Public Safety Committee Meeting March 29, 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
Public Safety
Tuesday, March 29, 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: Israel Rivera
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88533736845?pwd=MG5sR1ZVN3h5aGVHbDg4YWVNQktVdz09
Meeting ID: 885 3373 6845 Meeting Passcode: 773605 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Agenda
Item 1: 3-15-22 RIVERA_J — order that the street number (which is currently) 380R Dwight Street (021-001-005) changed to 382 Dwight Street. Confusion between buildings (map lot 021-01-003), and the derelict neighbor (map lot 021-01-005) has a detrimental impact on public safety and has led to confusion by HG&E and other utility service providers.
Item 2: 3-15-22 MCGEE — that the legal department review the alley way near 5 Fairfield Ave to determine if it is city property and that the DPW repair the fence and alley from its vehicles going through. See attached photo.
Item 3: 3-15-22 JOURDAIN, RIVERA_I, BARTLEY — That the DPW repair the fountain at Laurel Park on Laurel Street. The fountain head was damaged recently and needs to be fixed for Memorial Day opening.
Item 4: 3-15-22 JOURDAIN, RIVERA_I, BARTLEY — That the HG&E repair the lightening in Laurel Park on Laurel Street. The light in the park needs to be fixed asap and HG&E has fixed it in past and their help is needed once again.
Item 5: 2-15-22 RIVERA_I — Order that the DPW put up warning signs informing drivers of upcoming raised sidewalks.
Item 6: 2-15-22 RIVERA_I — Order that OPED, City Engineer & DPW explore improving (replace fencing, cut back tall grass and brush) the canal side of the street as well as what it would cost to install a walk, bike, run lane stretching from Canal St. and N.Bridge St. to Canal St. and Appleton St.
Item 7: 2-15-22 MCGEE — Order that the public safety committee invite in the new Chair and Vice Chair for the Bike Ped Advisory Committee to discuss the Bike Ped committee, projects, etc.
Item 8: 2-15-22 GIVNER — That the Holyoke Board of Health publicizes an email/ phone number to receive health related complaints ie. odor nuisance complaints generally in regard to manufacturing and commercial businesses.
Item 9: 2-15-22 GIVNER — That the city takes serious steps to create methods of enforcement. There are many ordinances and laws in place to protect citizens and support businesses. What good are all these laws and ordinances without enforcement? Ongoing city wide enforcement issues include; parking in no parking zones created specifically to aid in visibility for drivers and pedestrians, parking in reserved parking zones created for businesses to receive deliveries and or include customer parking, well over the 25mph speed limit violations especially throughout our more populated neighborhoods, traffic light violations, stop sign violations, trash violations, snow removal violations, etc, etc
Item 10: 1-18-22 RIVERA_I, TALLMAN — that the city council invite the Mayor, Community Development, Parks & Recreation Department as well as Public health to a Public Safety committee meeting to discuss developing so form of community coalition around addressing homelessness, substance abuse, and youth programming.
The following items are on the agenda for the purposes of disposal. In depth discussion is not expected.
Item 11: 11-21-17 MCGEE, LEAHY, TALLMAN — Order that Capt. Moriarty provide an updated list of safety options or procedures put in place to deal with the security/safety at City Hall, sub committee meetings and full council meetings.
Item 12: 8-4-20 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that a traffic study be done on Sargeant Street observing traffic between St. Jerome and Sycamore. Residents have mentioned several accidents in this area, possibly due the speed and obstructed views as vehicles travel around the bend. They have suggested a four way stop may be helpful at either Magnolia or Sycamore.
Item 13: 8-4-20 ANDERSON-BURGOS — Ordered, that a traffic study be done at the corner of West Franklin and St Jerome. Residents are concerned about vehicles traveling down West Franklin at high speeds and the potential for collision with vehicles with an obstructed view driving off of St Jerome because of the bend in the road. They are asking for either speed humps or a four way stop.
Item 14: 8-4-20 MURPHY — Ordered, that the public safety committee meet with representatives from any neighborhood watch programs to discuss any ideas about improving each program and building an active cooperation with the police department.
Item 15: 1-5-21 ANDERSON-BURGOS, GREANEY, JR — Order that the city engineer look into potentially changing the driveway into Peoples Bank off of Beech St to only be an entrance. There have been safety concerns related to the slope of the driveway leading cars out of the property into traffic that is often rushing to make the light.
Item 16: 2-16-21 MURPHY, VACON, GREANEY, JR — Ordered that the public safety committee meet with the principal of Holyoke High School, the receiver, the mayor, the police chief and the vice chair of the school committee to discuss concerns about materials being promoted within the high school which seem to only further alienate the community from the police department. As an example of things to do instead of calling the cops is: “don’t feel obligated to defend property-especially corporate private property. Before confronting someone or contacting the police, ask yourself if anyone is being hurt or endangered by property theft or damage. If the answer is no, then let it be.” The goal of the order is to build a greater understanding and respect between the police and the community.
Item 17: 4-6-21 MURPHY — Ordered that the council work with the city solicitor, the police chief, and our state legislative delegation if needed, to put in place significant penalties for dirt bikers and others endangering the public with their tactics on public streets. This is both a quality of life issue and a public safety issue that needs addressing
Item 18: 5-4-21 VACON — that the Acting Mayor and City Council President present a plan and target date for opening city hall and resuming City Council meetings at City Hall.
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.