Noteworthy Items:
- Pat Higgins was confirmed to another 5yr term on the Holyoke Housing Authority Commission. Pat has a long and proud history on behalf of the people of the city and I was proud to vote for him.
- Gordon Alexander, Bruce Mitchell and Carol Walsh were appointed to 3 year terms on the Historical Commission.
- Sandra Swan was appointed to a 1 year term to the Council on Aging Commission
- Council passed a new ordinance prohibiting trucks from using their engine brakes in the city by a vote of 11-4. I opposed this bad idea because City Councilors know nothing about operating tractor trailer trucks and have no business telling trucks how to operate their braking and safety systems in Holyoke or anywhere else. Trucks have brakes for reason and to use them when needed. The vote on this measure was as follows:
- YES: Devine, Keane, Lisi, Lopez, McGee, McGiverin, Murphy, O'Neill, Purington, Tallman, Welch
- NO: Jourdain, Leahy, Vacon, Vega
- City Council unanimously approved the Redevelopment Committee recommendations to Mayor Pluta for the use of Community Development Block Grants Funds in the amount of $1.343 million and HOME Grant Funds of $1.208 million. My Redevelopment committee members worked on these recommendations and came up with a great work product that was thoughtful and effective.
