Charter and Rules Committee Meeting October 24, 2022

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Charter and Rules

Monday, October 24, 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/87389136399?pwd=NVB4eGU4dkhwTUZodE9BRUplVHR0dz09
Meeting ID: 873 8913 6399 Meeting Passcode: 189313 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 2-1-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — relook at committee responsibilities and restructure. Refer to Charter & Rules
*Tabled 2-23-22, 4-12-22, 6-14-22

Item 2: 4-5-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Ordered, Order that we create a Cannabis Committee to strictly deal with Marijuana special permits and ordinance changes related to cannabis.
*Tabled 4-12-22

Item 3: 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
*Tabled 6-14-22

Item 4: 5-3-22 RIVERA_I — Order that the honorable city council add the following committee:
Communications Committee
Senior citizen quality of life Committee
*Tabled 6-14-22

Item 5: 6-7-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered that the City Council amend its rules to create a Vice President position in the City Council.
*Tabled 6-14-22

Item 6: 10-4-22 MALDONADO-VELEZ — Ordered, that a fund be created to implement a series of studies rotating between city departments each year to study best practices and methods of implementation for improvement of processes. Our city should constantly be seeking to improve how the public is served and that requires regularly looking at internal processes.

Item 7: 10-4-22 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — That the City of Holyoke, through its Honorable City Council and Honorable Mayor, hereby petitions the Massachusetts General Court to enact legislation “Establishing an Appointed Treasurer for the City of Holyoke” in the form set forth below; provided, however, that the General Court may reasonably vary the form and substance of the requested legislation within the scope of the general public objectives of this petition.
“An Act Establishing an Appointed Treasurer for the City of Holyoke” – This act proposes to change the City Treasurer from an elected position to an appointed one; the appointment will be made by the  Mayor, with approval of the City Council, for a term not to exceed five (5) years and qualifications for the position may be established by ordinance. If adopted, the Treasurer elected in the 2023 municipal election will fill the vacancy in the office for the remaining two (2) years, and a Treasurer will be appointed to the position following the expiration of that term in January 2026 or sooner if the office is vacated.

Item 8: 5-3-22 RIVERA_I — Order that the city solicitors office begin drafting a ballot question for next election cycle around marijuana Social consumption sites such as bars and cafes for residents to vote on next election cycle similar to the language below. “The sale of marijuana products, as those terms are defined in G.L. c.94G, 1, for consumption on the premises where sold, is permitted when the sale occurs at Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, or any establishment in which food or beverages are served.”

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.