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Agenda

Item 1: 2-17-26 Murphy-Romboletti – Ordered that the ordinance for the Weights and Measures fee schedule be updated per the recommendations of the Director.

Item 2: 2-17-26 I. Rivera.- Ordered that the Council review and revise the ordinance on the Parking Advisory Board based on the recommendations of their committee.

Item 3: PUBLIC HEARING 1-6-26 I. Rivera – Ordered, that the Honorable City Council review the ordinance that establishes the operating time frames for cannabis dispensaries.

Item 4: PUBLIC HEARING 10-21-25 Vacon-ORDER: Review & amend the sign ordinance as needed to reduce the increased posting of a variety of signs on public property and other changes that may be offered.
*Continued from 12-3-25

Item 5: 1-6-26 From Planning Department-Zoning text, review, and amend sign ordinance

Item 6: 11-7-24 Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that the fine for violating the ordinance on parking in front of driveways be increased. The amount of increase can be discussed based on what is reasonable and what is allowable.

Item 7: 2-17-26 Devine, Anderson-Burgos, Magrath-Smith, Rivera, J.– Ordered that the Ordinance Committee increase the fines for any and all ordinances dealing with blocking driveways, crosswalks and parking too close to intersections.
Fines shall be increased to $75 and up to $150.
Any violation of the parking ban shall be a fine of $150.
In addition, if warranted, a payment plan may be implemented for low income and elderly residents.

Item 8: 4-15-25 Bartley, Vacon -Winter parking in Holyoke could be simplified by the following ordinance change -Ordered that during the winter months between November and· March no parking will be allowed in odd-numbered years on the side of the street with odd numbers; in even-numbered years, no parking will be allowed on street sides with even numbers.

Item 9: 8-5-25 Jourdain, Vacon – That 2-421 Ordinance regarding times when meetings are to be conducted be amended to add the elected multi-member bodies of city including the City Council and School Committee.
*Tabled 2-24-26

Item 10: 11-18-25 Magrath-Smith, Devine – Ordered, that all public board and commission meetings be recorded and publicly shared.
*Tabled 2-10-26

Item 11: 1-20-26 Vacon, Anderson-Burgos – ORDER: that any senior completing hours to be eligible for tax work off have their taxes reduced by 1/2 the value in the 3rd quarter & 1/2 in the 4th quarter. Some taxpayers have quarterly bills less than $1,000 & potentially risk losing the full work off benefit when it is all paid in the 4th quarter.
*Tabled 2-24-26

Item 12: 2-17-26 Purcell- Order that the Handicap Sign be removed from 894 Dwight St. Holyoke, MA. The resident no longer resides at that location. Copy to the DPW, Disabilities Commission.

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

Item 13: 2-21-23 PUELLO, VACON — in accordance with the city charter, create ordinance language that confirms, no sitting city councilor shall become a member of any board or commission in city government during the term of office. To Ordinance Committee
*Tabled 11-28-23, 12-12-23, 9-11-24

Item 14: 12-17-24 Ocasio – (referred from Joint Committee 12-10-25) Order that the City change the use of the lot at the corner of Adam and South Summer from being a 24hr parking to a Residential Parking from 5pm to 7am. Morgan School Staff Parking from 7am- 5pm.

Item 15: 12-17-24 Magrath-Smith – Ordered that Council separate the positions of Parks Superintendent and City Forester and make necessary changes in Ordinance in order to do so. Our current combined position is not supported by Ordinance.
*Tabled 9-24-25, 10-22-25, 11-12-25, 2-10-26, 2-24-26

Item 16: 5-6-25 From Leiha Maldonado- Sick & Dead Cats in Holyoke
*Tabled 8-6-25

Item 17: 5-6-25 Bartley, Anderson-Burgos – Holyoke ordinance chapter 14 be amended to protect the welfare of felines. The ordinance chapter can be provided by our Ad min. Asst. upon request (its approx 30 pages) or you may email me and I’ll send it along. The issue arose a result my communication with the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and its Director of the Division of Animal Health who advised, “Breeding of dogs and cats is an unregulated activity in Massachusetts.” Per the Director, there are regulations that, in fact, do pertain to canines. However, he states, “There are no such regulatory requirements for cats.” Holyoke, unlike the state, can and should protect animal health and the welfare of cats and ordain regulatory powers as needed.
*Tabled 8-6-25

