Charter and Rules Committee Meeting February 23, 2022
6:30 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Charter and Rules
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
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/84843720034?pwd=UkZJTnZCOW5SaTFWWUhwSlhJNHdOdz09
Meeting ID: 848 4372 0034 Meeting Passcode: 203780 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Agenda
Item 1: 2-6-18 SULLIVAN — that the DPW commissioners & sewer commissioners meet with the council to discuss merger of elimination of sewer commissioner and the sewer deficit.
*Tabled 11-15-20, 3-15-21, 9-30-21
Item 2: 1-19-21 MCGEE — Ordered that the City Council Administrative Assistant appointment be a two year appoint that coincides with the City Council terms.
*Tabled 4-12-21
Item 3: 3-2-21 LISI — that the City Council vote to place the following question on the ballot as a binding referendum: “Should the City Treasurer be changed from an elected position to an appointed position that combines the duties of Treasurer and Tax Collector?”
*Tabled 4-12-21
Item 4: 6-15-21 LISI — that the City Council vote to place the following question on the ballot as a binding referendum: “Should the City Treasurer be changed from an elected position to an appointed position that combines the duties of Treasurer and Tax Collector?” REFILE from 3/2
*Tabled 9-30-21
Item 5: 4-6-21 MURPHY — Ordered that the city charter be amended so that if there is a vacancy in the mayor’s office and the president of the city council cannot assume the duties full time, the full council would then select another councilor to assume the role of acting mayor by majority vote of the council. The acting mayor would still continue to represent their constituents as a councilor.
*Tabled 4-12-21
Item 6: 12-21-21 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that Rule 38 be amended by striking out “a 2/3 super majority” and replacing it with “a majority of all eligible members”
*Tabled 1-26-22
Item 7: 12-21-21 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that Rule 61 be amended by inserting “or at the next meeting of the committee, whichever comes later,” after the words “30 days.” Also amend this Rule by adding a new section: “Orders laid on the table in a committee shall be acted on with a vote with or without recommendation within six months of the committee receiving them. If not acted on, they shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular City Council meeting for action, referral, or disposal. Orders may be acted on up to the end of the term following the one in which they are filed. Such orders that remain in committee following the end of the term after the one in which they were filed shall be placed on the agenda for the next regular City Council meeting for disposal.”
This is to make sure that orders are handled in a timely manner when councilors file them for consideration and to establish a step to be taken if they are not taken up. It also clarifies a time period before orders go stale and can no longer be acted on.
*Tabled 1-26-22
Item 8: 12-21-21 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that a new rule be created stating that “For the purposes of determining voting majorities and super majorities at full City Council meetings, eligible voting members shall mean the full body of the City Council except any members that may have properly abstained from participating in debate for a vote.” In addition, in any rules referring to the full membership of the City Council for determining a voting majority or super majority, amend them to state “eligible members of the City Council.” These locations are in Rule 35 and Rule 66.
*Tabled 1-26-22
Item 9: 1-18-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Order that we create a Technology Advisory Board to advise the council on the impact and implications of technological innovations on financial services, human services, infrastructure, politics, taxing of tech companies. The board will give recommendations on policy change in order to bring our systems up to date.
*Tabled 1-26-22
Item 10: 1-18-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Order that the City Council Rules are reviewed, reorganized, and that titles are added for accessibility.
*Tabled 1-26-22
Item 11: 2-1-22 From Councilor Maldonado-Velez, City Council Rules examples with titles and sections. Send to Charter & Rules
Amherst (https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46001/Amherst-Town-Council-Rules-and-Procedures?bidId=)
Boston (https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/city-council-rules)
Item 12: 6-15-21 LISI — that the City Council, in accordance with MGL Chapter 43, Section 43, submit the following question to the voters as a binding referendum: “shall this City allow the sale of marijuana products, as those terms are defined in G.L. c.94G, 1, for consumption on the premises where sold, a summary of which appears below?
Item 13: 9-7-21 LISI — Ordered, that That we change our rules to pass ordinances other than zone changes by a simple majority.
Item 14: 10-5-21 BARTLEY — City Council amend its rule #34 to add ” naming and renaming”. Refer to Charter and rules. Here is the current rule:
RULE 34:
All petitions for laying out, widening, altering, or relocating streets or ways shall be presented to the City Council, and by them referred to the Board of Public Works.
Item 15: 10-5-21 MURPHY — Ordered, that Ordered that the City Council consider merging the Holyoke Historical Commission and the Historic District Commissions.
Item 16: 11-16-21 BARTLEY — The City Council review and vote on whether the City Clerk should be appointed as opposed to elected. Refer to Charter and Rules
Item 17: 11-16-21 VACON — That City Councilors will attend City Council and City Council Committee meetings in person. Exceptions can be made for remote attendance by the City Council President and/or Committee Chair as long as the Chair and a quorum is present in person
Item 18: 1-18-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI, JOURDAIN — Ordered that the City Council adopt a rule to establish a two-year legislative term. Any orders pending in committee or not acted on by the end of the legislative term must be re-filed at the start of the subsequent legislative term.
Item 19: 2-1-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — relook at committee responsibilities and restructure. Refer to Charter & Rules.
Item 20: 2-1-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — add rule to require a set monthly meeting time of all City Council committees. Refer to Charter & Rules.
Item 21: 2-15-22 GIVNER — That the City Council consider changing rule 44A to reflect the following:
-All Council and Sub Committee agendas, and legal forms shall be distributed to Council Members by 1:00 pm 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting or by Monday the previous business day at 1:00 pm in the event that 7 days prior falls on a legal holiday. AND that late files are in fact necessary.
Item 22: 2-15-22 GIVNER — That the City Council limit debate of items covered in committee to 60 second clarifications, in the form of question/inquiry only, with a limit of 3 questions/inquiries per counselor. AND that responses be no more than 60 seconds each as well.
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.