City Council 6/1/2021
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
June 1,2021
LAID ON THE TABLE
1. FY2022 Municipal Budget
2. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that handicap spaces on Ivy Ave. be condensed to one space in front of 8 Ivy Ave, to be located on the East side of the street, 90 feet north of Dwight St Recommended that the order be adopted
3. Public Hearing Continued:
The Committee on Public Safety to whom was referred an order Verizon New England, Inc. and Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, request permission to locate poles, wires, cables and fixtures, including the necessary anchors, guys and other such sustaining and protecting fixtures to be owned and used in common by your petitioners, along and across the following public way or ways:
Valley Heights Street: Place one (1) jointly owned pole numbered T.8-3/E.1-1N on the easterly side of Valley Heights street at a point approximately three hundred (300) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Valley Heights Street: Place one (1) jointly owned pole numbered T.8-4/E.1-2N on the easterly side of Valley Heights Street at a point approximately four hundred fifty (450) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Valley Heights Street: Place one (1) jointly owned pole numbered T.8-5/E.1-3N on the easterly side of Valley Heights Street at a point approximately six hundred ten (610) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Valley Heights Street: Place one (1) Jointly owned pole numbered T.8-6/E.1-4N on the easterly side of Valley Heights Street at a point seven hundred fifty five (755) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Valley Height Street: Place one (1) jointly owned pole numbered T.8-7/E.1-5N on the easterly side of Valley Heights Street at a point approximately nine hundred (900) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Valley Heights Street: Place one (1) jointly owned pole numbered T.8-8/e.1-6N in the middle of the cul-de-sac at the northerly end of Valley Heights Street at a point approximately nine hundred seventy (970) feet northerly from the center line of Lincoln St.
Reason: Place six (6) jointly owned pole on Valley Heights Street to provide the distribution of intelligence and telecommunications and for the transmission of high and low voltage electric current. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMUNICATIONS
4. Executive order of Mayor Terence Murphy rescinding the Executive order of June 17, 2021:
Declaring Racism and Police Violence as matters of Public Health that Constitute a Public Health Emergency
5. From Acting Mayor Terence Murphy letter reappointing Mr. Israel Rivera, 25 Willow St. to serve as a Commissioner of the Parks & Recreation for the City of Holyoke: Mr. Rivera will serve a three year term; said term will expire on June 30, 2024.
6. From Acting Mayor Terence Murphy letter reappointing Mr. Marco Crescentini, 66 Fairfield Ave. to the Local Historic District Commission (Fairfield Avenue). Mr. Crescentini will serve a three year term; said term will expire on July 1, 2024.
7. From Acting Mayor Terence Murphy letter reappointing Mr. Mark P. Cutting, 40 Briarwood Dr. to serve as a member of the Holyoke Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (HEDIC): This seat on the Board of Directors represents the Industrial Community Sector. Mr. Cutting will serve a three year term which will expire on June 30, 2024.
8. From Acting Mayor Terence Murphy, letter reappointing Ms. Rosa Pantoja, 715 Westfield Rd. to serve as a member of the Holyoke Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (HEDIC): This seat on the Board of Directors represents the At-Large Sector. Ms. Pantoja will serve a three year term: such term will expire on June 30, 2024.
9. From Acting Mayor Terence Murphy letter reappointing the following individuals to the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Office of Community Development for the City of Holyoke:
Ms. Kate Kruckemeyer, 63 Fairfield Ave. Mr.Elbert Bowler, 26 Claren Dr. Mr. Nelson Lopez, 3 Shawmut Ave., Ms. Nancy J.E. Gentile, 20 Montgomery Ave.
and, also appoint Mr. Patrick B. Beaudry, 37 Florence Ave., Said terms for all appointments shall expire on June 30, 2022.
10. From Brenna Murphy McGee, MMC communication regarding the City Council to create a process that would allow citizens to petition for the recall of elected officials who hold a four-year term.