Item 18: 8-5-25 Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that St. Jerome from Dwight to Sargeant be reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. Speeding has been an issue and the limit being higher than the citywide limit seems to give drivers the sense they can go much faster. Send to Ord
*Tabled 11-12-25

Item 19: 9-17-25 BARTLEY, VACON-The city council amend chapter 86 of the city’s ordinances (and elsewhere if so deemed) to allow two-wheeled vehicles (i.e. motorcycles) to park multiple like-­sized vehicles in any single public parking space as the City Engineer may determine (potentially up to three) whether metered or not metered. This shall be applicable to parking spaces in city-owned parking garages including Mayor Taupier and Mayor Proulx. The city shall allow private parking lots the option to institute a similar parking schedule for motorcycles and like-sized vehicles. Alternatively, the city allow said right to be permitted by special permit issued by the Chief of Police if other traffic standards do not allow this ordinance change. City Council consider adoption of chapter 40, section 22 of MGL.
*Tabled 11-12-25

Item 20: PUBLIC HEARING 1-20-26 Magrath-Smith -Ordered, that Council make the necessary zoning ordinance changes in order for us to clarify parking on residential properties and create an enforcement structure.
*Continued from 2-24-26 to 4-14-26

Item 21: PUBLIC HEARING 1-20-26 Panitch, I. Rivera, J. Rivera, Thalheimer, Purcell, Anderson-Burgos, Magrath-Smith: Ordered, that the Holyoke Zoning Ordinance be amended to add a definition of “Data Center” as a use, and to clarify that this use is not allowable in any zoning district in the city.
*Continued from 2-24-26 to 4-14-26

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

Item 22: 4-5-22 From Massachusetts Association of Realtors, Guide to Understanding housing choice and its opportunities.

Item 23: 12-20-22 (copy, original sent to Public Safety) Petition from Residents of Holyoke in support of a Tenant Bill of Rights.

Item 24: 3-7-23 JOURDAIN, MAGRATH-SMITH, VACON — Ordered, that the City Council work with the Treasurer to review and codify the city’s investment policy by ordinance.

Item 25: 10-17-23 From Board of Public Works, Mary L. Monahan, Chairperson letter re:  FY24 Sewer Rate.

Item 26: 3-19-24 From Melissa Lafond, communication regarding speed hump petition from September 28, 2022

Item 27: 10-1-24 Speed Hump Petition from Hampshire Street Residents.

Item 28: 10-15-24 Bartley, Anderson-Burgos, Devine, Givner, Greaney, Jourdain, Magrath-Smith, Murphy-Romboletti, Ocasio, Rivera, I., Rivera, J., Sullivan, Vacon-A moratorium be established granting Holyoke’s multi-family property owners, as defined by 780 CMR 110.7, as amended and effective 10/11/24, more time to come into compliance with MA STATE BUILDING CODE regulations. In terms of rollout, the city’s building commission, seems to have imposed an unrealistic two-month turnaround for the hundreds of property owners impacted. Note that the Building Commission, for unexplained reason(s), admittedly dropped the ball on this regulation for decades. Thus, a moratorium of 18-36 months be established to allow property owners a realistic time to hire the appropriate professionals, make necessary improvements, and then contact the Building Commission for an inspection. During said moratorium, no fines shall accrue and any fines previously imposed will be rescinded. Property owners are nevertheless obligated to complete the requirements and to timely respond to the Building Commissioner during this moratorium. For authority to create a moratorium see M.G.L chapter 143, §§3, 3A.

Item 29: 10-15-24 Bartley, Anderson-Burgos, Devine, Givner, Greaney, Jourdain, Magrath-Smith, Murphy-Romboletti, Ocasio, Rivera, I., Rivera, J., Sullivan, Vacon-As a compendium to the moratorium, an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives from the Building Commission and multi-family owners and the city council be immediately formed. The building committee shall be charged with effectively and efficiently implementing the certificate of inspection requirements and ensuring that it is more efficiently complied with after this initial roll out. Note that as properties change hands and staffing resources change and institutional memory fades this committee will make sure Holyoke doesn’t face a similar issue in the future. For authority to create an ad hoc committee see M.G.L. chapter 143, §§3, 3A.

 

Item 30: 11-7-24 Bartley, Ocasio, Vacon – DPW post ‘no left turn’ and ‘no U-turn’ signs at the traffic light near Brightside Ave and the jug handle. Motorists are consistently making illegal (and very dangerous) turns.

