The City Council took up a number of very important items last night and I wanted to give you a full report of what happened.
1) The City Council appointed Charles Fred Glidden to a 3 yr appointment to represent the City Council on the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Geriatric Authority. Fred has a wealth of knowledge about the Authority and previously served on that board for 9 years. Fred will join our 2 other appointments of Angela Boyle and Ted Taupier to make sure that the Geriatric Authority provides quality care and remains financially solvent. I also tip my hat to the other very qualified candidates who ran because it was not an easy decision. In the end, here is how your Councilors voted:
Charles F Glidden received the 9 votes of Councilors Brunelle, Devine, Jourdain, Keane, Lopez, McGiverin, Tallman, Welch & Whelihan
Raymond Murphy received the 5 votes of Councilors Leahy, Lisi, McGee, Pluta and Purington
Kimberly Ferris received 1 vote from Councilor O'Neill
2) The City Council approved the Jones Ferry River Access Center and I was proud to have voted for this excellent project. For the cost of $400,000 we will be receiving a state of the art facility valued at $1.3 million. This facility and location will be an asset to our children and grandchildren for many years to come. The vote was 13-2 with Councilors Brunelle and Whelihan voting no.
3) The City Council voted down the $122,384 in payraises to numerous department heads in city hall and other non-elected, non-union positions totalling 51 positions in all. The raises were completely arbitrary and without any backup whatsoever in terms of justifying enhancements ranging from 3, 4, 6, 8, 13.5%. Unfortunately, some of the positions did deserve an enhancement but the mayor elected to package them all in one unit in the expectation we would have to approve them all or nothing. As I stated clearly at the meeting, I am supportive of Cost of Living Adjustments for our employees usually in the range of 2-2.5-3% like we do for our union positions but no way can the city afford massive payraises without serious justification. Many of these positions are paid at the very top of the scale of what they should be paid already for the work performed. The Council was not provided with performance appraisal justifications either. Historically, the City Council has a reputation for just voting for everything and anything when it comes to payraises; hopefully, yesterday's vote signals a new course of financial accountablity on behalf of the taxpayers of the city who expect us to treat our employees fairly while at the same time making sure we live on our budget.
The Council voted as follows (10 votes are required for adoption):
In favor of the $122,384 for 1 yr package: Devine, Keane, Leahy, McGee, O'Neill, Pluta, Purington, Tallman and Welch
Opposing the package: Jourdain, Lisi, Lopez, McGiverin, Whelihan
Councilor Brunelle did not vote.
4) The remaining items from the agenda which is linked from my site were either approved with little discussion or referred to committee.
5) In terms of new orders, there was one filed (Item 36) filed by Councilor O'Neill which will be closely watched: That the Law dept prepare a legal opinion for the City Council discussing the legal procedures available should the City elect to terminate its contract with Aquarion. If possible, the opinion should include an estimate of costs and liabilities to be incurred by the city as a result of this process. Without objection Councilors Devine, Lisi, Pluta and Jourdain joined as co-sponsors.
6) My order to post the city budget on the city website was adopted and hopefully you will see where all of your money is being spent very shortly.
Don't forget you can always see the proceeding live on ComCast Channel 15 on the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:30PM.
If you have any questions about the meeting or would like to discuss an issue of importance to you, please do not hesitate to call me at 538-5519.
It is my pleasure to serve you.
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