Charter & Rules Committee Meeting November 5, 2020
6:30 pm Remote by Zoom
,
City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Notice of Committee Meeting
There will be a regular meeting of the committee on
Charter and Rules
Meeting to take place remotely on Zoom Meetings on Monday November 5, at 6:30PM
Per order of the Chair: Linda Vacon
Agenda:
Item 1: Resident’s Petition calling for the resignation of Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse submitted to the full Council on 9/21/20
Item 2: Vacon/Bartley 6/23/20: Ordered that a City Council rule be added that City Council committees assigned in the prior term remain in effect for re-elected Councilors until the President-elect assigns new committees.
Item 3: Bartley 5/5/20: Ordered that Holyoke determine the voting location for Ward 3 Precinct A, for both the 9/1/20 state/federal primary and the 11/3/20state/federal general election ASAP. The order is written in light of last minute change to the South St. Fire Station polling location for the 5/19 special election caused by the vendor’s concerns due to COVID-19. Further ordered that Holyoke also consider the location for 1-B as this too was amended due to the property owners COVID-19 concerns.
Item 4: Bartley 5/5/20: Ordered that Holyoke set up a commission to look at all of its polling locations for every ward for future elections. Holyoke should ensure that voting locations have excellent access for voters and great amenities for our poll workers.
Item 5: Roman 9/5/18: Ordered that the City of Holyoke adopt term limits for all elected positions to not more than four terms for all elected positions.
Item 6: Roman 1/16/18: Ordered that the City of Holyoke review in collaboration with the City Clerk the processes for a citizens petition, that appear in the City Charter, making the process more streamlined and standard.
Item 7: Roman 1/16/18: Ordered that a non-binding ballot question be placed on the next election ballot: Ballot question should be “Should 16 and 17 year old residents be allowed to vote in municipal elections?
Item 8: Roman 1/16/18: Ordered that the City of Holyoke place a binding referendum changing the charter to make terms of all remaining local municipal elected officials not elected to four year terms to switch and become four year terms. (I.E. City Council School committee, etc)
Item 9: Roman 2/20/18: Ordered that the City of Holyoke amend through ordinance or Charter changethat any and all community agreements made by the Executive must be ratified and approved by the City Council in order for them to take effect. All previous agreements would be grandfathered in and not need Council ratification .
Item 10: Sullivan 2/6/18: Ordered that the DPW commissioners and Sewer Commissioners meet with the Council to discuss merger or elimination of sewer commissioner and the sewer deficit.
Item 11: McGee 3/20/12: Ordered that the newly formed charter group look into the pros and cons of combining the personnel dept. with the School Dept., HG&E, and other personnel offices in the City into one Human Resources division.
Administrative Assistant: Ryan M. Allen
The listing of matters are those reasonable 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.