Item 31: 11-7-24 Vacon, Givner, Ocasio- ORDER: that the city engineer provide draft language for a formal program to prioritize and schedule placement of speed humps and recommend other traffic calming/safety interventions based on data collected from speed data collection via tubes or radar. That additional traffic speed data collection units be purchased as needed for the program.
Establish a method for seeking traffic safety/calming recommendations so that citizens can request measures for improvements to neighborhood traffic issues before completing a petition for a speed hump or raised crosswalk.
Please include police department input for the enforcement component.

Item 32: 1-7-25 Devine, Givner – ORDERED: that all Collective Bargaining Agreements or Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement that are sent to the City Council for passage be red-lined ONLY TO THOSE ITEMS pertaining to appropriations and that no other subjects be entertained or red lined except appropriations.

Item 33: 2-4-25 From the Office of the Governor, Public Settlements Policy – Jan. 2025

Item 34: 2-4-25 JOURDAIN, VACON – Ordered, that the City Council create an ordinance that creates a settlement policy and further prohibits the use of non-disclosure agreements in the City of Holyoke consistent with what Governor Healey has done at the state level.  Please see attached policy.

Item 35: 3-18-25 Magrath-Smith, ordered that the Ordinance Committee make necessary changes in order for us to align city ordinances to the revised notification procedure for regular, sub-committee, and special meetings recently drafted in Charter and Rules.

Item 36: 4-15-25 Bartley, Magrath-Smith – To alleviate confusion, the city of Holyoke hereby adopts an ordinance to post prominent signage onto street signs if the street is an unaccepted way. In Springfield (and other municipalities), such signs are affixed to street signs and labeled “private ways.” This may help to better educate and inform the public.

Item 37: 5-6-25 From Residents of Elm St-Speed Hump Petition

Item 38: 6-3-25 Vacon-ORDER: That we amend our ordinance so a request for evaluation for eligibility for speed humps or raised crosswalks can be requested without a petition.

Item 39: 6-17-25 Vacon- ORDER: that speed limit on Cypress & Sequoia be lowered to 15 or 20 mph due to safety concerns similar to Bemis. They are being used as a cut through.

Item 40: 8-5-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that the Ordinance Committee revise Section 74-98 of our ordinances concerning private property and vegetation to balance the need for public health and safety with emergent gardening practices focused on ecological stewardship. Revise the current language to create clarity concerning exemptions or alternative compliance measures for properties dedicated to native landscaping, pollinator habitats, or organic gardening practices.

Item 41: 8-5-25 MDAR – Wedgewood Terrace- Animal Health Order

Item 42: 8-5-25 Petition from Residents of Sequia Dr. and Cypress Rd- application for Speed Humps

Item 43: 8-5-25 Devine, Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that 2 lanes from Linden Street onto Beech Street be designated as a left turn lane and a right turn lane and painted with the appropriate turn arrows.

Item 44: 9-17-25 Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – create an Ordinance to match Council Rule 108. Rule 1 OB reads: ” The following information must be submitted to the City Council with every loan or bond order: A. A statement as of that date of the bonded indebtedness of the city, exclusive of the self-supporting bonds of the Gas and Electric Department and the Water Department. 8. A statement of the borrowing capacity remaining within the limits as set by law, after issuance of the bond being applied for.”

Item 45: 9-17-25 BARTLEY, VACON- ORDER the city start the process to review the petition to install speed humps on Kaster St. Petition attached.

Item 46: 10-21-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that a crosswalk be placed across Hampden Street at Arlington, to aid schoolchildren and families. There is a school bus stop at that comer.

Item 47: 10-21-25 Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – Ordered, that the City Engineer, the Planning Board, and the Department of Public Works, take the following actions:
1. Initiate the process to layout Brookwood Road as a public way under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 82.
2. Conduct the necessary surveys, inspections, and approvals required for acceptance.
3. Place the matter before the City Council for a vote to formally accept Brookwood Road as a public way.

Item 48: 11-6-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that the City Council establish a Traffic Commission to oversee and coordinate citywide traffic management, safety, and infrastructure improvements, including: developing and recommending traffic regulations and ordinances and reviewing and recommending for approval traffic-related proposals (ex. signage, signalization, pedestrian improvements, and neighborhood traffic-calming measures). This Commission will include representatives from Council, Engineering, Holyoke Police Department, and DPW, and will provide regular reports to the City Council on traffic conditions, project updates, and recommended policy changes.