holyoke city council annual report 2012

7/29/2019 Holyoke City Council Annual Report 2012

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Annual Report of the Holyoke City Council 2012

By City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain

(1) Approved Balance Budget

(2) Economic Development & Urban Revitalization

Expanded TIF agreements from 5 years up to 20 years

Approved the historic Urban Renewal Plan which will revitalize the city’s core. This

plan lays the ground work for the future and was approved by the state.

Approved Bid $255,000 from Primax Properties to locate a new Dollar General at 170

Sargeant St

Helped scores of small businesses with permit approvals, parking modifications, grants

Approved 7 TIF & Certified Project agreements including the very large US Tsubaki

proposal

Approved the Center City Vision & HDIP Housing Improvement Plan that establishes

significantly more market rate housing in city’s core.

Approval of conservation restriction relative to HCC access road so project can move

forward and be completed.

Created the Creative Economy Director to lead the city’s efforts full-time to grow this

economic opportunity. Requires performance based review of position to determine

effective with an automatic sunset clause provision. Also, required position to be a city

resident.

Veterans Park renovation grants approved

Created public auction process for tax delinquent properties

Stopped the Paulo Freire Charter School Lease from going to Lynch School which keptthe building on track for demolition for economic development space, avoided very poor

lease terms for the city, and saved the Holyoke Public Schools about $1.2 million in lost

student revenue.

Approved dozens of new grants; including the Community Development Block Grant, to

supplement the city budget with non-tax revenue.

City Council under Councilor Bartley’s leadership spearheaded the creation of a first ever

Holyoke Day at the Big E.

(3) Public Works & Infrastructure

Approved $6.9 million for new science wing at Dean Vocational High School (State to

reimburse 80%)

Expended $30,000 to correct long-term drainage problems and street flooding on

Woodland St

Expended $500,000 for additional sidewalk improvements

Acquired 724-728 Main Street for use by the Holyoke Public Schools Central Supply and

for other purposes



Care and custody of City Hall turned over to Mayor from the City Council with the

exception of City Council offices and Chambers.

Approved $257,000 in building demolition funds for unsafe buildings

Over $600,000 in new capital made for new municipal vehicles

(4) Government Reform & Efficiency

Placed new leadership at Geriatric Authority with appointment of Jim Brunault so

majority of board now is addressing systemic problems at facility.

Codified by Legal Opinion that land purchase perfected by Geriatric Authority to sell city

property was not in conformity with the law because the allowed purchase exceeded

ordinance guidelines by appx $205,000.

City Council successfully petitioned the State Auditor to audit the books of the Holyoke

Geriatric Authority to ensure greater transparency and best practices.

Broker of Record Ordinance was passed into law which brings new transparency and

accountability to the selection and hiring of the city’s health insurance broker and the

very large commissions they receive. 5pm Meeting Ordinance was passed which requires board meetings of city boards and

commissions to be held at a time when the public can actually attend in order to keep to

the spirit of the Open Meeting Law.

City Solicitor Required to work full-time and codified in ordinance

Investigated Assessors – recovered the $8,000 in questionable funds paid for non-

maintained certifications, as well as, sustained the Mayor’s written warning. Further

investigated what transpired related to the Macy’s over assessment and determined that

after the mutually agreed settlement that the city will still receive an additional $89,000

per year more than it had been receiving prior to the assessment increase. Passed a Resolution calling for end of paper towels but use of air dryers in all municipal

facilities.

Passed an Order calling for the streamlining of mail services among city departments to

create one central hub.

Passed an Order calling for the Centralization of all personnel records under Personnel

Office and for bring additional modernizing of that department.

Supported the effort to consolidation of Personnel functions of city to eliminate

duplication.

Casino issues reviewed to extent needed including getting an accounting of the Mayor’s

trip to Pennsylvania

Created a more streamlined tax liening and auction process with the very helpful

assistance of the City Treasurer.

Passed a Residency Requirement for Personnel Administrator.



Investigated concerns about the handling of casualty insurance contract bids at the

Holyoke Water Works and worked with staff there to implement a more transparent and

open bidding processes for how insurance contracts are awarded.

For the first time in years with assistance of local media, published municipal salaries.

Eliminated the Police Controller position in Police Dept budget

Eliminated 1 custodial position full-time at City Hall

Supported the more efficient re-deployment of custodial services at City Hall and other

municipal buildings

Adopted Local Unfunded Mandate Study in the spirit of MGL Ch. 29 to review all

impacts of unfunded mandates in the city and to receive feedback from city department

heads.

