Holyoke City Council Meeting May 16, 2023
7:00 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
Meeting will take place at Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can also be accessed remotely via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675284572?pwd=eUowdmxXVUJlMGJTaHJ3L0VFQ2IzUT09
Meeting ID: 836 7528 4572 Meeting Passcode: 845022 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with 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 FOR THE CITY COUNCIL –
May 16,2023
7:00 PM
LAID ON THE TABLE
1. From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia letter of Veto for the CPA ballot question to be placed on the November 2023 local election.
2. From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia letter of VETO regarding the following order: that the City Council retain independent legal counsel to work with the City Council and legal department to review its rules and powers under the Charter, state law, city ordinances and its rules.
3. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that following the adoption of a resolution in support of the district, that the Ordinance Committee work with the mayor and the appropriate city and state departments to adopt an ordinance creating a Puerto Rican Cultural District within the City of Holyoke.
PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMUNICATIONS
4. From Kathleen E. Degnan, Assistant City Solicitor, letter re: Community Preservation Funds relation to Anti-Aid Amendment.
5. License Agreement between the City of Holyoke and Edward A. Owen with a business at 120 Front St.
6. From Fire Chief Kadlewicz, Holyoke Fire Department Brush Fire Prevention Plan.
7. From Alicia M. Zoeller, Administrator, Office of Comm. Development, 2023 ARPA Allocation Spreadsheet.
8. 5yr Contract for the School Department Transportation with VanPool and Durham
9. From Holyoke Historical Commission minutes of January 9, February 13 and March 13, 2023.
10. From Brennan Consulting, re: MEPA Review Requirements Analysis William R. Peck MS, Holyoke, MA Project No. 23335
PETITIONS
11. Petition for a renewal of a Junk Dealer License for William F. Sullivan & Co. Inc. at 107 Appleton St.
12. Petition for a renewal of a Junk Dealers License for William F. Sullivan & Co. Inc. at 1 Jed Days Landing.
13. Petition of Juan Rodriguez of 62 Pearl St. for a non conforming structure (4.7.3).
14. Petition of Red Barn Growers LLC for a new special permit for a Marijuana manufacturing establishment at 1 Cabot St.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
15. Ordinance Committee Reports (if any)
16. Finance Committee Reports (if any)
16A. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred FY24 CPA Budget Proposal Recommended that the order be adopted
16B. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY ONE AND 56/100 Dollars ($117,541.56) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $117,541.56
TOTAL: $117,541.56
TO:
16503-58002 CAPITAL OUTLAY-MOTOR VEHICLES $117,541.56
TOTAL: $117,541.56 Recommended that the order be adopted.
16C. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($47,000) as follows:
FROM:
16501-51106 PAY-HEAVY MOTOR EQUIP. OPERATOR $47,000
TOTAL: $47,000
TO:
16502-52518 R&M POOLS $7,000
16502-52500 R&M FIELDS 30,000
16502-52410 R&M VEHICLES 10,000
TOTAL: $47,000 Recommended that the order be adopted
16D. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, TWENTY THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY TWO AND 71/100 Dollars ($23,642.71) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANT $10.973.25
12101-51107 PATROLMEN 12,669.46
TOTAL: $23,642.71
TO:
12101-51180 INJURED ON DUTY $23,642.71
TOTAL: $23,642.71 Recommended that the order be adopted
16E. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred From Michael Bissonnette, Assistant City Solicitor, legal opinion regarding Mayors power to veto ballot question Recommended that the order has been complied with
16F. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order (referred back 3-21-23) From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia list of Historic Preservation related repairs needed on city buildings as requested by Councilor Jourdain, Councilor Bartley, Councilor I. Rivera and Councilor Vacon on order filed April 5, 2022
*Tabled 3-29-23 Recommended that the order has been complied with
17. Public Safety Committee Reports (if any)
18. Public Service Committee Reports (if any)
19. Development and Governmental Relations Committee Reports (if any)
19A. The Committee on Development and Governmental Relations to whom was referred The City Council invite the new owner of the Valley Blue Sox, Matthew Drury, and his executive team to a DGR meeting prior to the 2023 season to discuss the team, Mackenzie Stadium, and increasing attendance and use of the field for Holyoke’s students, etc. Copy to Park & Rec commissioners and department head. Awaiting Disposition
20. Charter and Rules Committee Reports (if any)
21. Joint City Council and School Committee Reports (if any)
MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS
22. MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered, that the City Council amend Ordinance 2-336(a) and (b) to reflect a streamlined process for disposition of tax title properties and other properties not needed by the City for municipal purposes and to add a new section for the creation of an Abutter Lots Sale Program.
23. MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Ordered, that the City Council declare a lot on Easthampton Road as surplus property available for disposition. Said parcel is identified by the Holyoke Board of Assessors records as Map 212, Block 00, Parcel 001 consisting of vacant land of approximately 53.5 acres in size. The property is more particularly described at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds in Book 5574, Page 41. On May 21, 2007, the property was awarded to the City via a Land Court Decree with a Final Judgment recorded in Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book 16740, Page 126. The property is zoned Business General (BG) and has an assessed value of $1,119,200.
24. VACON — that the city complies with MGL 30 section 62A and the required environmental notification form is filed for the school project so the Secretary of Environmental Affairs can make a determination as to whether an environmental impact report is required, prior to any application for financial assistance.
