Counseling center bid vetoed
Thursday, April 17, 2008
By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com
HOLYOKE - A plan to rezone a piece of land to allow for construction of a counseling facility failed to make it past the City Council and mayor.
"I think it's an inappropriate place to have a facility," Mayor Michael J. Sullivan said yesterday.
Sullivan vetoed a zone change request by the council for a parcel at 15 Holy Family Road. Behavioral Health Network Inc. wanted to change the zoning for the property from Residential 1A to Business Limited.
On Tuesday, the council voted 9-6 to override Sullivan's veto. However, the override vote failed since it required a two-third's majority vote or 10 votes total.
Councilors Patricia C. Devine, Rebecca Lisi, Diosdado Lopez, Joseph M. McGiverin, Elaine A. Pluta, Todd Purington, Peter R. Tallman, Donald R. Welch and John P. Brunelle cast the nine votes in favor of overriding the mayor's veto. The six councilors who voted not to override the veto were Kevin A. Jourdain, Anthony M. Keane, James M. Leahy, Todd A. McGee, John J. O'Neill and John E. Whelihan.
Both sides agreed they wish more had been done to notify residents who live near the property about the zone change. In recent weeks, several councilors said they have heard from many residents who are strongly opposed.
"No one complained about it ... because no one knew about it," McGee said.
"It's too bad people are learning about it after the veto," Brunelle said.
And even among councilors who voted not to override the veto skepticism about the project was expressed. Leahy said the project sounded like a small business and questioned whether it should be operating in a residential neighborhood.
But other councilors were more strongly opposed to the project, particularly since the zone change would allow for the construction of a counseling facility. McGee noted that the proposed facility would be built near a school and housing for senior citizens.
"We're inviting them up to an area where we have the most vulnerable people," McGee said.
Jourdain agreed. "I really think you couldn't pick a worse spot to put this," he said.
But Purington defended the proposed facility, noting that Behavioral Health Network has been operating in the city for a long time. "They have been a trusted partner for many years," he said.
Purington added that the people who would be treated there "are not monsters."
Brunelle agreed. "This is not a new organization," he said. "I do believe it is something the city does need."
Behavioral Health Network Inc. has been represented by Holyoke lawyer John J. Driscoll during the zone change process. Driscoll could not be reached yesterday for comment.
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