Public Safety Committee Meeting June 21, 2023

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
Public Safety

Wednesday, June 21, 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/83219355620?pwd=U2J4enFQYUV2dkRXNEFLZXc4TXliUT09
Meeting ID: 832 1935 5620 Meeting Passcode: 508576 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 2-21-23 GIVNER, ENTIRE COUNCIL — Ordered, that With Community support, order that the City Forrester present his department’s obligations and an action plan for addressing constituent concerns. Ongoing issues include dangerous dead and overgrown trees growing on or over city property. Understanding our Forrester’s action plans will help us understand how best to support the department’s efforts. This will also help with understanding if an ordinance update or change is needed.

Item 2: 4-18-23 RIVERA_I, TALLMAN — Ordered, that Order that the Mayor organize an advisory committee that will work in collaboration with Public Health Department and Public Safety Committee that will work on coordinating re-entry services for those re-entering society, specifically the city of Holyoke.

Item 3: 5-16-23 JOURDAIN — Ordered, That the Police Chief provide the City Council with a performance report on how Shot Spotter is performing and what we are learning about gun activity in the city so far.  Please email the City Council all reports available asap for our review so we can be prepared for this discussion.

Item 4: 1-17-23 VACON, PUELLO, TALLMAN — Ordered, that local inspections of retail marijuana establishments for compliance with laws (selling to 21+) similar to those for cigarettes and alcohol be completed in coordination with the Cannabis Commission.

Item 5: 1-18-22 GIVNER — Ordered, that That the City of Holyoke address poorly or un-plowed alleyways. Residents on the block of 192 Walnut str have been paying to have been paying to have alley plowed. Why are these not being plowed by the city if they are used by DPW for refuse pickup and access for Fire, Utilities, and police?

Item 6: 1-4-22 JOURDAIN, BARTLEY, TALLMAN — Ordered, that That the DPW and Sewer Commission do a study and seriously consider adopting a sewer maintenance insurance program for homeowners that is modeled off the Water Department’s water maintenance insurance program. The Water Department program has been a great accomplishment and has been very warmly received by residents who appreciate this very low cost protection.  That the DPW report back to the City Council on their findings by April 1, 2022.

Item 7: 11-16-21 MCGEE —  Ordered, that Order that the public safety committee invite in the water dept to discuss and address the water issues on Michelle lane.

Item 8: 1-18-22 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that Ordered that DPW and Parks & Rec look into making Rohan Park a kids and dog park. As it stands only half of the park is being utilized.
*Tabled 2-16-22

Item 9: 10-5-21 MCGEE — Order that the Board of Health, Community Development, and Mayor do a survey of City Hall and the annex building in order to prioritize the top needs for improvements of the two buildings (I.e. elevators, mold removal, carpets, etc).

Item 10: 12-1-20 MURPHY — Ordered, that Ordered that the public safety committee meet with representatives from the Opioid Substance Abuse task force, the health director, and Judge William Hadley, to discuss the need for a short-term residential transition program to assist individuals returning from a treatment program.  The goal of this would be to improve the chances of long-term success for these individuals.  The resident capacity would probably be around 20 beds.
*Tabled 1-6-21, 2-16-22

Item 11: 12-15-20 MURPHY, LISI, HERNANDEZ — Ordered, that Ordered that the mayor and the health director appear before that public safety committee to provide an update on the potential for the city to establish a homeless shelter, potentially at the War Memorial Building.
*Tabled 1-6-21, 3-10-21, 2-16-22

Item 12: 9-7-21 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that That the DPW Superintendent provide the City Council with an update on the tree list. Update should include how trees are prioritized and the obstacles the DPW faces in addressing them. This is a constituent request.

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.