Rebecca Lisi At-Large City Councilor

Shifting the Trash Burden: Holyoke takes the lead in a campaign to reduce waste at the source--manufacturers.

2010-02-17T10:41:00.002-05:00

from The Valley Advocate
by Maureen Turner
February 18, 2010

By Maureen Turner

Chart showing how waste has changed radically

First, the good news: recycling rates in the U.S. are higher than they've ever been. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2008, Americans recycled or composted 83 million tons of the waste they generated—an average of 1.5 pounds per person per day. About one-third of the waste generated in the U.S. each year is recycled, up from 16 percent in 1990 and 6.6 percent in 1970.

But that still leaves an enormous amount of waste heading to strained landfills, incinerators and other waste disposal sites—the 83 million tons of trash that get recycled each year is overshadowed by the remaining 167 million tons that don't. EPA figures show that the majority of waste generated by Americans is made up of packaging and containers (30.8 percent), durable goods (18.3 percent) and nondurable goods (23.5 percent)—items that can be difficult, if not impossible, for consumers to recycle through their municipal waste systems.

Public and political pressure is building for a new approach to handling this waste, one that shifts the burden from consumers and municipalities to manufacturers, who would be forced to take responsibility for what ultimately happens to the products they make. Called "Extended Producer Responsibility," or EPR, the approach requires manufacturers to absorb the cost of collecting and recycling their products—a shift, it's hoped, that would motivate them to make more environmentally friendly products in the first place.

The EPR model has been embraced by the European Union, which has taken a leadership role on the issue. In the U.S., it's catching on more slowly, with individual states adopting laws that address some, but not all, product categories. But as more and more regions face the prospect of running out of places to put their trash, momentum is building for a broader approach.

Earlier this month, the Holyoke City Council signaled its support for that effort, passing a resolution that calls for the state Legislature to pass a bill that would require electronics manufacturers to bear the cost of recycling their products. In addition, the resolution called for a broader statewide EPR program that would include many more products.

Holyoke is the first community in Massachusetts to call for a statewide EPR program.

"I thought the issue was tremendously appropriate for Holyoke," said City Councilor Rebecca Lisi, who sponsored the resolution. She sees it as an opportunity for the city to position itself to potential investors in the much-touted new "green economy"—and to save taxpayers money in the process.

Laws that hold manufacturers responsible for the "end life" of their products are not new. Perhaps the best-known examples are bottle laws, such as Massachusetts', that make beverage companies responsible for collecting and recycling used bottles. Massachusetts has a similar program for the disposal of products that contain mercury, such as thermometers and thermostats. Twenty states already have EPR laws for the disposal of electronics, or "e-waste."

Massachusetts is not one of them, which means towns and cities are responsible for the disposal of the roughly 300,000 computers, televisions and similar products disposed of in the state each year. Because TVs and computer monitors contain toxic metals, including lead, they've been banned from state landfills since 2000. Instead, municipalities hire private recyclers to handle those products. In total, Massachusetts communities spend about $2 million to $4 million a year to get rid of e-waste, the Boston Globe reported last year.

An e-waste bill is pending in the state Legislature. That bill, filed by state Rep. Frank Smizik (D-Brookline), received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture last fall and is now sitting before the House Committee on Rules. Holyoke is one of about 180 municipalities in the state that have called for that bill to come to the floor for a vote. (Valley communities that have passed similar resolutions include Amherst, Belchertown, Chicopee and Greenfield. The environmental group Clean Water Action is also calling on supporters to write to House Speaker Robert DeLeo to ask that the bill be brought to a vote.)

In December, in a preview of a forthcoming Solid Waste Master Plan, the Patrick administration announced its support for several waste reduction efforts, including the e-waste bill and an expansion of the bottle law to include water and sports-drink bottles.

"[T]he Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to an aggressive agenda of recycling and waste reduction that gives cities and towns assistance to expand and improve their recycling efforts and requires greater responsibility from manufacturers for products—ranging from water bottles to televisions—that end up in our waste stream," read a Dec. 11 announcement from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

"Focusing on incineration and landfills is the wrong end of the waste equation," EOEEA Secretary Ian Bowles added.

Lynn Pledger of Clean Water Action is excited by those kinds of statements from state officials, which she sees as an acknowledgement that we need to focus on how to reduce waste in the first place, rather than simply on how to dispose of it. She's also encouraged by the Patrick administration's emphasis on manufacturers bearing responsibility for their products.

