Agenda

Item 1: Minutes of October 28, 2024

Item 2: 9-4-24 Petition of Francisco Martir, Food Vendor License Application for 415 Main St.
*Tabled 9-30-24, 10-28-24

Item 3: PUBLIC HEARING 11-7-24 Special Permit Application of Daniel LaFlamme (Daniel’s Truck Center Inc) to operate a light truck repairing and detailing center at 41 Temple St (085-00-012) per sec. 7.2.13(a).

Item 4: 6-4-24 Bartley, Sullivan- The conservation commissioner be invited to attend a future DGR meeting to provide an update on the construction in and around Scott’s Tower. Please be prepared to address the issue of water run-off to the pond owned by the abutter at 5 and 15 Lindor Heights. Refer to DGR and Conservation Commission.
*Tabled 6-6-24, 9-30-24, 10-28-24

Item 5: 8-6-24 BARTLEY, SULLIVAN – The procurement office present any contract(s) relative to the Anniversary Hill// Scott’s Tower project by and between the City, Kestral Land Trust, the CPA Committee, etc. to the City Council via a communication by the first meeting in September. If possible, please email the documents to the City Council admin. assistant as early as possible.
*Tabled 10-28-24

Item 6: 11-7-21 Anniversary Hill Park Trail & Utility Corridor Contract Documents

Item 7: 11-19-24 GIVNER -Ordered that Holyoke Assessors Parcel 062-03-005, 133 Pine Street, Holyoke, MA be sold to abutter, Pine Suffolk, LLC with an address of 175 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040, for $4,500.00. This property is valued under $35,000.00 and therefore exempt from procurement requirements. This property was originally sold via auction to the above abutter, but due to an error in the auction process the same was declared void. $4,500 was the auction price. The abutter plans to utilize the property in connection with his business located on either side of the property. This property was previously declared surplus.

Item 8: 11-19-24 GIVNER – Ordered that Holyoke Assessors Parcel 183-00-006, Old Rock Valley Road, Holyoke, MA be declared surplus and sold to abutter, Jessica A. Messier with an address of 22 Old Rock Valley Road, Holyoke, MA 01040, for $25,000.00. This property is valued under $35,000.00 and therefore exempt from procurement requirements. The abutter plans to keep this property as open space.

Item 9: 8-6-24 BARTLEY, VACON, JOURDAIN, SULLIVAN, GREANEY-ordered that OPED please provide an update on the former K-Mart plaza. On the main door to the former retailer is contact information for what appears to be a new owner. Please reach out to them and circle back to city council. Per its web site: For other inquiries, please call Transformco at (847) 286-2500 and please see its website www.transformco.com. Refer to DGR for a follow up.

Item 10: 12-3-24 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI – ordered to amend the approved City Center Liquor License authorization for an expanded area by including a geographical description for the added eligible area in the previously approved home rule petition.
This addition is needed for final submission and approval by the Legislature.

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: 6-6-23 Special Permit Application of Salmar Realty LLC c/o Peter Martins for a special permit for a Proposed Coffee shop/Drive Thru Restaurant at South Street Plaza, A Portion of 209 South St.
*Public hearing closed 10-28-24

Item 12: 3-1-22 I. RIVERA – Order that the council invite the DPW director of Chicopee to speak on their refuse pickup system that was developed several years ago and what the cost benefits are to their community.
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 13: 9-5-23 JOURDAIN — City Council explore with the Mayor a residential redevelopment plan for city owned vacant parcels has homes built then sold. City funds coupled with any available grant funding will be used for seed funding with the proceeds of the sales used to build more homes. The long term play for the city is the generation of all of the property tax revenue from these home sales, the new availability of great new housing, the reduction in city owned buildable lots and the growth of population.
*Tabled 2-27-24, 8-5-24

