Charter and Rules Committee Meeting June 10, 2024

Posted June 6, 2024, 3:46 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, June 10, 2024
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: Meg Magrath-Smith
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83181441009?pwd=OEFUTDdseEpsNkhQVjNPa3ZGU0RkQT09
Meeting ID: 831 8144 1009 Meeting Passcode: 098648 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: 12-5-23 VACON — Ordered, That we amend our charter and ordinances to change from an elected Mayor to a City Manager/Chief Administrative Financial Officer, appointed by the City Council.
*Tabled 5-13-24

Item 2: 4-2-24 BARTLEY, JOURDAIN, VACON — The City of Holyoke amends any charter, ordinance and any other regulations relative to its Tax Collector and combines the office with its City Treasurer so long as a charter change to appoint rather than elect Holyoke’s City Treasurer is approved by the legislature and Holyoke voters.
*Tabled 5-6-24

Item 3: 4-2-24 Magrath-Smith- Ordered, that a Home Rule Petition be filed with amendments to the City Charter as required for consistency with state law, pertaining to our city’s restructuring of municipal finance.
*Tabled 5-6-24

Item 4: 2-6-24 JOURDAIN, BARTLEY — Ordered, That Charter Sections 19 and 34 be amended and elsewhere as appropriate to allow for all appointments to the Fire Commission and DPW Commission to be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the City Council.

Item 5: Magrath-Smith- Ordered, that City Council rule 10.C be revisited in discussion.
C. City Council shall appoint a Youth Ambassador to the City Council. The term shall last one year starting July 1 to June 30. Appointees shall only be Eligible to serve one term. Individuals eligible for this position must be a Holyoke Resident, enrolled in a local high school or equivalent program and be in the range of 15 to 17 years of age. The Youth ambassador shall be required to attend all full City Council meetings and may attend any subcommittee meetings. As well as:
Be allowed to speak during public comment period
Attend all regular meetings of the City Council and whichever subcommittee Meetings they would like
Give a “Youth Ambassador Report” at the beginning of the first meeting of every month updating the Council about the Youth Community, Positive Or Negative (Similar to the Presidents Report)
Request that a City Councilor file an order to give a proclamation to a young Person or someone who works with City youth
Sit in Council Chambers and assist the Administrative Assistant during Full Council Meetings and any Subcommittee Meetings
Attend Youth related events on behalf of the City Council Meet with Youth in other Municipalities
Sit at the committee table during regular meetings
Selection Process: Opening for Youth Ambassador position shall be posted for 2-3 Weeks. Youths will apply through their Guidance Counselor who will then screen the applicants and forward qualified resumes to the City Council. All qualifying Candidates will be interviewed by Public Service and Human Resources Committee and provide two letters of recommendation. First candidate to reach eight votes by full Council shall get the position. Individual chosen for position is subject to removal upon two thirds Vote of the City Council.

Item 6: 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.  *Tabled 2-23-22, 4-12-22, 6-14-22, 2-27-24, 5-13-24

Item 7: 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.
*Tabled 2-27-23, 12-11-23

LAID ON THE TABLE
(Discussion may or may not take place)

Item 8: 4-4-23 From Atty Jane Mantolesky, Supplement to legal opinion on voting requirements
*Tabled 4-10-23

Item 9: 8-1-23 From Lisa Ball, City Solicitor, Legal Opinion from KP Law, Mark R. Reich Esq. regarding Community Preservation Act Surcharge Reduction.

Item 10: 8-1-23 From City Solicitors Ballot Question language.

Item 11: 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.
*Tabled 12-11-23, 2-5-24

Item 12: 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)
*Tabled 12-11-23, 2-5-24

Item 13: 2-6-24 DEVINE, I. RIVERA — Ordered, Under City Council rules, please add the following: New Rule: Every 2 years after being sworn in, the City Council President shall set the seating arrangements of the City Council. Consideration shall be taken for any legitimate handicap preference.

Item 14: 8-1-23 From Atty Kathleen Degnan, Asst City Solicitor, home rule petition for appointed treasurer.
*Tabled 5-6-24

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.