This Week in Government Affairs
Please click on headlines to watch the part of City Council referenced.
Special City Council Meeting Sept. 2
Ward 2 City Councilor Will Puello Expelled from Council
Ward 2 City Councilor Will Puello, accused of child pornography, forgery, counterfeiting and obstruction of justice charges in Rhode Island, was expelled from his seat on Sept. 1.
The action corresponds to Section 46 of the Holyoke City Charter.
City Council President Todd McGee further informed that Mr. Puello will no longer receive a stiped nor benefits due to active city councilors.
Puello was arrested on May 11.
The city’s Assistant City Solicitor Kathleen E. Degnan, who wrote the letter to Puello, specifically cited the reason to him. Section 46 states: “Any office established under or by this act, except the office of the superintendent of schools, shall become vacant if the incumbent ceases to be a resident of the city. The conviction of the incumbent of any such offense of a crime punishable by imprisonment shall operate to create a vacancy in the office held by him.”
A robust debate initiated by City Councilor Kevin Jourdain at the beginning of the council meeting, spurred the information about Puello’s standing come to light.
Ms. Degnan cautioned the city councilors to not get into the charges against Puello, who has not been convicted of any charges. He has 5th Amendment rights and civil rights due him, she said.
The 5th Amendment guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids “double jeopardy,” and protects against self-incrimination.
New developments on this matter can be found in an article written by Dennis Hohenberger of MassLive here.
Grant to Install Shot Spotter in City Tabled
Finance Committee Chair City Councilor Joe McGiverin presented a motion from his committee to accept a $64,850 grant that would install shot spotters – an audio device that records where weapons have been fired.
Debate included why installing the devices on two square miles only instead of throughout the city is proposed and the concern of entering the city into a contract with a for profit company from which costs will surely continue to increase and the costs would be passed to city taxpayers.
Interim Treasurer Search Ends with Appointment of Rory Casey
Three candidate finalists for treasurer do not live in city. The city’s treasurer, whether interim or appointed, must live in the city, in accordance with the city charter. One of the candidates lives as far as Gettysburg, PA.
Originally, there were 7 candidates but councilors were only informed of three of them.
City Councilor Kocayne Givner asked why finalists are being considered who don’t live in the city. Councilor McGee responded that candidates may live anywhere but must move to the city if the council appoints any given candidate.
In the end, Rory Casey of Holyoke was appointed.
White Hut Fast Food for Former People’s Bank Location on Hampden OK’d
City Councilor and chair of the council’s Development and Government Relations Committee, Tessa Murphy-Romboletti informed that the White Hut fast food establishment on Hampden and Pleasant streets would add 15 jobs in the city, reduce parking from 47 to 16 spots, add an outdoor easting area, and be open from breakfast to dinner hours. The restaurant group had requested a special permit to reduce the parking spots. The council voted to grant the restaurant group a special permit to open the business there.
Full Agenda here.