Item 14: 9-5-23 JOURDAIN — Law Dept and Mayor be invited to the City Council to discuss an update on the city’s use of the receivership program including current properties being targeted and others that are excellent prospects for required repairs. I also would like to see if we can use this for larger scale problem rental properties with the right receiver as has been done in larger metropolitan cities. I also would like to start an initiative as has been used in large urban settings where we have required landlord training programs when appropriate as well as a model like Kansas City Bad Apple Program for repeat offenders. Law dept. and Mayor will be encouraged to look at what resources we need to go bold on problem properties and develop a plan with us.
*Tabled 1-29-24, 8-5-24

Item 15: 12-5-23 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — An order to declare Parcel Holyoke Assessors Map 212, Block 00, Parcel 001, Easthampton Road, Holyoke, MA as surplus property and sell to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game with an address of 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 620, Boston, MA 02114 for $270,000.00.
*Tabled 12-18-23, 8-5-24

Item 16: 8-1-23 VACON, BARTLEY, PUELLO – (copy) Ordered, that the City Council adopts a resolution seeking our State Delegation to support the reinstatement of no electronic tolls from Westfield to West Springfield to create an incentive for tractor trailer drivers to travel on the Mass Pike and to alleviate the increasingly heavy tractor trailer traffic on Homestead Avenue in Holyoke.
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 17: 4-16-24 BARTLEY – OPED please provide status on 245 High Street. Building sits across High St from City Hall and the windows are boarded with plywood. Minutes from DGR meeting are attached as a communication. Refer to OPED, Mayor and Law Dept.
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 18: 12-19-23 From Aaron Vega, Director of Office of Planning & Economic Development, communication regarding amendment to special tax assessment agreement with Jackson Canal, LLC.
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 19: 11-21-23 From Office of Planning & Economic Development, Grant Completion Form for FY23 Urban Agenda Grant Program
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 20: 12-6-22 BARTLEY, PUELLO – (copy) Ordered, The Mayor and community development dept fund the following project with either CDBG or ARPA funds: Replace the asphalt double-sidewalk located on the west side of S. Elm St. between Wolcott and Congress Streets and replace with a tree belt and install plantings.
*Tabled 8-5-24

Item 21: 5-3-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI – Ordered, That the Committee on Development & Government Relations be provided a list of all special permits issued by the Council. Please include a 5 year look-back on how many permits have been issued, and a rough estimate of the total amount of staff time required to review and process these permits. Refer to the City Clerk, OPED, the Council’s Administrative Assistant and Law Department.
*Tabled 8-5-24

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 days. Discussion of these items is unlikely, but any item may be removed from the table upon motion of the committee.)

Item 22: 6-4-24 I. RIVERA – Order that representatives of the Water Department come in to DGR and elaborate on processing fee attached to payment when using a credit/debit card when processing payment. Constituents have raised concerns on how much the are being charged on top of their water bill.

Item 23: 6-4-24 DEVINE – ORDERED: That the DGR Committee invite in Representative Duffy and Senator Velis to clarify if there is a difference between the Affordable Homes Act and the 2% real estate surcharge we voted on Tuesday 5/21. If this surcharge on real estate is contained in the Affordable Homes Act, then ordered that our vote taken on 5/21/2024 be rescinded.

Item 24: 6-4-24 DEVINE – ORDERED: that the City Council reconsider and then rescind their vote of May 21, 2024 on agenda item #25 filed buy Jourdain, Vacon, Devine, Sullivan, Bartley and Greaney re: pending HOUSE No. 2747, an ACT granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing.

Item 25: 6-4-24 I. RIVERA – Order that representatives of the Holyoke Public Schools and STCC (specifically Dean tech) come into DGR and elaborate on the “After Dark” programming that will be soon launching at the Dean Tech school site.

Item 26: 6-4-24 DEVINE – ORDERED that the Mayor consider appointing an Affordable Housing Commission using the guidelines in proposed HOUSE BILL 2747 (An Act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing)

Item 27: 4-16-24 Communication from Councilor Bartley, 9-1-15 DGR meeting minutes excerpt

Item 28: 1-22-24 BARTLEY – Ordered, The DGR chair invite the state delegation to a future meeting.

