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

Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, the Northampton City Council is holding a public hearing on on National Grid's petition to install one JO pole on Clark St. (Petition #30481354).   The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.

The Northampton City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 7:15 p.m. The City Council will consider proposed amendments to the City of Northampton Administrative Code, Part I Administrative Organization, Section 3.0 Health and Human Services Division and Part II Multi-Member Appointive Organization, Section 12.0 Health, Board of.

The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.

Presentation by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra.

Rule 4.4.4 There shall be no debate or discussion by any City Council member regarding any item on the Consent Agenda, beyond asking questions for simple clarification.
Rule 4.4.5  Any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda upon the request of any City Council member prior to the taking of a vote on the motion to approve it.  All such items will be considered individually, in the order in which they were removed, immediately following consideration of the Consent Agenda.

SEE DOCUMENTS ABOVE

History:
- Referred to consent agenda - 5/5/2022

History:
- Referred to consent agenda - 5/5/2022

History:
- Referred to the consent agenda - 5/5/2022

History:
- Referred to consent agenda - 5/5/2022

History:
- Referred to consent agenda

Board of Assessors 

Dennis Nolan, 319 Elm Street, Northampton

Term: July 2022-June 2025

Reappointment

Conservation Commission

Jason Perry, 14 Carolyn Street. Florence 

Term: July 2022-June 2025

Reappointment

 Northampton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners

 JoElla Tabutton Springfield, 81 Conz St., Apt 626, Northampton

Term: July 2022-June 2025

Reappointment

Rule 2.6.1.1.1 Process. Financial orders will be introduced and discussed at a full City Council meeting and referred to either the consent agenda of a future meeting or the Finance Committee for more public input, discussion and recommendation.

Process note: Agenda items #C through #H are the financial orders to adopt the FY2023 Proposed Operating Budget

History:
- Referred to Northampton Housing Partnership, Community Resources and Legislative Matters - 3/3/2022
- Positive recommendation, Housing Partnership (see letter, attached) - 3/7/2022
- Public forum held, Community Resources. Councilor Jarrett introduced two amendments:  first, to correct a scrivener's error in the third "whereas" paragraph by removing the word "the" so that the paragraph began as follows:  "WHEREAS, the PVPC report found that such rental commissions,...";  second, to amend Section 2 of the Act so that it will read as follows:  "SECTION 2.  No landowner, landlord, lessor, or sub-lessor shall demand or require that a tenant or prospective tenant retain, hire, or engage a rental agent or broker and pay such agent or broker a fee or commission as a condition to applying for or leasing a residential rental unit in the City of Northampton, and no such landowner, landlord, lessor, or sub-lessor shall demand or require that a tenant or prospective tenant make any payment in violation of SECTION 1 of this act."  
- Positive recommendation as amended, Community Resources - 4/25/2022
- Positive recommendation as amended, Legislative Matters - 5/9/202

Note #1: A question was raised at the Community Resources meeting about whether a voluntary relationship between a broker and tenant would be prohibited under the proposed legislation. Attorney Seewald's response via email was as follows:
"Nothing in the proposed special act modifies the voluntary relationship between the prospective tenant and a broker. The act would prohibit a lessor from compelling a prospective tenant to pay the lessor's broker or compelling the tenant to engage and pay a broker."

Note #2:  Councilor Nash requested that this item be placed on the 5/19 agenda and that both versions of the proposed Act be presented for discussion.  He would like the City Council to vote to approve the amendments.  

History:
- Proposal to amend administrative code introduced and public hearing on same announced for 5/19/2022 - 5/5/2022

Process note: Per the process established by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), municipalities may opt out of broadcast aerial spraying for mosquitos. To opt out, the City Council is required to take a vote indicating Northampton's intention to opt out after accepting public comment and consulting the Board of Health. The city must also prepare an alternative mosquito management plan. A certified copy of the vote, checklist and mosquito management plan is required to be emailed to the EEA by May 27, 2022,
At its meeting April 21, 2022, the Board of Health recommended opting out.

History:
- Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Committee recommendation presented by Committee Chair Robert Boulrice - 4/14/2022
- Referred to City Services, Legislative Matters (LM) & Board of Registrars (BOR) - 4/14/2022
- Joint meeting of City Services and LM to consider RCV - 5/2/2022
- Positive recommendation, City Services - 5/2/2022
- Positive recommendation, LM - 5/2/2022
- Positive recommendation, BOR on split vote of 2 Yes (Powers, Kay), 1 No (Tarantino), 1 Vacant. Registrar Tarantino voiced concern that changing the voting procedure is "a solution in search of a problem"  He is not convinced that this is a better way to elect a representative body.  He is concerned that the process is outcome oriented; that the process is defined with the end result in mind (whether its diversity or voter participation) that is brought into effect by working backwards.   

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.

History:
- Resolution introduced and discussed - 5/5/2022

History:
- Resolution introduced and discussed - 5/5/2022

Rule 4.9 NEW BUSINESS. Any Councilor may introduce any written proposed order, ordinance, or resolution to be considered by the Council at the next meeting, but not to be debated during new business.