Charter and Rules Committee Meeting June 14, 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
Tuesday, June 14, 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/87494124011?pwd=YjZVV3NCVTRBVHI4dXNSbVdDbXA3UT09
Meeting ID: 874 9412 4011 Meeting Passcode: 920402 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Agenda
Item 1: 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, 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 2: 6-7-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered that the City Council amend its rules to create a Vice President position in the City Council.
Item 3: 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, 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 4: 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)
*Tabled 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 5: 2-1-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — relook at committee responsibilities and restructure. Refer to Charter & Rules
*Tabled 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 6: 5-3-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — that we add the following committees to the City Council:
Zoning Committee – dealing with zoning changes and language
Public Way Committee – dealing with handicap spots, parking, and traffic ordinances
Development Committee – focusing on grants and economic development
Item 7: 5-3-22 RIVERA_I — Order that the honorable city council add the following committee:
Communications Committee
Senior citizen quality of life Committee
Item 8: 5-3-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Order that we rename the Joint School / City Council Committee to Youth Services Committee (or something similar) which would give that committee additional responsibilities such as making sure we comply with our CC Rule 65 that requires a Youth Ambassador to the City Council and creating opportunity for youth to be more civically involved.
Item 9: 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, 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 10: 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, 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 11: 9-7-21 LISI — Ordered, that That we change our rules to pass ordinances other than zone changes by a simple majority.
*Tabled 2-23-22, 4-12-22
Item 12: 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
Item 13: 4-5-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Ordered, That we add a city council rule which requires a unanimous vote to continue meetings past 10pm
*Tabled 4-12-22
Item 14: 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.
Item 15: 6-7-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Order that we add to our charter that if a councilor is absent from a full council meeting for more than 3 consecutive meetings without written notice, their seat is considered open.
Item 16: 6-7-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Order that when a vacancy opens up in city council with more than 6 months left of the term, that a special election is required.
Item 17: 6-7-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered that the City Council establish a rule that requires any resident running to fill a vacant city council seat will need to obtain 50 signatures from eligible residents in order to be considered by the full City Council for appointment.
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.