Government Affairs Last Week and This Week
Holyoke once again is set to pay late fees to the IRS for not filing withholding forms on time.
“There is a $30,000 appropriation here in the treasurer’s office for once again — another penalty to the IRS for not doing filing on time,” said City Councilor Kevin Jourdain at the City Council meeting this past Tuesday. “We’ve got to clean it up down there. The citizens have a right to know that their Treasurer’s Office is working effectively and efficiently.”
Also at the at times emotional City Council meeting, City Council President Todd McGee asked for a moment of silence for people have have passed. Included was his beloved “Papa” Roger J. Reidy. Mr. Reidy was also the grandfather of City Clerk and Registrar of Voters Brenna Murphy McGee.
The City Council President McGee recalled Mr. Reidy’s absolute devotion to his family, starting as a 12-year-old boy delivering ice buckets throughout the city and working from 3 am to 10 pm most days. “Just a wonderful human being,” said McGee.
Mr. Reidy’s obit is here.
During the Public Comment, John Rivera of Cabot Street expressed opposition to spending $70,000 for creating a new position — planning manager — in the Office of Planning and Economic Development. He advocated instead for the city to spend resources on putting more trash cans on public places. Mr. Rivera pointed to the ever-growing crisis of lack of affordable housing.
“Tenants are going though a crisis all over America and Holyoke is no stranger to the crisis of housing,” he said.
In other items, the Holyoke Public Schools received a $1M donation. Before it can be accepted, the councilors referred the generous gift to the Law Department.
Holyoke is waiting on the state before instituting in the city a Puerto Rican Cultural District. More than half of the city’s 40,000 residents at Latina/o.
Councilor Jourdain urged residents to contact Holyoke Gas & Electric to manage the substantial increases in energy this winter. Businesses and residents who rely on gas to heat their homes will see a 32 percent increase in their bills; electric bills will rise by 10 percent, he said. More information from HG&E on this is available here.
“HG&E is willing to work with people to do budget plans, see what they can do to make sure families stay warm.”
Councilors also approved special permits to two additional marijuana manufacturing plans.
Also this week, the Development and Government Relations Committee discussed a special permit for a second driveway to be added to 2 Orchard St. so that the school bus can use it to turn around after picking up a student at that address.
Committee Chair Tessa Murphy Romboletti said she checked with the city’s engineer, planner and lawyer about the request.
“It was helpful for me to drive to the address and take a look,” she said.
In the end, the committee advised the resident to seek approval from the Department of Public Works since it is not an issue for the councilors to address.
Said Councilor David Bartley, who said he also visited the address: “ The point is to make it safe for the children to be picked up.”
Added Council Joseph McGiverin: How this ever got in front of us is beyond me. That’s a School Department issue.”
The agenda for the City Council can be found here.
The full Development and Government Relations meeting can be seen here.