Pledger would like to see Massachusetts broaden those efforts by creating a "framework EPR" system, one that would authorize state officials (in this case, the Department of Environmental Protection) to add new product categories to the program, rather than the current lengthy, piecemeal process that relies on the Legislature to pass individual laws addressing individual products. A handful of states are already considering framework EPR bills, including Maine. These efforts would require manufacturers to cover the cost of collecting and recycling their products and would subject them to performance standards set by the state.

That, Pledger said, would have an immediate benefit for municipalities, by relieving them of the burden of handling products that are difficult or costly to recycle. They would also have a longer term environmental benefit, she added.

"Once you make producers responsible for the cost of what happens to their products when they're discarded, that's going to influence how they design their product," she said. "They're going to design it to make it easier to recycle. If it has a toxic component, for example, they're not going to want to pay to dispose of that toxic waste, so they're going to find a safer alternative."

The three Rs of environmentalism—reduce, reuse, recycle—represent a hierarchy, Pledger said, one in which the preferred option is to not create potential waste in the first place. Even products that can be recycled come with environmental costs, in their manufacture, in their packaging, in the recycling process. EPR, she said, helps create "long product chains. & And along the way, you're focusing first on reusing things that don't have to be ground up and remanufactured."

If the drawn-out, contentious history of the bottle law is any indication, broader EPR legislation will face opposition from manufacturers, who are loath to accept government restrictions on how they do business, and typically insist that such mandates would cause them to pass the cost on to consumers, lead to worker layoffs, or prompt them to move to a more "business-friendly" place.

Those were some of the arguments made against the Holyoke resolution. The Advocate contacted three of the five Holyoke city councilors who voted against the EPR resolution, including Patty Devine, chair of the Public Safety Committee, which had reported the resolution out without a recommendation; none responded to interview requests.

Rebecca Lisi described her colleagues' arguments against the resolution as based, in part, on concerns that the EPR movement would create "barriers for business" in a struggling city that could use more jobs and more tax revenue. In addition, some expressed concern that if manufacturers are forced to take on recycling costs, they'll pass it on to consumers by raising prices—a development that would be especially hard on poor people.

Pledger maintains that there are significant economic benefits that would come from EPR programs, including the creation of new jobs in the recycling and product repair sectors. They could also inspire companies to find smarter ways to make products, and to compete for the money of consumers who want safer products that won't just end up in a landfill.

"It stimulates innovations," she said. "Waste is basically inefficiency."

Lisi believes such a policy would lead to expanded recycling programs, which would create new employment opportunities. "That's where the big opportunity to create new jobs in the city comes from," she said.

As for poor people being unduly burdened by manufacturers passing on their costs, Lisi questioned whether those are the people buying high-end goods, like new televisions and computers. The working poor and other taxpayers, she added, are already picking up the cost for the city to handle disposed products.

"As a consumer, you can make a choice about which products to buy," Lisi said. "As a taxpayer, you're stuck in that community."

Last year, Holyoke was selected as the site of a new $100 million computing center, a partnership between UMass, MIT, EMC Corp. and Cisco Systems. The center is being hailed as a "green" project because it will rely on hydroelectric power from the Connecticut River.

"There's a lot of grassroots buzz about how Holyoke can be the home of an industrial green revolution," Lisi said. "Even if it's with small, symbolic steps like this resolution, we need to start signaling to the state and the other investors who are watching what happens with this new computer center that we're ready to think green, act green, that we're going to be welcoming all sorts of green investment&

"We need to be proactive about marketing ourselves as a green city," Lisi continued. The EPR resolution, she said, will help get that message out throughout the state and beyond.

Holyoke City Council passes EPR resolution to boost recycling, cut costs

2010-02-13T23:30:00.005-05:00

from The Sun, February 5- 11, 2010

HOLYOKE – Last night the Holyoke City Council passed a resolution supporting statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is a new approach to reduce, reuse and recycle that shifts the financial cost of managing discarded products and packaging from the cities and towns to the brand owners who design and market the products.

“Holyoke taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay to dispose of toxic or hard-to-recycle products,” said Councilor Rebecca Lisi, who introduced the resolution. “The companies that put these products into the marketplace should be responsible for these costs.”

Recently MassDEP announced that EPR will be a key strategy in the coming decade to reduce the volume of products and packaging discarded in the commonwealth. By requiring producers to pay for the cost of recycling or disposal of their products, EPR provides brand owners a financial incentive to redesign their products to be less wasteful.

