Public Safety Committee Meeting February 26, 2020

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts

Notice of Committee Meeting
There will be a regular meeting of the committee on

Public Safety  

Meeting to take place at Holyoke City Hall Wednesday February 26 at 6:30PM
Per order of the Chair: Terence Murphy

Agenda:

Item 1 Councilor Bartley: Ordered the DPW superintendent report to the city council regarding who is responsible for clearing sidewalks after a storm. The public sidewalks at Crosier Field on Northampton St as well as the sidewalks at Whiting Farms Rd from Northampton St to Gordon Drive and the sidewalk from McDonald’s to St Vincent St are snow filled for ice-covered for days. This is unacceptable especially in light of state law requiring landlords to clear it sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm. Further, please explain why neither Brightwood Ave nor Oakwood Ave were not plowed even one time after the most recent storm.

Item 2 Councilor McGee: Ordered that the DPW address the stairs and walk ways around city hall, the parking deck, Annex, and walk ways near the court house during storm times. DPW to appear before the public safety committee to discuss the issue.

Item 3 Councilor Murphy: Ordered that the public safety committee meet with the city engineer, the superintendent of the DPW, and representatives from Hazen Paper and Sunoco Products, to resolve the issue of unsafe roads on South Water Street both to and from those respective businesses. Seeking an update!

Item 4 Councilor Lisi: Ordered that the DPW work with the city council to develop a process for residents to request tree pits on city sidewalks near their home. There may also be a fee associated with this process.

Item 5 Councilor Anderson-Burgos: Ordered that a study be done at the intersection of West Franklin St & Linden St to see what can be done to improve safety. It is a dangerous intersection where multiple accidents have occurred on many occasions. Seeking an update!

Item 6 Councilor Lisi: Ordered that the city engineer investigate the traffic patterns around Northampton & South St to determine if any changes need to be made. Residents have been complaining about the traffic building up in the left turn lane onto South St from Northampton St southbound, in particular. Seeking an update!

Item 7 Councilor Murphy: Ordered that the public safety committee meet with the mayor, the law department, the building commissioner, the health director, the planning director, and the emergency management director to review what happened at 145 Essex St. The goal would be to review any legal obligations that the landlord has, and if the city or state has any legal obligations. In addition to that, to discuss whether we can work with non-profit housing agencies to provide immediate shelter until the building is ready for occupancy again. A plan of action should also be implemented to get tenants back into their apartments to get necessary items such as medicines, clothes, and pets.

Item 8 Councilor Murphy: Ordered that the mayor, the law department, and the police department provide an update to the public safety committee regarding the nuisance complaint for the buildings on Appleton and Elm St and 556 S Bridge St. Can we expect a greater police presence with the landlord’s cooperation in the near future?