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Agenda

Item 1: Minutes of December 15, 2025 meeting.

Item 2: 1-21-25 VACON – ORDER: the PD provide enforcement activities by Holyoke and/or State Police re: truck traffic during restricted hours at night and drivers exceeding speed limits on Homestead Ave.
*Tabled 4-22-25

Item 3: 6-17-25 Devine- ORDERED: that the Public Safety Committee meet with the Police Chief or designee as soon as possible to discuss and possibly regulate motorized scooters.

Item 4: 11-6-25 Bartley, Vacon -HPD closely monitor and enforce the “no parking” ordinance, signs and striping proximate to 485 South St. Thank you to DPW for adding the striping on short notice to delineate the no parking.

Item 5: 12-16-26 Magrath-Smith – Ordered that HPD and DPW develop a list of 10-15 points across the city which would benefit from permanent speed limit reminders to the public and present a plan for installing permanent speed radar signs at those points.

Item 6: 1-6-26 Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that the Police Department be requested to increase enforcement of parking distance ordinances and statutes, including driveways, crosswalks, and intersections. Various safety concerns due to vehicles violating these laws have been brought to the attention of councilors, leading to orders being filed to address these individually. It would make more sense if these laws were better enforced to get better awareness and compliance rather than having signs installed and stripes painted in individual situations.

Item 7: 2-3-26 Thalheimer, Panitch, Purcell, Anderson-Burgos, Rivera, J., Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered: That the Honorable City Council respectfully invites the Chief of the Holyoke Police Department, or their designee, to appear before the Committee on Public Safety to provide an update to the October 6, 2025 general overview of the Department’s policies, procedures, and training regarding potential interactions with federal immigration authorities, in order to (1) support transparency, public understanding; and continued mutual trust between the community and the police department, while maintaining public safety; (2) ensure that the Council has the information it needs to effectively support the Police Department in its mission to protect the community; and (3) review the impact of existing and proposed state law and practice regarding immigration law and enforcement.

LAID ON THE TABLE
(Items taken up at previous meeting(s) and laid on the table.

Item 8: 1-18-22 GIVNER, DEVINE, J. RIVERA — That the city of Holyoke install storm warning lights much like those in neighboring communities. These would act to signal coming snow and other inclement weather storms, prompting residents to check our city web site as well as their preferred news sources. Storm warning lights would also act as a parking ban notification in an effort to assist our overextended police department.
*Tabled 1-24-22, 12-30-24, 12-15-25

Item 9: 2-1-22 BARTLEY, PUELLO, DEVINE, J. RIVERA — The city engineer review the signaling at the Maple St / South St. / Parenteau Dr intersection.  Multiple accidents and near-accidents have occurred there over the years as motorists from Maple St turn Left against oncoming traffic on South St (heading downtown). The intersection is proximate to the former Whole Donut and the Fitzpatrick Ice Rink.  Refer to Public Safety with copy to City Engineer.
*Referred back 6-4-24, Tabled 12-30-24, 3-13-25, 12-15-25

Item 10: 11-15-22 BARTLEY, DEVINE, J. RIVERA — City Engineer review options to improve road safety at Queen and Cherry St. Issue: trucks exiting Queen St. are seen driving over the median strip and making an illegal left-hand turn onto Cherry St. (Rt. 202-South)
*Tabled 12-30-24, 12-15-25

Item 11: 8-1-23 BARTLEY, DEVINE, J. RIVERA – Ordered, The City Engineer and/or VEOLIA suggest improvements to the sidewalk and catch basin near 5 Martin St. (at the corner of Westfield Rd and Martin). Owner’s contractor noted the sidewalk is too high and the design causes water to pool on parking lot; the catch basin is above-grade is not catching storm water. Owner very willing to confer with City Engineer on this matter. Refer to Public Safety Committee for a review hearing.
*Tabled 12-30-24, 3-31-25, 12-15-25

Item 12: 5-21-24 BARTLEY, I. RIVERA, J. RIVERA, SULLIVAN – DPW, Emergency Management, HPD and Mayor’s office determine a safety plan to better warn truckers traveling on Main St. of the iron R/R bridge at Lyman St. Yet another collision occurred last week. Consider checking out the flashing beacons and warning signs on East Mountain Rd, Westfield.
*Tabled 12-30-24, 3-13-25, 12-15-25

Item 13: 9-4-24 BARTLEY, J. RIVERA – (copy) The DPW install a protective wraparound barrier (lattice, wire) the Holyoke Railroad platform. Unfortunately people are using this for protection from the elements but it is a very dangerous location and I don’t want anyone to stumble onto the rail tracks as recently happened in Northampton.
*Tabled 12-30-24, 3-13-25, 12-15-25

Item 14: 12-17-24 OCASIO, DEVINE, J. RIVERA – Ordered that the City install a few signs: “No Trucks”, “Slow Down, Children”, and “No Parking Anytime” on the block across from 320 Elm St.
*Tabled 3-20-25, 12-15-25

Item 15: 2-4-25 Vacon- ORDER: That installation of a crosswalk near #64 County Rd be evaluated for improved safety.
*Tabled 12-15-25

Item 16: 6-17-25 OCASIO, DEVINE, J. RIVERA – Ordered that the City put a “No Parking” sign in front of the old Fire Station building on Main St. People park half on the street/sidewalk so people can’t use the sidewalks. Police need to enforce and ticket them.
*Tabled 12-15-25

ADMINISTRATIVELY LAID ON THE TABLE
(Per City Council Rule 9P, “Any order not acted on within 45 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.)

Item 17: 9-5-23 JOURDAIN, VACON – Parks dept please install a motion sensor system and/or improved camera system and/or improved security plan at the Pouliot pool for use when the pool is in season.  After hours security needs to be dramatically improved.  Please let City Council and Mayor know if funding is required.

Item 18: 8-5-25 VACON – ORDER: that the conservation commission provide minutes of the process & summary of discussion & votes for the wetlands enforcement order at 77 Mayer Drive and provide any appeal process available to neighbors/abutters.

Item 19: 10-21-25 VACON – ORDER: That the Board of Health provide the City Council with an update on the effects of marijuana on the physical & mental health of residents use since “legalization in MA”. Please send to Public Safety Committee.

Item 20: 10-21-25 Magrath-Smith -ordered, that Animal Control present options for disposal of roadkill on sidewalks, streets, and city properties in general on weekends, including shifting the responsibility for picking up roadkill to a different city department, shifting the hours of workers, or hiring an on-call provider.

Item 21: 11-6-25 From Holyoke Residents-letter to Mayor Garcia regarding noise at Wyckoff Country Club

Item 22: 11-18-25 From Residents in Ward 7-Neighborhood Petition to Address Noise Complaints

Item 23: 11-18-25 From Tapestry, Holyoke quarterly report April 1 to Sept 30, 2025

Item 24: 12-2-25 Bartley, Vacon – Constituent request (and 2d filing) – the condition of the sidewalk on Northampton St between West Glen and Clark streets is virtually unpassable especially for persons with disabilities. Refer to Public Safety and refer to DPW to request a written plan/solution to be sent to city council early in 2026.