On Jan. 28, Lynne Pledger, from Clean Water Action, told the Public Safety Committee that EPR programs in other states have generated new businesses and jobs.

“Twenty states already have EPR programs for electronic waste. Maine has EPR programs that cover six product categories,” she said. “Cities in other states are already benefiting from costs saving and job generation; it’s time for Massachusetts to get on board.”

Holyoke had passed a resolution in 2002 calling for producers of electronics to pay for the costs of safely managing discarded computers and TVs. An e-waste bill was filed this year in the State Legislature and is expected to come to a vote in this legislative session.

“This new resolution calls for passage of the e-waste bill and for EPR Framework legislation to cover more product categories,” Pledger explained.

Holyoke is the first municipality in Massachusetts to pass a resolution calling for a statewide EPR program for multiple products. The council vote was eight to five.

“This initiative is in keeping with Holyoke’s plans to be known as a forward-looking, ‘green’ community,” Lisi said.

The Clean Water Action EPR presentation to the Public Safety Committee was attended by a group of Holyoke residents from Project GreenHolyoke.

Inforrmation about Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

2010-02-02T15:35:00.004-05:00

Hello,

I am posting a transcript of my comments regarding the EPR resolution that the City Council considered this evening as well as the resolution itself and other informational materials.

Please contact me if you have questions or comments!

Best,
Rebecca

I would first like to thank Lynne Pledger of Clean Water Action for coming before the Public Safety Committee on two separate occasions to educate the council and members of the public on Extended Producer Responsibility and its principles.

EPR is simply a way to make manufacturers responsible for the recycling and management of their products and in effect, lift the burden of high costs associated with management and disposal off of the municipality and its taxpayers.

By shifting the responsibility for management and disposal onto the manufacturers, we incentivize product innovations that extend the life of the product or make a product easier to recycle or refurbish.

For example: electronic waste is difficult and costly for municipalities to manage- they are filled with toxic components and computers, televisions, printers and so on, typically end up in our curbside trash pick up.

We pay a lot of money per ton for curbside trash and once those products end up in a landfill they pollute our environment.

On the other hand, we make money on the amount that we are able to recycle.

So, by establishing a program that helps producers increase the both number of collection sites and types of products that we can recycle, we can dramatically decrease the amount of trash tonnage that costs the city money to dispose of while increasing the amount of tonnage going toward recycling efforts.

Not only do we save money on trash disposal, but we actually make more money for increased recycling.

The legislation that tonight's resolution supports will help reduce the amount of dumping happening on our city streets and alleyways.

It will also help create jobs by expanding existing recycling centers and creating a demand for new collections sites and recycling centers.

The Patrick Administration and the State DEP are fully supportive of comprehensive EPR legislation and since they have targeted Holyoke as the site of the near-coming Green High-Powered Computing Center, I believe that with this resolution we can continue to signal to the state that Holyoke is ready to think green, act green and ensure future green investments in the newly emerging green industrial economy.

I am fully in support of this resolution and I hope that my colleagues will join me in building Holyoke's reputation as a leader in the green economy.

Thank you.

/EPR%20overview%20pdf

/Resolution%20for%20Holyoke

/Patrick%20Administration%20press%20release

Holyoke City Council considers use of city-sanctioned e-mail system

2010-01-23T12:03:00.002-05:00

By Michael Plaisance

January 22, 2010, 4:03AM

HOLYOKE - If Holyoke is to be a center of computing technology, some city councilors say it makes sense for councilors to be accessible in a city-sanctioned e-mail system.

But other councilors say they would avoid using a city system because such correspondence is subject to public-disclosure laws, which could discourage constituents who want to discuss something in confidence.

The City Council on Jan. 5 referred the e-mail proposal to the Public Service Committee.

Councilors also will seek an opinion from the Law Department. They want advice about disclosure requirements of municipal e-mail systems and issues related to the Open Meeting Law if multiple councilors happen to exchange e-mails on an issue, said Councilor Rebecca Lisi, who filed the e-mail proposal.

“I think that constituents really want to be able to have that quick communication,” Lisi said on Tuesday.

The discussion comes as a regional task force has been discussing the potential benefits of an $80 million high performance computing center. A partnership consisting of the state, colleges and private companies plans to build the center along the canals in a project supporters say could make Holyoke a research hub.