11. From Brenna Murphy McGee, MMC and Jeffery Anderson-Burgos minutes of May 18, 2021.
12. From Parks & Recreation Commission minutes from April 1, 2021.
13. From Holyoke Board of Health minutes of February 1, 2021.
14. Communications of Green Highland LLC, 26 Hadley Mills Rd. in response to Engineering Comments sent to the Holyoke Ordinance committee on March 15, 2021.
15. Communications regarding Green Highland LLC, 26 Hadley Mills Rd. response to Planning Comments sent to The Holyoke Ordinance Committee on March 15, 2021.
16. Communication from Kirstin Beatty in regards to State Pesticide Spraying Issue and Resolution.
17. Letter of support from Emma Kerr in regards to the petition of the Holyoke Gas & Electric and Verizon to relocate the poles for Valley Heights.
PETITIONS
18. Petition of Diego Munoz Torres for a renewal of a second hand license for 241 Main St.
19. Petition for a new special permit for ACMJ., Inc. for a Marijuana Cultivation and Processing Establishment at 532 Main St.
20. Petition for a new special permit for First City Provision Inc. for a Recreational Marijuana Retail Establishment at 89 South St.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
21. Ordinance Committee Reports (if any)
21A. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order Special Permit Application of Green Valley analytics, LLC for a Marijuana Manufacturing Establishment at 306 Race St for a marijuana testing facility. Recommended that the application be approved with conditions:
1. That the owner of the building always pay the commercial property tax rate to the extent allowed by Federal, State, and Local Laws for the duration of the Special Permit
2. That the business retain a minimum 30% Holyoke residents for non-security jobs
3. That Hiring preference be given to security personnel that are retired Holyoke Police or are a retired member of another police department that now lives in the City of Holyoke
4. There shall be no marijuana consumption allowed on site
5. There shall be no deliveries of retail or medical marijuana from the site to individual homes, residences, or people
6. That hours of operation be set according to city ordinances.
21B. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order That a handicap sign be placed at 63 Taylor St. Recommended that the order be adopted.
21C. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order That the City Council consider raising the max amount of reserve police officers for 24 to 35. Recommended that the order be adopted.
22. Finance Committee Reports (if any)
22A. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order CPA FY20 PROJECT RECOMMENDATION FOR JACKSON STREET FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT Awaiting disposition
22B. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order That the City of Holyoke appropriate the amount of Seven Million Four Hundred Seventy One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Four Dollars ($7,471,654) for the purpose of paying costs of:
Partial roof replacement at the Lt. Clayre Sullivan Elementary School, a 112,000 square foot school building originally constructed in 1960, and located at 400 Jarvis Avenue, Holyoke, Massachusetts,
Partial roof replacement at the Maurice A. Donahue School, a 70,550 square foot school building originally constructed in 1972 and located at 210 Whiting Farms Rd., Holyoke, Massachusetts, and
Partial roof replacement at the E.N. White School, a 63,965 square foot school building constructed in 1958 and located at 1 Jefferson Street, Holyoke, Massachusetts,
including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school(s) and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City of Holyoke has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of The Holyoke City Council. To meet this appropriation the City Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44, or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City of Holyoke acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the City to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the City of Holyoke incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City of Holyoke, and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City of Holyoke and the MSBA provided further that any grant that the City of Holyoke may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) Eighty (80) percent ( %) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA.
Any premium received upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with G.L. c. 44, Section 20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount.
