The City Council meet on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 7:30pm and had the following important issues before it:
(1) There was a special dedication to our deceased colleague John E. Whelihan in recognition of his 32 years on the City Council with a special plaque presented to his wife, Mildred Whelihan and City Councilor John "Jay" G. Whelihan. Jay Whelihan served out the duration of his father's term and donated his entire salary to the Council on Aging. Jay is an exceptionally bright individual who the city is very lucky indeed to have now serving us on the Charter Commission.
(2) There was a special presentation and award presented to retiring Fire Chief David Lafond. Dave was joined by his beautiful family and received the well earned praise of a very long and distinguished career in the city's fire service. Dave served on the fire department for 31 years and 15 years as Fire Chief.
(3) Tax Classification and Rate Setting - There was a full discussion and a series of votes, here is how they broke down:
Starting with the lowest rate for homeowners, Councilor Whelihan and I made a motion for residential rate of 14.93 and commerical rate of 36.85. The vote was as follows:
Yes - Jourdain, Lopez, Pluta, Tallman, Whelihan
No - Brunelle, Devine, Keane, Leahy, Lisi, McGee, McGiverin, O'Neill, Purington, Welch
Councilor Devine offerred the rate pushed by the Chamber of Commerce which would have raised residential rates to 15.20 and commerical rate to 36.21. The votes was as follows:
Yes - Devine, Keane, Leahy, McGiverin, O'Neill, Purington, Tallman
No - Brunelle, Jourdain, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, Pluta, Welch, Whelihan
Councilor O'Neill offered the highest rate on residential all night with the residential rate of 15.56 and a commerical rate of 35.35
Yes - Keane, McGiverin, O'Neill, Purington
No - Brunelle, Devine, Jourdain, Leahy, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, Pluta, Tallman, Welch, Whelihan
The final vote that was approved was one notch over what I originally proposed with a residential rate of 15.02 and Commerical Rate of 36.64.
Yes - Brunelle, Jourdain, Keane, Leahy, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, Pluta, Purington, Tallman, Whelihan
No - Devine, McGiverin, O'Neill, Welch
(4) The Council approved a Special Act drafted by Councilor Pluta creating new powers for the police to monitor and rid our streets of gangs by preventing gang loitering. This adopted Special Act requires the approval of the state legislature and it was forwarded to them after we adopted it. We also included an amendment that stated if they amended it, they need our prior approval before it can become law.
On adoption of the new tougher laws against gang loitering:
Yes - Jourdain, Keane, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, McGiverin, O'Neill, Pluta, Purington, Tallman, Welch, Whelihan
No - Brunelle, Devine, Leahy
(5) The Council approved $110,000 for additional Special Counsel funds to be appropriated as follows:
$4393.70 for Real Time Court Reporting
$64,399.32 for Sullivan, Hayes and Quinn
$41,144.18 for Brodeur-McGan & Associates
I requested at the meeting that Atty. Lisa Brodeur-McGan provide to the Council the amount of costs related to her recent motion to withdraw the opposition counsel in the matter of Thomas Moriarty vs. City of Holyoke. Judge Sweeney wrote an opinion posted on Holyoke First in June 2009 that reported this motion was made in bad faith and she acted inappropriately representing the city. The judge awarded the opposition counsel for Mr. Moriarty legal fees because of her actions. This Friday, December 18, 2009, Judge Sweeney ultimately awarded $31,097 that Atty. Brodeur-McGan and/or the defendants (including the city, Mayor Sullivan, Attorney Proulx) must pay within 90 days. I have placed the most recent order also on the Holyoke First site.
Atty. Brodeur-McGan stated at the Council meeting that part of the money she was requesting was related to this motion. She was unsure how much and stated that she would have to get back to us. I made a motion to table the $110,000 request in order to obtain this information. The Council opposed my motion and decided to go forward and approve the entire package.
The vote to approve the $110,000 including the funds to Atty. Brodeur-McGan related to the motion she was admonished for by Judge Sweeney was as follows:
Yes - Devine, Keane, Leahy, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, McGiverin, O'Neill, Pluta, Purington, Tallman, Welch, Whelihan
No - Brunelle, Jourdain
(6) An application came in for a new Taco Bell to be located at 2199 Northampton Street. It was sent to the ordinance committee.
(7) A $5.5 million bond request for a new library and/or renovation came before the Council and it was sent to the Finance Committee for review.
(8) Numerous orders were sent to the Redevelopment Committee to discuss the recent HUD audit from the US Housing and Urban Development department. This 50 page report is linked to from the Holyoke First site.
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