Public Safety Committee Meeting January 10, 2023
6:30 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
Agenda posted January 6, 2023, 4:10 PM
City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Public Safety
Tuesday, January 10, 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: Israel Rivera
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87906105191?pwd=dEswcmZlWC8rbEtSVUx2WkdqYXVGdz09
Meeting ID: 879 0610 5191 Meeting Passcode: 163410 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Agenda
Item 1: 11-1-22 RIVERA_J, MALDONADO-VELEZ — Ordered, that the mayor and the flex squad be invited in to discuss what it is, as well as its effectiveness and what steps they’re taking to make sure that the neighborhoods are cleaned, not just on private property but public property as well.
*Tabled 11-21-22
Item 2: 12-20-22 JOURDAIN — That the City Engineer review the opportunity to put a raised sidewalk(s) in front of Blessed Sacrament School on Westfield Rd and report back to the City Council on our ability to do that. These were placed in front of Mayer Field on this street and should also be considered here as well for child safety.
Item 3: 12-6-22 BARTLEY — The DPW, HPD and City Engineer report to City Council with its efforts to improve traffic safety at the corners of Linden/Hampshire Sts. and Linden/Locust Sts. as residents report speeding, accidents, and many instances of running the stop signs. Please produce any accident reports for the last two years for these intersections and send as a communication.
Item 4: 12-6-22 ANDERSON-BURGOS — That the City Engineer come to a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss the possibility of making Corser St one way traffic.
Item 5: 11-15-22 BARTLEY — City Engineer review options to improve road safety at Queen and Cherry St. Issue: trucks exiting Queen St. are seen driving over the median strip and making an illegal left-hand turn onto Cherry St. (Rt. 202-South)
Item 6: 11-15-22 BARTLEY — The City Engineer provide an update to a future Public Safety meeting on the status of funding repairs at the crosswalk at the main gate to H.C.C. (This has been pending since at least 2017.)
Item 7: 11-1-22 VACON — that our city engineer evaluate the intersection of Evergreen and Bray Park Drive for improvements due to safety concern.
Item 8: 12-20-22 RIVERA_I, GIVNER, TALLMAN — Order that both the Public Health & Legal department come into public safety and elaborate on the process of code enforcement and taking landlords to court that aren’t complying with city ordinances.
Item 9: 11-1-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — That an Office of Tenants Protection be created. This will be housed under the Board of Health, or appropriate department, which will work on holding landlords accountable and making sure all residents of Holyoke are living safe conditions.
*Tabled 11-21-22
Item 10: 12-20-22 Petition from Residents of Holyoke in support of a Tenant Bill of Rights
Item 11: 12-20-22 ANDERSON-BURGOS, GIVNER — Ordered, that the Board of Health, Law Dept, and any other involved departments come into a Public Safety meeting to discuss how the city will use what it’s receiving from opioid lawsuit settlements.
The state AG’s office website provided an update on November 4th that Holyoke will receive around $427,000 over several years and it has been reported that the state also plans to seek a part of another $10 billion that was just announced from a CVS/Walgreens settlement.
Item 12: 11-15-22 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Order that Chief Pratt come in to discuss a possible gun drop off program.
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.