Councilor Aaron Vega said it is important that people looking through the city Web site have access to councilors by e-mail. A councilor can always tell someone who wants to discuss a private matter that they can speak by phone, he said.

“Keep in mind if we are to (be) home to (a) high speed computer center and to an innovation district I believe we need to embrace new technologies and ideas that move us forward,” Vega wrote in an e-mail.

The Holyoke Gas and Electric Department operates the city’s Web site and e-mail services for department heads and others. Adding e-mail accounts for city councilors would be a minor adjustment, department Manager James M. Lavelle said.

Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain has a Web site and e-mail access, but it is a private account. He wants the public to feel free to contact him without worrying the discussion might have to be made public because it occurred on a municipal e-mail system, he said.

“This way, if a citizen e-mails me, if they want that confidence, they have that knowledge that they will have that confidence,” Jourdain said.

Courts have debated the disclosure requirements that public officials face regarding use of e-mail and other electronic communication. For example, according to Reuters news service, the U.S. Supreme Court said last month that it would decide in its current term whether privacy rights covered a worker’s personal text message on employer-owned equipment, hearing a case about an Ontario, Calif. police officer who sent sexually explicit messages from his department-issued pager.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the state Supreme Court ruled in November that private e-mail communication to and from government employees don’t qualify as a public record. The Associated Press had sued to gain access to the correspondence.

John P. O’Neill, who is the Ward 7 councilor here and a lawyer, said he believes city business that a councilor discusses in any forum should be subject to public disclosure.

“In other words, if we’re conducting public business on our private computers, I don’t think we can get around the Freedom of Information Act,” O’Neill said.

***

Councilor Vega and I filed this order at this year's first city council meeting. We will work to keep you informed about how the issues progresses through committee.

Historic victory feels 'awesome'

2009-11-16T21:16:00.003-05:00

By Mike Plaisance

mplaisance@repub.com

Source: Sunday Republican (Springfield)
Sunday,November 8, 2009

Being the first woman is important, but Holyoke's new mayor is not losing sight of the issues.

HOLYOKE - The woman who would be making history in less than an hour sat in her kitchen and pulled a black shawl around her.

"I shouldn't hug anyone tonight," said Elaine A. Pluta, who had been fighting a cold.

But supporters either didn't know about her cold or didn't care as they lined up to hug Pluta, a city councilor, shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday as precinct results poured in showing she had been elected the city's first female mayor.

She defeated Daniel C. Boyle, by a comfortable margin, 4,794-3,245.

Pluta, 66, will be sworn in in January to replace Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, who has been mayor since 2000 and didn't seek re-election.

Making such a historic mark obviously matters to Pluta, who described the feeling of becoming the first female mayor with words such as "fantastic" and "awesome," but she also was dwelling on concrete matters.

There's the large number of Holyokers in poverty, many of whom speak little or no English, who need jobs, she said.

"We have to get those people involved," Pluta said.

Another big issue is the new-horizon potential awaiting the city with the planned $80 million high-performance computer center, she said. The project is being planned for the canal area by Gov. Deval L. Patrick and a team that includes the University of Massachusetts, Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Prominent women and others here discussed the meaning of Pluta's election.

"Of course, she is an inspiration for many other women," School Committee member Gladys Lebron-Martinez said.

Lebron-Martinez listed Pluta's trajectory. She raised a family, spent 14 years on the City Council, worked four years as Management Assistance Program director in the 1990's, got a bachelor's degree in politics with a minor in urban studies from Mount Holyoke College and is on leave from her job as an aide to U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst.

"It is, for those of us who know her, like me, it is an inspiration," Lebron-Martinez said.

Suzanne L. Parker is executive director of Girls Inc., a nonprofit here that offers programs for girls of ages 5 to 18. Pluta's election as mayor fits with the organization's vision to help girls be strong, smart and bold, she said.

"We're always looking for women out in the community that are doing things that you don't necessarily see women doing," Parker said.

Pluta and her husband of 46 years, Theodore A. Pluta, have two sons and a daughter, all grown, so she said she understands the importance of an adult setting an example for young eyes.

But she said she also gets it that becoming her native city's first female mayor makes her a role model.

"It is a big responsibility. You have to be better than average. You have to remember that you're a role model and you always want to put your best foot forward," Pluta said.

She was born on Columbus Avenue and her family moved to Dwight Street when she was 2. Now, she said she is preparing to meet on Monday with Sullivan and on Tuesday with Gov. Patrick and other newly elected mayors on Beacon Hill.

