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Date: 3/22/2022
HOLYOKE – The City Council spent much time at its March 15 meeting discussing provisions to make the streets safer in the city.
The council endorsed the opinion of the city’s engineer in regard to three requests concerning traffic. The opinion from the engineer was that these requests be denied. Councilor Linda Vacon explained much of the reasoning had to do with state laws and that at the state level these laws should be amended. The council was asked to consider a three way stop sign be installed at the corner of Mosher and North Bridge streets, as well as convert the intersection of Chestnut and Franklin streets into a three-way stop.
Also denied was an order that a pedestrian crosswalk be placed where Portland and Beech streets meet. This request came from an incident in which a student was struck by a car as she tried to cross the street from the front of Holyoke High School.
What was approved was an order requiring a “No Turn on Red” sign be installed, taking effect when northbound on Resnic Boulevard and merging on to Pine Street. This will restrict when merges to Pine Street can occur to green lights only.
Also approved was establishing a four way stop at the corners of Race and Appleton streets.
The council approved an order that the city “enforce no parking zones and implement warnings and or small fines for vehicles in violation. This is a danger and, in many neighborhoods, makes it impossible to see oncoming traffic when turning onto or of side streets. Especially concerning in Ward 4 is the intersection of Hampden Street at O’Connor Avenue.”
A camera speed violation system in order to deter speeding on commuters through streets especially Beach, Hampden, Dwight, Maple and High streets was also approved. The order noted, “Holyoke has a city-wide speed limit of 25 mph. A ticketing system would remove this burden from our Police Department in some of the busiest areas while creating revenue for our city. It would also greatly reduce speeding and the running of traffic lights, by default increasing resident safety and life quality in all of our neighborhoods.”
Safety improvements to Westfield Road at the curve near street address 292 were also approved. The council was told, “Another driver ran off the road in December into two front yards and left the scene.”
Thinking of walking your dog or fishing in a city reservoir? If you’re caught by Holyoke or State Police you may pay a hefty fine, councilors voted to increase the fines with fishing and dog walking so a first offense could carry a fine of not more than $50 for any offense to a minimum of $250 for subsequent offenses.” The Massachusetts State Police and the Environmental Police will be authorized to issue a citation.
The council also approved the funding of four project through Community Preservation grants. The City Hall stained glass restoration received $160,000; repainting Wistariahurst Museum, $125,000; phase two for Scott Tower Anniversary, $30,000 and Gloutake Woods Trail improvements, $47,000.
The council gave the School Department permission to send the Massachusetts School Building Authority a statement of interest for reimbursement at the 80 percent level for a new boiler at Dean School as well as new windows and doors at McMahon, Donahue and Lawrence schools.
The councilors rejected the use of $30,000 for the repair of the sidewalk on 73 Sargent St. to the intersection of race and Main streets. The funding would have come from the Cannabis Stabilization fund. Several councilors questioned if the project met the parameters of “community impact” for which the funding is supposed to be used.
Councilor Israel Rivera asked if the sidewalk repair, which is near one cannabis facility, meets the definition of “community impact.”
Councilor Will Puello, who represents the ward in which the sidewalk is located, said there “is nothing really wrong with the sidewalk” and suggested in the future councilors see photos of proposed projects using this funding.
Sent to the Ordinance Committee for discussion was an order from Councilor Kevin Jourdain and Vacon that read, “That Columbus Day holiday ordinance be changed so the holiday be known as both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day so everyone may celebrate both, one or the other, or neither if they choose according to their own conscience. This will allow the maximum amount of sensitivity to the issue.”
Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos said such a holiday would “create more division” in the city and made a motion to withdraw it. He added he was trying to protect the community.
Councilor Joseph McGiverin said the issue should be discussed in the committee and Jourdain noted there was a similar order “sitting in the Ordinance Committee” that has not yet been discussed.
The council voted to send the proposal to the Ordinance Committee for further debate.