Public Service Committee Meeting August 19, 2025

Published August 7, 2025, 2:58 p.m.

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Public Service

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
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: Juan Anderson-Burgos
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83497022358?pwd=rko4ebPVJ2ej9pOvlvVe5zmLwtoEZf.1
Meeting ID: 834 9702 2358 Meeting Passcode: 564569 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 March 25, 2025 meeting.

Item 2: 8-5-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Mr. Joseph Charles Mazzola to serve on the Local Historic District Commission.  Mr. Mazzola will serve a three-year term expiring on July 1, 2028.

Item 3: 6-3-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing several members to serve on the Recycling Advisory Committee.  Members will serve a three-year term expiring August 2026.
*Clarified that only Cindy Koch is to be appointed for a three-year term expiring August 2028.

Item 4: 6-17-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia- letter appointing Ms. Heather Leenders of 11 Robert Drive to serve on the Commission on Disabilities. Ms Leenders will serve a three-year term, expiring March 2028.

Item 5: 8-5-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Meghan Connolly of 9 McMahon Drive to serve on the Library Board. Ms. Connolly will replace Mr. Thomas Gilchrist and will serve the remainder of his term expiring February 2027.
*Updated term from previous letter

Item 6: 6-17-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia- letter appointing Ms. Meghan Connolly of 9 McMahon Drive to serve on the Library Board of Directors.  Ms. Connolly will replace Mr. Thomas Gilchrist and will serve the remainder of his term expiring February 2026.

Item 7: 8-5-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Mr. Christopher Gauthier to serve on Local Historic District Commission.  Mr. Gauthier will serve a three-year term expiring on July 1, 2028.

Item 8: 8-5-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Margaret Whitehead of 160 Pearl St. to serve on the Library Board. Ms. Whitehead will replace Ms. Blanchard and will serve a three year term expiring February 2028.

Item 9: 8-5-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Mr. Christian Carde-Guzman of 203 W Franklin St to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee. Mr. Carde-Guzman’s term will expire June 30, 2026.

Item 10: 5-6-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Laddy Rua of 15 Portland St. to serve as the Director of Veterans Services.  Effective date April 28, 2025.

LAID ON THE TABLE
(Items taken up at previous meeting(s) and laid on the table. Discussion may or may not take place)

Item 11: 3-18-25 I. Rivera – Order that the honorable city council develop a list of core values that is developed and supported by all individual councilors.

Item 12: 3-18-25 I. Rivera – Order that the honorable city council develop a vision statement that outlines the council’s goals and aspirations for the community.

Item 13: 3-18-25 I. Rivera -Order that the honorable city council develop a mission statement focused on key priorities such as:
Community focus: Prioritizing the needs and quality of life for all residents.
Inclusive decision-making: Ensuring representation and consideration of diverse perspectives.
Fiscal responsibility: Managing public funds wisely.
Transparency and accountability: Open communication with the public.
Sustainable development: Planning for the future with environmental considerations

ADMINISTRATIVELY LAID ON THE TABLE
(Per City Council Rule 9P, “Any order not acted on within 45 days shall be deemed tabled.” Items within this section are laid on the table by virtue of being in the committee more than 45 days. Discussion of these items is unlikely, but any item may be removed from the table upon motion of the committee.)

Item 14: 3-7-23 From Citizens of Holyoke, petition to meet with City Council to discuss Mayor Joshua Garcia’s recent removal of The Chair of the Holyoke Historical Commission, Paola Ferrario.

Item 15: 1-22-24 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, letter appointing Mr. David Blood, 35 South Street, South Hadley, to serve as a member of the Tourism Advisory Committee. Mr. Blood will serve a three-year term; said term will expire January 1, 2027.
*Not subject to Council confirmation

Item 16: 2-6-24 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Kayla Rodriguez of 14 Laurel St to service as a member of the Valley Opportunity Council.  Ms. Rodriguez will replace Jackie Watson and will serve a three-year term expiring December 31, 2027.
*Not subject to Council confirmation

Item 17: 8-6-24 From Personnel Director Kelly Curran- City of Holyoke Social Media Policy

Item 18: 2-4-25 From Mayor Garcia, letter appointing Mr. David P. Owen of 12 Mason Rd. to serve as a member of the Historical Commission.  Mr. David Owen will serve a three year term expiring January 2028.
*Not subject to Council confirmation

Item 19: 3-4-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Patricia Normand of 36 Pleasant St to serve as a member of the Conservation Commission. Ms. Normand will serve a three year term expiring February 1, 2028.
*New letter later filed reappointing Ms. Normand, confirmed 3-18-25

Item 20: 5-20-25 Anderson-Burgos- Ordered, that we revisit a discussion about city councilors having Holyoke email addresses. Issues are coming up with some councilors having to delete emails because inboxes are full, and potentially losing emails that are subject to records requests.

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.