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Agenda

Item 1: Minutes of January 15, 2026 meeting.

Item 2: 1-20-26 Vacon- ORDER: that Paul Burns-Johnson be interviewed for his (already approved) appointment to the Planning Board by the Public Service Committee (as was done with Grant Schlosstein post appointment). A review of the records by our Administrative Assistant indicates, although it was thought an interview took place in Public Service prior to his initial appointment to the Board of Appeals, it was approved by the city council without being referred to committee.

Item 3: 3-3-26 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, Letter of appointment for Mr. Kevin A. Rice of 52 Fairfield Avenue to serve on the Local Historic District Commission. Mr. Rice will replace Mr. Stephen Fay and will finish the remainder of Mr. Fay’s term expiring July 1, 2028.

Item 4: 3-3-26 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Susan Brouillette of 179 Morgan St. to serve on the Local Historic District Commission. Ms. Brouillette will replace Mr. David Owen and will serve the reminder of his term, expiring July 1, 2028.

Item 5: 12-16-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia-letter appointing Mr. Henry N. Martinez-Cartagena of 59 Chestnut St. Apt 4 to serve as a Commissioner on the Park and Rec.  Mr. Martinez-Cartagena will replace Mr. Moquin and will serve the remainder of his term expiring June 30, 2027.

Item 6: 1-20-26 Thalheimer, Purcell, Devine, Anderson-Burgos, I. Rivera, J. Rivera – Request that Holyoke begin the process of developing a position of Poet Laureate for the City of Holyoke. A Poet Laureate is a poet appointed by a government or other conferring institution who uses the role to foster public appreciation of poetry and literary arts, and to advance culture, literacy, and creative expression .. Many of our neighboring communities have named Poet Laureates through their arts organizations; Holyoke’s could be a collaborative effort between the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, the Mayor’s Office, the Tourism Advisory Committee, and/or other community organizations. As Holyoke bolsters its business economy, we must boost our creative economy as well.

Item 7: 9-2-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Jeff Burkott and Davin Pasek as the Fence Viewer Committee.
*Tabled 11-20-25, 1-15-26

LAID ON THE TABLE
(Items taken up at previous meeting(s) and laid on the table. Discussion may or may not take place)

Item 8: 6-3-25 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing several members to serve on the Recycling Advisory Committee.  Members will serve a three-year term expiring August 2028.
*Clarification: Cynthia Koch is the only new appointment to be interviewed.
*Tabled 1-15-26

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

Item 9: 8-6-24 From Personnel Director Kelly Curran- City of Holyoke Social Media Policy

Item 10: 5-20-25 Anderson-Burgos- Ordered, that we revisit a discussion about city councilors having Holyoke email addresses. Issues are coming up with some councilors having to delete emails because inboxes are full, and potentially losing emails that are subject to records requests.

Item 11: 12-16-25 Devine-Ordered that the City Council adopt the attached resolution regarding Increased Transparency in Board Communication with Citizens.

Item 12: 2-3-26 From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Kate Caligaris of 14 Shepard Dr. to serve as a Commissioner of the Board of Health.  Ms. Caligaris will replace Nicole Arnold and will serve a three-year term, expiring February 1, 2029.
*Not subject to Council confirmation.