cityseal

CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS  

 Councilors:  
  • President Gina-Louise Sciarra, At-Large
  • William H. Dwight, At-Large
  • Michael J. Quinlan, Jr., Ward 1
  • Karen Foster, Ward 2
  • Vice-President James Nash, Ward 3
  • John Thorpe, Ward 4
  • Alex Jarrett, Ward 5
  • Marianne L. LaBarge, Ward 6
  • Rachel Maiore, Ward 7

Meeting Agenda
On-line Video Conference
Meeting Date:  September 17, 2020
Meeting Time:  7 p.m.

The September 17, 2020 City Council meeting will be held via remote participation. The public can follow the council's deliberations by watching the meeting live on Comcast channel 15, live-streaming it on youtube or joining the virtual meeting by phone or computer.  For the active youtube link, please see Northampton Open Media's website: http://northamptonopenmedia.org/ 

Live public comment will be available using telephone call-in or video conferencing technology beginning at 7 p.m. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CALLING IN OR JOINING THE MEETING

Join virtual meeting: https://bit.ly/3imzy0p
For telephone call-in, call:
+253 215-8782 US
+301 715-8592 US
Meeting ID: 950 0020 3939
Participant #: #
Passcode: 806842


1.

Announcement that Meeting is Being Held Via Remote Participation and Audio/Video Recorded

This meeting is being held via remote participation and audio/video recorded.
2.

Public Comment

3.

Roll Call

4.

Public Hearings

A.

Announcement of Public Hearing - 20.109 National Grid/Verizon New England Pole Petition for Prospect Street (Petition #29914250)

Per M.G.L. Chapter 166, Section 22, a public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2020 @ 7:05 p.m. on the petition of National Grid/Verizon New England to erect poles and wires upon, along, under or across one or more public ways (Pole Petition #29914250) - Prospect Street. The hearing will be held via remote participation. Please see the agenda for the October 1, 2020 City Council meeting for instructions for accessing the hearing.
Documents:
  1. 20.109 DPW Recommendation.pdf
  2. 20.109 National Grid-Verizon Pole Petition for Prospect Street (Petition 29914250).pdf
5.

Updates from Council President and Committee Chairs

6.

Recognitions and One-Minute Announcements by Councilors

7.

Communications and Proclamations from the Mayor

8.

Resolutions

A.

20.112 A Resolution in Support of "An Act Improving Outdoor Lighting and Increasing Dark-Sky Visibility" - 2nd reading

History:
- Passed 1st reading - 9/3/2020
Documents:
  1. 20.112 A Resolution in Support of An Act Improving Outdoor Lighting and Increasing Dark-Sky Visibility.pdf
9.

Presentations

10.

Consent Agenda

A.

20.106 Appointments to Various Committees - positive recommendations w/changes as indicated, City Services Committee - 9/9/2020

Arts Council

Matthew Vanderslice, 231 Elm St. Rear, Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023

To fill a vacancy

Application withdrawn

Lori Steiner, 18 Ridgewood Terrace, Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023

Reappointment

Board of Health

Dr. Suzanne Smith, 134 State St., Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023

Reappointment

Conservation Commission

Kevin Lake, 35 Washington Ave., Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023

Reappointment

Downtown Business Architecture Committee

Emily Wright, 244 South St., Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023

To fill a vacancy

Human Rights Commission

Nural Mohammed, 34 Michelman Ave., Apt. 2, Northampton, MA

Term:  July 2020-June 2023 September 2020

Reappointment

Human Rights Commission (continued)

Deidre Cuffee-Gray, 2 Burts Pit Rd., Northampton, MA

Term:  August 2020-June 2023

To fill a vacancy

Chelsea Villareal, 23A Lyman Rd. Northampton, MA

Term:  August 2020-June 2023

To fill a vacancy


Documents:
  1. 20.106 Appointments to Various Committees.pdf
11.

