Charter and Rules Committee Meeting December 11, 2023

Posted December 7, 2023, 3:58 PM

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Charter and Rules

Monday, December 11, 2023
6:30 PM

Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Jose Maldonado Velez

Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85243928334?pwd=R0U1dWFlbG12KzhRc0xMUVp6cXJiUT09
Meeting ID: 852 4392 8334 Meeting Passcode: 323570 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Live Spanish interpretation will be available on local access channel 15 using the television’s SAP option, through the live stream on the city website, as well as on the Zoom feed by clicking the interpretation option and choosing Spanish.

Agenda

Item 1: 1-17-23 MCGEE — Ordered that City Council Rule 9H be amended and re-worded in order to make the process of changing or updating an ordinance a smoother process.

Item 2: 8-1-23 GIVNER — With community support, order that city council meetings be regulated to 2.5 hours or 150 minutes. AND that a majority vote be required to continue meetings beyond 150 minutes, adding an additional 15 minutes no more than twice, capping meetings at 180 minutes. This with the intention of encouraging a broader participation of Holyoke’s public through meeting efficiency and limited repetition of comments. The most common critique by Holyoke residents regarding City Council meetings is that they are too long, continue too late, and are dominated by lengthy repetitive commentary.

Item 3: 8-1-23 GIVNER — With community support, order that a 30min public comment period be added to City Council meetings, in an effort to give the public a true platform in person, written, and/or remote as long as a remote option for council meetings exists. Consideration should be given to having meetings begin earlier in an effort to accommodate Holyoke residents and inspire participation.

Item 4: 5-3-22 RIVERA_I – Order that committee chairs limit the amount of public hearings added to an agenda, It is not fair and undemocratic to have the public wait until 10:30 – 11:00 pm so they can be heard.
*Tabled 6-14-22 , 2-27-23

Item 5: 10-3-23 GIVNER, TALLMAN — With community support, order that all ordinances and charter rules reflecting city council and city council subcommittee meeting notices be updated to reflect acceptance of email as sufficient method of notice, and city website posting as sufficient method of public notice.

Item 6: 10-3-23 GIVNER — With community support, order that the following section of our Codes of Ordinances and charter be updated to reflect use of email as sufficient for special meeting notice:
Sec. 12. – Special meetings of city council.
The mayor may at any time call a special meeting of the city council by public posting through the city website along with written notifications thereof, together with a statement of the subjects to be considered thereat, to be deposited in the post office, postpaid and addressed to the persons to be notified, at least forty-eight hours before the time appointed for such meeting, or to be left at the usual place of residence of each member of the council, by email at least forty-eight hours before the time appointed for such meeting.
(Acts 1965, c. 187; Acts 1992, c. 189)

Item 7: 4-4-23 RIVERA_I, GIVNER, MALDONADO VELEZ, MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI, RIVERA_J — Ordered, that Section 34 of the Holyoke City Charter be amended to establish a Police Commission by virtue of a Special Act in Accordance with the provisions of Articles of Amendment, Article II, Section 8 of the Massachusetts Constitution.
*Tabled 7-17-23, invite in citizen review commission for next meeting

Item 8: 8-1-23 From City Solicitor letter re: Provisions of charter impacted by implementation of a Police Commission

Item 9: 4-18-23 (sent to Ord. copy to Charter for potential home rule petition) MCGEE — Ordered, that the position of Chief Administrative and Financial Officer be created and added to Schedule A.
*Tabled 7-17-23

Item 10: 8-1-23 From Lisa Ball, City Solicitor legal Opinion from Mark R. Reich, Esq. regarding City council voting requirements.

Item 11: 4-4-23 Communication From Councilor Jourdain, regarding a legal opinion of June 1, 2021 regarding Rule 66.
*Tabled 4-10-23

Item 12: 8-1-23 From Brenna Murphy McGee, MMC communication regarding ballot question deadlines.

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos

The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Also one or two items may require the committee to enter into executive session at this meeting. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.