If the environmental notification form is filed before the May 16, 2023 city council meeting, that it be provided as a communication to the city council.
25. VACON — that the light at Lower Westfield Road and Homestead Ave be adjusted to allow more cars coming from Lower Westfield Road toward I-91 (eastbound) through on the green light.
It is reported only 3 cars get through at times causing backups.
26. VACON — An ordinance be created that requires a department
JOURDAIN head to report (with an incident report explaining
the cause) any loss in their department over $500
in value to the City Council and Mayor within 30 days.
27. VACON — Move the engine brake sign in front of 72 lower westfield road closer to the intersection near the union center in the old Sears building.
Request legal department to notify
WJB trucking company (Feeding Hills) to comply with “no engine brakes” ordinance.
28. VACON — that our engineer evaluate the Whiting Farms Rd, Farnum and Tokeneke intersections to determine if a traffic light is warranted.
29. BARTLEY — The DPW add pads for the disabled to the sidewalks at Congress/S. Elm and Gates S. Elm St. This was recently reviewed with the W-3 Councilor and DPW superintendent. Refer to DPW, Finance and Mayor.
30. BARTLEY — The DPW replaced the sidewalk on Queen St. between Coit and King St. This was recently reviewed with the DPW Superintendent and W-3 councilor. Refer to DPW, Finance and Mayor.
31. BARTLEY — The Mayor provide the Council an update on funding the crosswalk on Homestead Ave. at the Main Gate of HCC. The City Engineer provide any additional updates in terms of design and approvals, as warranted. Refer to City Engineer and Mayor. Please send a communication to CC in the next 30 days.
32. BARTLEY — The City Council consider suspending its rules to allow for councilor to attend Holyoke Day at the Eastern States. The Salute to Holyoke will take place Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a parade kicking off at 6 PM
33. JOURDAIN — Ordered, That the Police Chief provide the City Council with a performance report on how Shot Spotter is performing and what we are learning about gun activity in the city so far. Please email the City Council all reports available asap for our review so we can be prepared for this discussion.
34. MCGEE — that DPW repave Harvard Street ASAP.
35. MCGEE — that the police department station a car on McKenzie near the intersection of Portland and McKenzie in order to prevent cars ignoring all the stop signs on McKenzie, Magnolia and Portland before someone gets hurt. There are cars and trucks completely ignoring the stop signs, particularly on Magnolia up Portland.
36. MCGEE — Order that the city council approve the CPA request for Wistariahurst Museum project.
37. MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($55,000) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANT $55,000
TOTAL: $55,000
TO:
12101-51300 OVERTIME $55,000
TOTAL: $55,000
38. MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE AND 97/100 Dollars ($24,579.97) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANT $10,287.42
12101-51107 PATROMEN 14,292.55
TOTAL: $24,579.97
TO:
12101-51180 INJURED ON DUTY $24.579.97
TOTAL: $24,579.97
39. MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, TWENTY TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIX AND 17/100 Dollars ($22,806.17) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51105 SERGEANT $10,287.42
12101-51107 PATROLMEN 12,518.75
TOTAL: $22,806.17
TO:
12101-51180 INJURED ON DUTY $22,806.17
TOTAL: $22,806.17
40. MCGIVERIN — that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES’ LOCAL FOOD POLICY COUNCIL GRANT PROGRAM; HOLYOKE FOOD ECONOMY COALITION, $8,000, NO MATCH” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
41. MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, ONE HUNDRED SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($107,700) as follows:
FROM:
14251-51104 HIGHWAY PAY-HMEO $107,700
TOTAL: $107,700
TO:
14251-51300 HIGHWAY OVERTIME $5,000
14212-57100 ADMIN. IN STATE TRAVEL 200
12941-51300 FORESTRY OVERTIME 1,500
14302-52901 TRASH – HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION 36,000
14302-53100 TRASH-OTHER SERVICES 22,000
14222-52104 PROPERTY-ENGERY PELLISIER 22,000
14222-52504 PROPERTY R&M PELLISIER 15,000
14222-52505 PROPERTY R&M SENIOR CENTER 2,000
14222-52509 PROPERTY R&M POLICE STATION 2,000
14222-52510 PROPERTY R&M CENTRAL FIRE STATION 2,000
TOTAL: $107,700
42. MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, EIGHT THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($8,000) as follows:
FROM:
14251-51104 HIGHWAY PAY-HMEO $8,000
TOTAL: $8,000
TO:
14222-52511 R&M ELMWOOD FIRE STATION $4,000
14222-52514 R&M WEST HOLYOKE FIRE STATION 4,000
TOTAL: $8,000
LATE FILED ORDERS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A. RIVERA_I — Order that the City Council approve the CPA request for Scott Tower/Anniversary Hill Phase II / City of Holyoke (Conservation Commission) / Kestrel Land Trust / Open Space
*Updated May 16, 2023, 8:28 PM
Addendum:
LATE FILES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
A. VACON — ORDER: the City Council issue a proclamation to Hair Changes and owner Kathleen Seidel in honor of 45 years of continuous service to residents of Holyoke. Anniversary date is May 19th.
B. MCGEE — Ordered, that the city engineer provide a list/layout of non-accepted roads and come in to discuss options to fixing the roads.
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 not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law
______________________________
City Clerk