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Date: 11/23/2021
SPRINGFIELD – After weeks of contested debate, the Springfield City Council approved an order to add $5 million to the Law Department’s stabilization reserve for in-court settlements during their meeting on Nov. 15.
City Solicitor Edward Pikula provided an overview on the topic, explaining the need for added funds to achieve settlements for ongoing cases against the city and its law department. “The financial order is sought to strengthen the city’s bargaining position in the currently pending cases involving police misconduct where the city faces potential of significant liability,” said Pikula.
The city solicitor believes the agreement will allow the city to provide apt settlements while helping to further reform police misconduct within the district. He also explained that the city has become “more aggressive” in working toward settlements to prevent exposure for tax paying citizens. “The settlement of pending cases will allow the city, in some sense, to move forward with a clean slate from these claims,” said Pikula.
The order and Pikula’s sentiments were met with mixed reactions by the council. Councilor At-Large Tracye Whitfield said she is bothered by the notion of settlements creating a clean slate for the city, as the ongoing misconduct has not been revolved since the city’s last request for settlement funds. “Something has got to be done in the form of individuals who are repeat offenders…We can’t just wait, people’s lives are on the line,” said Whitfield. The councilor ultimately said she would support the order and hope in good faith that the city continues meaningful reforms.
After Councilor At-Large Kateri Walsh and Ward 7 Councilor Timothy Allen expressed their support on the order, At-Large Councilor Justin Hurst expressed concerns about the order’s ability to address ongoing settlements. “I’m all for settling. What I am against is providing upfront money to settle. We’ve never done this before,” said Hurst. The councilor said he would vote against the order due to the extravagant upfront cost.
Ultimately, the order was approved 10-1.
Dirt Bike Ordinance
Ward 8 Councilor Orlando Ramos discussed an ongoing ordinance he has developed to prevent the illegal usage of dirt bikes across communities. The ordinance, which has been created with the help of the authors of similar ordinances in Hartford and New Haven, will work with gas stations to prevent the fueling of illegal dirt bikes.
“This ordinance is not intended to punish or target gas stations; it’s intended to work together in partnership with gas stations…in order to reduce the serious problem of dirt bikes within our city,” said Ramos.
The councilor highlighted the success Hartford and New Haven have had with this ordinance, detailing that both communities have experienced no citations since issuing the ordinance seven years ago. Ramos also shared that the ordinance is being accepted on a regional level, with Chicopee and Holyoke working toward adopting the ordinance in the coming weeks.
The council unanimously approved the ordinance, which Ramos said will be his last piece of legislation before leaving the council in January to focus on his role as state representative.