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:  February 4, 2021
Meeting Time:  7 p.m.

The February 4, 2021 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: http://bit.ly/3pwBy9T
For telephone call-in, call:
+ 253 215-8785 US
+ 301 715-8592 US
MEETING ID: 949 6321 1268
PARTICIPANT ID#: #
PASSCODE: 088945


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 on 20.173 National Grid Petition for Installation of Underground Conduit on Hockanum Road (Petition#16315676)

Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 7:15 p.m. on the petition of National Grid to install underground conduit and associated fixtures on Hockanum Road (Petition# 16315676). Instructions for accessing the hearing may be found on the February 18, 2021 City Council agenda to be posted on the city website (www.northamptonma.gov) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.
B.

Announcement of Public Hearing on 21.188 Application for License to Store Flammables and Combustibles at 138 North King Street

In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 148, Section 13, Big Y Foods, Inc. has submitted an application for a License for Storage of Flammables and Combustibles for two (2) 20,000-gallon underground fuel storage tanks: one (1) 20,000-gallon gasoline and one (1) 20,000-gallon split tank (10K gasoline/10Kdiesel) within the existing Big Y Supermarket parking lot at 138 North King Street. The City Council will hold a public hearing by remote participation on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 7:05 p.m. Instructions for accessing the hearing may be found on the February 18, 2021 City Council agenda to be posted on the city website (www.northamptonma.gov) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon. The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m.
C.
7:05pm

Public hearing on package of National Grid/Verizon Pole Petitions to install, relocate and/or remove a total of 37 utility poles on Damon Road and four (4) utility poles on Bridge Road in connection with the MassDOT Damon Road reconstruction project

Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, a public hearing will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2021 @ 7:05 p.m. on the following joint petitions of National Grid and Verizon New England and sole petitions of National Grid to install, relocate or remove poles and wires upon, along, under or across one or more public ways:
20.174 National Grid Pole Petition for Bridge Road (Petition #23303524)
20.175 National Grid Pole Petition for Damon Road (Petition #23303524)
20.176 National Grid/Verizon Pole Petition for Damon Road (Petition #23303524)
20.177 National Grid/Verizon Pole Petition for Bridge Road (Petition #23303524)

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.

21.193 A Resolution Opposing Internet Data Caps and Committing to Achieving Just Internet Access and Affordability - 1st reading

9.

Presentations

10.

Consent Agenda

A.

Minutes of January 7, 2021

B.

21.187 Appointments to Various Committees, all positive recommendations, City Services Committee - 2/1/2021

Arts Council

Dana Osterling, 58 Paradise Road, Apt. 1, Northampton

Term:  February 2021-June 2024

To fill a vacancy

Thulani Davis, 112 Franklin Street, Northampton

Term:  February 2021-June 2024

To fill a vacancy

Historical Commission

Dr. Jonathan Daube, 15 Carolyn Street, Florence

Term: February 2021- June 2024

To fill a vacancy

Rev. Harvey Hill, 19 Ward Avenue, Northampton

Term: February 2021-June 2024

To fill a vacancy

11.

Recess for Committee on Finance (See Separate Agenda)

12.

Financial Orders (on 1st reading pending Finance review)

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

21.192 An Order to Appropriate Free Cash to City Clerk for Elections and DPW for Asphalt - 1st reading

13.

Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)

14.

Orders

A.

21.190 An Order Endorsing the Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan - 1st reading

15.

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.

21.189 An Ordinance to Create an Incentive for Smaller Houses by Allowing Two Half-Scale Units to Count as a Single-Family for Density Purposes

Process Note:  M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 5 requires the City Council to submit zoning ordinances to the Planning Board for review within 14 days of receipt and for the Planning Board and City Council or a committee designated for that purpose to hold public hearings thereon, together or separately, prior to adoption.
16.

Ordinances

17.

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

18.

New Business

19.

Adjourn

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