Deliberate and vote on Individual Charter Review Committee Recommendations

Process note: This discussion is expected to take more than one meeting. Not all items listed may be reached for final action.
- Section 3.9 Vacancy in Office of Mayor (final action not taken - section was referred to the city solicitor for further review after members noted the need for clarification.)
ARTICLE 8. ELECTIONS
- Adopt ranked-choice voting for municipal elections
- Extend voting rights in municipal elections to non-citizens

The additional remaining items (Lowering the municipal voting age to 16, Mailing ballots for municipal elections to all registered voters, Removing the need to cite a specific reason to receive an absentee ballot for municipal elections) and any final discussion will happen at future meetings. 

Documents:
  1. Status of Council Action on CRC Recommendations.pdf
  2. CRC Annotated Charter - Approved 11-19-19.pdf
  3. CRC_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY - Approved 11-19-19.pdf
12.

Recess for Committee on Finance (See Separate Agenda)

13.

Financial Orders (on 1st reading pending Finance review)

Rule 2.6 requires the Finance Committee to consider certain financial matters.
A.

20.118 An Order to Appropriate $54,075 in CPA Funds for West Farms Road APR Project - 1st reading

Documents:
  1. 20.118 An Order to Appropriate 54,075 in CPA Funds for West Farms Road APR Project.pdf
B.

20.119 An Order for FY2021 Budget Transfers - 1st reading

Process note: Two readings are respectfully requested to allow prompt payment.
Documents:
  1. 20.119 An Order for FY2021 Budget Transfers.pdf
C.

20.120 An Order to Authorize Payment of a Prior Year Bill - 1st reading

Process note: Two readings are respectfully requested to allow prompt payment.
Documents:
  1. 20.120 An Order to Authorize Payment of a Prior Year Bill.pdf
D.

20.122 An Order to Appropriate FY2021 CPA Funds for Community Preservation Purposes - 1st reading

Documents:
  1. 20.122 An Order to Appropriate FY2021 CPA Funds for Community Preservation Purposes.pdf
E.

20.123 An Order to Appropriate $25,000 for Northampton Policing Review Commission Staff Support - 1st reading

Process note: Two readings are respectfully requested to allow the city to proceed with the hiring process.
Documents:
  1. 20.123 An Order to Appropriate 25,000 for Northampton Policing Review Commission Staff Support.pdf
F.

20.124 An Order Authorizing Acquisition of Drainage Easement on the East Side of North Farms Road - 1st reading

Process note: Two readings are respectfully requested to maintain adherence to the DPW's tight construction schedule.
Documents:
  1. 20.124 Vollinger Release and Settlement Agreement.pdf
  2. 20.124 Plan of Drain Line Easement.pdf
  3. 20.124 North Farms Road Order of Taking.pdf
  4. 20.124 An Order Authorizing Acquisition of Drainage Easement on the East Side of North Farms Road.pdf
14.

Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)

A.

20.111 An Order to Accept Land and Surplus it for Affordable Housing at Laurel Street and Burts Pit Road - 2nd reading

Process note: the order has been amended to insert the appropriate citation (Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2020) now that the bills have been signed into law.

History:
- Positive recommendation, Finance Committee - 9/3/2020
- Passed 1st reading - 9/3/2020
Documents:
  1. 20.111 An Order to Accept Land and Surplus it for Affordable Housing at Laurel Street and Burts Pit Road.pdf
15.

Orders

A.

20.110 Order to Waive the City's Right of First Refusal under MGL 61 for Land on Turkey Hill Road - 2nd reading

History:
- Passed 1st reading - 9/3/2020
Documents:
  1. 20.110 An Order to Waive the Citys Right of First Refusal under MGL 61 for Land on Turkey Hill Road.pdf
16.

Ordinances (Not yet Referred)

Rule 5.2.3 provides that no ordinance shall be voted on by the City Council until it has been considered by the Committee on Legislative Matters.
A.

20.121 An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.3 to Reduce the Setback from Street Lot Lines for Accessory Stables

Documents:
  1. 20.121 An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.3 to Reduce the Setback from Street Lot Lines for Accessory Stables.pdf
17.

Ordinances

18.

Information Requests (Charter Provision 2-7) and Committee Study Requests

19.

New Business

20.

Adjourn

Contact:  G-L Sciarra, Council President
glsciarra@northamptonma.gov 
(413) 570-3133