City Council went on record in favor on the state restoring its share of the Police Quinn

Bill incentive which since they dropped it is costing the city greater than $500K per year

to subsidize. (6-5-12)

City Council continues to study and analyze with other city departments the advantagesof pension obligation bonds to improve the funding formula for this large expense.

The City Council opposed the implementation of a pay raise for the City Treasurer of

$13,000 to take effect in 2012 in place of a $4,000 increase to take effect in 2014.

Approved a new ordinance which requires all appointees for city boards to be current on

their taxes or for the City Council and public to be notified to the contrary.

Re-captured an additional $28,000 from Police Dept repair account to purchase a new

police car for Police Dept.

Held public hearings to listen to and aid the neighbors who suffered as a result of the Pine

Street Fire. Held public hearings to support the neighbors at Lyman Terrace who the Housing

Authority sought to displace through their demolition plan. This demolition was later

stopped by the Mayor.

(5) Public Safety

Opposed implementation of needle exchange without local approval of the City Council.

Have to date, successfully contested it in Hampden Superior Court.

Became an official supporter of the South Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative

Report on Homelessness in Holyoke hotels

Updated the building code to bring it up to date with best practices, as well as, approved

the stretch code.

Supported Re-activation of the Canine program in the Holyoke Police Dept with its

addition to the Police Budget.

Holyoke continues to provide more funding for Police & Fire Services than any

community its size (population 35K – 45K) in the state; including, $2 million more than

Chicopee which has a population of 15,000 more residents than Holyoke.



(6) City Council – Institutional Improvements & Reform

Reformed the Administrative Assistant to City Council role including making the

position one of chief researcher for the City Council.

Appointed a new Administrative Assistant

All City Council meetings now have minutes being taken and those minutes are being

approved by the full membership on regular basis in full compliance with the Open

Meeting Law.

Expanded the notification law to requiring more boards particularly the license board to

report certain additional activities and grants of licenses

Saved money and the environment by expanded use of electronic documents for City

Council business to avoid excessive use of paper.

Commissioners to DPW & Fire Commission will now be required to be confirmed by the

City Council – Special Act passed on 2/21/12 to add confirmation power to City Council

City Council President Term limited to 6 years – Special Act adopted – fulfilling a

promise from the new City Council President. With the leadership of Councilor Vega, the City Council created a new Public Comment

Period to City Council Agenda as new Rule.

Rules revision cleanup and restructured how late file orders are handled

In taking the Needle Exchange case to court:

o The City Council obtained landmark rulings on City Council authority to retain its

own legal counsel without consent of the City Solicitor, City Council can bring

causes of action without consent of the City Solicitor, codified when Mayor could

not veto items, and finally confirmed that local approval issues such as needle

exchange require a vote of the City Council to be effective in city. Created a long needed order tracking system so public can learn the status of the great

volume of work the City Council is performing.

(7) Public Services

Passed Valor Act to provide $1,000 annual tax break for Holyoke’s Veterans who wish to

give back to the city by working for the city.

Approved vast majority 98% + of Mayoral appointees (Mr. Pudelko was delayed by

Council and then rescinded by Mayor and now no longer works for the city)

Supported Bob Judge to become Personnel Administrator – who is bringing added

professionalism to the position.

Resolved the Part-time pay & benefits issues facing many of the city’s part-time workers

in a fair and reasonable manner.

Updated the membership composition of the city’s Parking Advisory Board to reflect

new critical players.

Updated Travel Policies to make them fairer to various city departments.



Common sense revisions to home repair ordinances to allow citizens to work on their

homes on weekends.

Gave better organization to Wistariahurst by creating them as their own city department

Updated ordinance 90-90 to provide that residents will only be charged sewer for water

that they use. Therefore, if a deduct meter is used under Water Works program, no sewer

can be charged.

Supported creation of retaining experienced high quality legal counsel to handle Comcast

contract negotiations

Maintained Olde Holyoke Development CDBG funding to continue the residential

revitalization of the city with this long-standing successful organization.

Approved Mass in Motion Grant as a 5 year initiative to improve health of the city’s

citizens including hiring of a full-time project coordinator at no cost to city.

Named Salinas, Puerto Rico as a Sister City of Holyoke.

Transferred the Mountain Road Firing Range to the Conservation Commission. Placed a

permanent conservation restriction on the property and stopped the environmental finesthat have been being levied against the city for a number of years.

City Council supported the city’s new initiatives to enhance Early Childhood Literacy

Supported an additional $300,000 above net school spending to the School Dept.

holyoke city council annual report 2012

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