda Vacon

Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83177436694?pwd=OEsrK2JFYWZ5SWVIdHlOQlUvQko4dz09
Meeting ID: 831 7743 6694 Meeting Passcode: 289877 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 5-2-23 Petition of Katherine Sanchez of 15-12 Dwight St, for a Street Vendor License

Item 2: 5-2-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — That Schedule C of 2-35 be updated to reflect a new title and salary for police matrons

Item 3: 5-2-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — That the Schedule C of 2-35 be updated to reflect competing salaries for police reserves

Item 4: 5-2-23 VACON — that in the police department, the rate for Matrons be set at 18.00/hr and the rate for Reserve/special officers be set at $22.00/hr. per ordinance.

Item 5: PUBLIC HEARING 10-18-22 MALDONADO VELEZ, GIVNER — Ordered, that the City Council add a section for Battery Storage Facilities to the Zoning Ordinance (Section TBD) to reflect technology advancements and future need for such installations; new facilities will be reviewed through Section 10.0, Major Site Plan Review.
(joint hearing with the Planning Board, continued from 12-13-22, 1-24-23, 4-25-23)

Item 6: PUBLIC HEARING 3-7-23 MCGEE — Ordered, that the Zoning Ordinance be amended to add a section for Short Term Rentals, in addition to amending Section 2 DEFINITIONS, and any other sections that may apply to this use.
(joint hearing with the Planning Board, continued from 4-25-23)

Item 7: PUBLIC HEARING 3-7-23 MCGEE — Ordered, that the Zoning Ordinance, Section 6.4.2 Exemptions, be amended to add a letter,
(k) Banners or signs associated with a civic or municipal program may be allowed in all districts. Community or commercial sponsorship may be displayed on said banner or sign provided that the banner or sign itself is not be greater than six (6.0) square feet. These installations must be approved by the City and by the Department of Public Works as applicable.
(joint hearing with the Planning Board, continued from 4-25-23)

Item 8: PUBLIC HEARING 3-7-23 MCGEE — Ordered, that the Zoning Ordinance, Section 7.8 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES AND ANTENNAS, be amended to include Small Wireless Facilities.
(joint hearing with the Planning Board, continued from 4-25-23)

Item 9: 3-21-23 JOURDAIN — That Division 2 of our Ordinances be amended to require the Mayor and Personnel Dept. create and implement a job evaluation system for city employees so that all employees receive goals, standards of performance and a thoughtful annual evaluation against those standards.  Ordinance 2-312 currently requires the Personnel Administrator to maintain the job evaluation system.  Problem is no such system actually exists to be maintained.  The new ordinance should be designed to require the existence of the system but management will be allowed the flexibility to draft it according to their needs and professional opinion.  It is unacceptable that for too long such a system that is so necessary for all workplaces our size still does not exist in our city government.  Absent the City Council requiring such a system it is almost certain that no such system will come into existence independent of us or it would have by now.  There is no current objective measurement of employee performance that rewards high quality employees and holds poor quality employees accountable.  Management in this city needs to take action as soon as possible.
*Tabled 4-25-23

Item 10: 2-21-23 JOURDAIN — Ordered, that Ordinance 2-61 be amended as follows:
Amend Section B. Each member of the city council shall be furnished, by the city solicitor’s office, a copy of every collective bargaining agreement clearly outlining all changes made to the agreement showing the prior language and the new proposed language, a minimum of ten days prior to the cost items of said agreement being submitted to the city council for approval.
Add Section C.  That the City Auditor provide the City Council an accurate financial impact analysis of any such proposed agreement submitted to the city council for approval explaining the full cost of the proposed agreement and attesting to the city council if such agreement is projected to be affordable in all fiscal years impacted by the new agreement.
*Tabled 4-25-23

Item 11: 4-18-23 JOURDAIN, MCGEE — ORDERED:
To amend section 2-156.1 to return the approval the assistant city solicitor for the city council by the President of the city council to the language:
(1) City council. An assistant city solicitor shall attend all regular and special city council meetings and subcommittee meetings as necessary. The assistant shall work with the city council regarding legal questions posed to the law department by the council or by individual council members. The appointment of the assistant city solicitor for the city council shall also be approved by the president of the city council.
To further amend to return this language to section 2-153 of our ordinance:
In special cases the mayor, or city council through a majority vote, may authorize or require the department to secure the advice or services of such additional counselors as they may deem best. No money shall be paid by the for legal services, except as expressly authorized by this chapter. The mayor shall fund any authorization approved by the city council under this section.

Item 12: 3-21-23 JOURDAIN — Ordered, The City of Holyoke develop a personnel policy for the handling of administrative leave and codifying the rules into Ordinance as recommended by the Personnel Dept including but not limited to when employees should or should not be placed on paid leave or unpaid leave. The current process appears lacking objective standards. Taxpayers should also be protected to ensure people who should not be out on paid administrative leave are placed on unpaid administrative leave.

Item 13: 2-21-23 PUELLO — Ordered, in accordance with the city charter, create ordinance language that confirms, when a resident is elected as a ward councilor and subsequently moves to another ward during the term, the ward city council seat is vacated.

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.