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2026-09-02 - City Council

Summary

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Built from the city's approved minutes, which were read in full. Roll-call tallies are Yeas-Nays; absences are noted separately.

  • Called to order 6:34 PM and adjourned 9:28 PM; 12 members present, Councilor J. Rivera absent.
  • Public hearing: Holyoke Gas and Electric pole petitions (S Bridge St and Cleveland St) adopted.
  • Public comment was dominated by about ten speakers, several from outside Holyoke (rules were suspended to allow it), against Flock/ALPR license plate cameras and shock gloves; one comment concerned energy planning for school window and door projects. See Police Technology and Oversight.
  • Approved the August 4 minutes. The Vacon/Greaney order to go to a first ballot to elect a treasurer stayed laid on the table. See Finance Department Reorganization.
  • Ordained 12-0 (one absent): a parking fix on Northampton St at the Myrtle Ave RRFB, a no-parking rule on West Glen St, and the disbanding of the Parking Advisory Board. Seven handicap-sign requests were denied; the winter-parking odd/even proposal and the driveway-fine increase were withdrawn by leave. See Parking and Traffic Ordinances.
  • Ordained 12-0 the merger of the Historical Commission and the Local Historic District Commission. See Historical Commission Merger.
  • Finance reports: many FY26 carry-over transfers adopted 11-0 or 12-0; a $150,000 police pay-line transfer to overtime passed 12-0; transfer item 45 passed 10-2 (Greaney, Vacon no). See Bond Orders and Financial Reviews.
  • Bond authorizations of $125,000 (Donahue Elementary) and $75,000 (McMahon Elementary) for MSBA schematic design studies of windows and doors passed 12-0. See Elementary School Window and Door Studies.
  • Referred to Ordinance: Red Barn Growers (marijuana retailer, Cabot St) and Diablo Man LLC (pre-roll microbusiness, Sargeant St) petitions, and the Mayor's letter on marijuana hours. See Cannabis Hours Pilot and Permits.
  • New orders referred to Public Safety: a shock-glove ban order (Councilor Thalheimer and six others) and a Flock/ALPR review order (Thalheimer and eight others). See Police Technology and Oversight.
  • Councilor Vacon's order 59 on whether the Planning Board's February 10 zoning package was properly voted was adopted; order 60 (release the draft comprehensive plan for public feedback) was received and complied with. The Mayor's coming-priorities letter and the 2026 Holyoke Comprehensive Plan were received. See Zoning Overhaul and Comprehensive Plan.
  • Declared the city property on Newton St surplus, 12-0. See Housing and Redevelopment.
  • Received the Attorney General's response to a November 7, 2025 Open Meeting Law complaint (its contents were not read). See Open Government and Public Access.

Agenda

Agenda posted on the city's meeting page; see Sources.

Sources

Video

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