The City Treasurer is authorized to file an application with the appropriate officials of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Commonwealth”) to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all bonds or notes of the City authorized by this order and to provide such information and execute such documents as such officials of the Commonwealth may require in connection therewith. Awaiting disposition
22C. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that the finance committee consider a potential proposal from “Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid to include Holyoke on the public television series, “Great Places to Live, Work & Visit.” Consideration needs to be given to the potential marketing benefits in terms of economic development and tourism against the potential cost to subsidize the production. Awaiting disposition
22D. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that the finance committee invite in Mike McManus and Robert Peirent to discuss and address budgeting for sidewalks, trees, and equipment. Awaiting disposition
22E. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2021, FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 00/100 Dollars ($50,000) as follows:
FROM:
16101-51275 SALARY STUDY $16,000
16101-51102 REFERENCE LIBARY ASSISTANT 7,000
16101-51113 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 27,000
TOTAL: $50,000
TO:
19191-51999 POLICE/FIRE INDEMNIFICATION $25,000
19121-51999 WORKERS COMP 25,000
TOTAL: $50,000 Awaiting disposition
22F. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order to invite in the auditor to discuss and update the council on the rules associated with the ARP Act – auditor to also provide council with update as they become available. Awaiting disposition
23. Public Safety Committee Reports (if any)
24. Public Service Committee Reports (if any)
24A. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order From Acting Mayor Todd McGee letter appointing Mr. Ray Drewnowski, 27 Jarvis Ave. to serve as the Democratic Member for the Board of Registrar of Voters for the City of Holyoke: Mr. Drewnowski will replace Ms. Hayley Dunn and will serve a three year term; said term will expire on March 31, 2024. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
24B. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order From Acting Mayor Todd McGee letter reappointing L. Dorothea MacNeil, 226 Beech St. to serve as the Republican Member for the Board of Registrar of Voters for the City of Holyoke: Ms. MacNeil will serve a three year term; said term will expire on March 31, 2024. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
24C. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order From Acting Mayor Todd McGee, letter reappointing Ms. Frances Welson, 1421 Northampton St. to serve as a member of the Historical Commission for the City of Holyoke: Ms. Welson will serve a three year term; said term will expire on April 16, 2021. Recommended that the order has been complied with.,
24D. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order From Acting Mayor Todd McGee, reappointment of Lori Belanger of 16 Roland St. for the position of Purchasing Director for the City of Holyoke: Ms. Belanger will serve a four-year term; said term will expire on November 30, 2025. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
24E. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order that the park and recreation department and DPW review the park space at Jones Point in order to develop a plan to better utilize the space. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
24F. The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred an order that the Personnel Department post the position or Treasurer and the Public Service Committee begin interviews so the City Council can appoint a Treasurer to fill the unexpired term of Sandra Smith. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
25. Development and Governmental Relations Committee Reports (if any)
25A. The Committee on Development and Governmental Relations to whom was referred an order CDBG-CV Public Notice of Substantial Amendment to FY 2019 Annual Plan Recommended that the order be adopted.
25B. The Committee on Development and Governmental Relations to whom was referred an order that The City of Holyoke, through its Honorable City Council and Honorable Mayor hereby petition the Massachusetts General Court to enact Legislation to establish a process for recalling elected officials in the City of Holyoke, and that said Legislation be entitled:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RECALL OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE CITY OF HOLYOKE and that said act read as follows see attached Recommended that the order be adopted.
25C. The Committee on Development and Governmental Relations to whom was referred an order That the law department send out demand letters to the insurance company under provisions of both G.L. c 93A Ma Consumer Protection Act and G.L. c 176D, the Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair and Deceptive Acts in the business of Insurance. Recommended that the order has been complied with.
26. Charter and Rules Committee Reports (if any)
27. Joint City Council and School Committee Reports (if any)
MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS
28. MCGEE — Order that the public service committee invite in and interview the following translation services fir city council:
Transfluenci – Stacey Chevalier, Interpreter Services Coordinator – stacey@transfluenci.com – (413) 737-1888 – $65/hr. per interpreter, 3 hour minimum
HPS Language Access Services Department – Nick Magnolia, Translation Manager -nmagnolia@hps.holyoke.ma.us – (413) 512-5358 – $75/hr. per interpreter, 3 hour minimum
UMass Translation Services – Dr. Regina Galasso, Director – translate@umass.edu – (413) 545-2203 – $100/hr. per interpreter, 2 hour minimum
All of these providers would require 2 interpreters per meeting so that they can switch off at regular intervals (I suspect this will be the case with anyone you speak to).
There are a few other companies that provide interpretation services in the area, Language Bridge https://www.lbridge.com/ and Concordis Language Services https://www.concordislanguageservices.com/
29. MCGEE — Order that the city of Holyoke look to adopt an ordinance
LEAHY similar to Springfield regarding recreation and off
highway vehicles – see chapter 385- recreation & off-highway
vehicles city of Springfield.
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