Item 29: 1-22-24 BARTLEY – Ordered, The DGR chair invite into committee the Governor’s representative for western Mass and Sen Markey’s representative for western Mass. to a future meeting.

Item 30: 11-21-23 BARTLEY, PUELLO – Ordered, The DGR committee meet with city officials responsible for managing our parking enforcement staff. The staff has been repeatedly threatened with physical violence and subject to beratement from the public and have privately paid for body cameras. Send a communication advising the council of policies and procedures to ensure employee safety in advance of the subcommittee meeting.

Item 31: 10-17-23 PUELLO, MALDONADO VELEZ – (copy) Ordered, That the police department please provide a list, with events and dollar amounts that have received police details/paid overtime during the last 6 months. Private businesses popular with leadership, making profit should not have their OT details paid for by tax dollars when public community events have had to budget their own funds in the past.

Item 32: 10-3-23 BARTLEY, MCGIVERIN, PUELLO, I. RIVERA – Ordered, The City Engineer and DPW develop and install safety measures for passenger cars, trucks and motorcycles in the vicinity of Holyoke’s canals as the current protective measures have recently and regularly been breached resulting in loss of life, property damage, and costs to HG&E. Refer to DPW, City Engineer, HG&E Manager & Commissioners, and Emergency Management Director to strategize improvements and the Mayor to finance these projects. Refer to DGR for discussion.

Item 33: 8-1-23 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, Executive order regarding blighted and vacant buildings.

Item 34: 12-20-22 I. RIVERA – Order that the honorable city council invite representatives of Holyoke Community College, Westfield State University and the Five Colleges to discuss ways they could better support a path for Holyoke youth to gain equitable access within these schools.

Item 35: 12-20-22 BARTLEY, JOURDAIN – Ordered, The Law Dept., Building Commissioner and the city’s property group provide its annual update on the City’s Receivership program. Please send communication to the Clerk for the second city council meeting in January 2023. Refer to DGR Cte. for a review.

Item 36: 6-21-22 MALDONADO VELEZ, JOURDAIN – Ordered, a Resolution in Support of Eviction Sealing to Promote Housing Opportunity and Mobility (Attached).

Item 37: 5-17-22 MCGEE, BARTLEY – Order that the mayor consider establishing a Holyoke Urban Forest and Tree Committee.

Item 38: 4-5-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI – Order that we invite our US Congressional and Senatorial Representatives to a DGR meeting.

Item 39: 4-5-22 BARTLEY, PUELLO – Ordered, The Mayor develop a schedule of projects/programming to the CC’s DGR committee to be funded via marijuana stabilization funds. If possible, please send said schedule on a quarterly or semi-annual basis in order to promote consistent and efficient project development. Copy to Mayor and City Auditor.

Item 40: 3-1-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI – Ordered that the Development & Government Relations Committee invite the development team from Wayfinders to provide an update on the Library Commons project and other upcoming projects within the City.

Item 41: 8-6-24 From Assistant City Solicitor Jane Mantolesky- Communication regarding Heavy Commercial Vehicle Operation on Homestead Avenue, Holyoke, Massachusetts

Item 42: 8-6-24 BARTLEY – With the washout of the water/sewer line at S. Elm St. (behind Fitzpatrick Skating Rink), the impact on the neighborhood needs to be addressed by the City leaders in terms of the timeline for repairs, alternate means for walkers to navigate this area and overall appearance. This is a constituent request. Refer to DGR, Parks Dept.

Item 43: 8-6-24 BARTLEY, OCASIO – ordered that OPED provide an update to city council regarding putting the following W-3 and W-2 properties on the market – they’ve each been sitting dormant for well over one year without any progress or updates:
1. 432 Hillside Ave.
2. 146 Brown Ave. and environs.
3. Lots at St. Vicent St. and Ingleside Ave.
Please send a communication for the first city council meeting in September 2024. Refer to DGR for follow-up.

Item 44: 10-1-24 Bartley-The city of Holyoke work with OCR to allow the state access to city property to plant trees at the top of the 391 interchange. Receive and refer to DGR.