Vanquished campaign foeDaniel C. Boyle criticized Pluta for being unfriendly to new businesses looking to locate here.

Pluta said as a councilor she has voted in favor of more than two dozen businesses. They included the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside expansion, the Holyoke Crossing plaza that includes Barnes & Noble and purchasing the hydroelectric dam, the key being the business can't be more harmful than helpful, she said.

Pluta's ability to manage a budget will be tested soon into her term. Most of Holyoke's $119 million budget consists of state funding and Patrick has warned that massive cuts loom.

City Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi said the danger in assessing the election of the city's first female mayor is to dwell on that at the expense of positions Pluta has taken that matter to people, at least as much or more than her being a woman.

Examples include Pluta's emphasizing economic development that is "green," or environmentally friendly, and re-establishing a vibrant downtown, Lisi said.

"I don't think that her 'femaleness' was something that was driving voters toward her, but I do think that what it signifies for us, as a community, is we were open to sharing power among diverse groups," Lisi said.

Councilor at Large Kevin A. Jourdain said it is important that the city has its first female mayor. In Pluta, people can expect someone who is not only willing to listen and compromise, but will say no to someone if that's best for the city, he said.

At her home at 72 Berkshire St. on Tuesday, Pluta noted it was nearing 7:30 p.m. Polls would close - and results would become known - in a half hour.

"We should get going," Pluta said. "Time to face the music."

At her post-election party at the Wherehouse? restaurant on Lyman Street, Pluta's friend Helen F. Norris, a former city councilor, summed up the election.

"It's historic, and Elaine couldn't have been a better choice," Norris said. "She's cool and she's thoughtful."

Councilor Lisi wins re-election at-large and welcomes 2 newcomers to the council- Aaron Vega and Brenna Murphy

2009-11-04T08:43:00.003-05:00

Remember to VOTE! November 3, 2009

2009-10-30T22:42:00.006-04:00

Young Democrats endorse Councilor Lisi and four newcomers to Holyoke politics

2009-10-11T21:17:00.009-04:00

The Pioneer Valley Young Democrats endorsed five candidates running for elected positions in the city of Holyoke.

The candidates are (pictured left) City Councilor At-Large, Rebecca Lisi; Candidates for City Council At-Large , Rory Casey and Jason Ferreira; Candidate for Ward 5 School Committee , Devin Sheehan; and Candidate for Councilor At-Large, Brenna Murphy.

In July, the PVYD invited candidates to fill out an endorsement questionnaire and submit them for review by the organization's political committee. They received many responses from candidates throughout the area and were overwhelmingly struck by the number of young people that are running for elected office.

To view the applications submitted by the candidates click here.

Final conditions set for waste station

2009-10-11T21:00:00.002-04:00

from The Sun, October 2-8, 2009
By Aimee Henderson, Staff Writer
ahenderson@turley.com

HOLYOKE – The City Council voted 13-1 at its last regular meeting to accept conditions for a special permit recommended by the Ordinance Committee for a solid waste transfer station located at 686 Main St. Councilor Diosdado Lopez cast dissenting vote and Councilor James Leahy was absent.

The transfer station in question, to be set up and run by United Waste Management, Inc.
(UWM), has been seeking a special permit to operate in the city for nearly one year. The facility will consolidate garbage coming in from around the city and region to be transferred into larger units in the form of either trucks or trains.

The building itself is estimated to be 22,575 square feet, according to the company website, and take in as much as 500 tons of garbage per day. The facility will have a life span of up to 25 years.

Ward 5 City Councilor John Brunelle reminded the council of the several meetings regarding the transfer facility about the different aspects, and told them that the project would go forward “with or without” the council’s vote for the special permit conditions.

“This is our opportunity to put conditions on the special permit,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the city to earn tax revenue, to create jobs and hopefully relieve the burden we have on trash removal.”

The Ordinance Committee hosted 11 meetings regarding the transfer station, which totaled nearly 40 hours of public discussion. Since the project was approved, there have already been 42 conditions set by the city’s Boardof Health that the facility is to adhere by for operation. The council’s vote on Sept. 21 added eight more conditions.

City Councilor At-Large Rebecca Lisi said it was important to include the additional eight conditions on the special permit to make sure residents are protected.

“I do believe we need to pass these special permit conditions for operation to make sure the living conditions for our residents are safe,” she said.

The additional conditions included: The conditions of the Board of Health Site Assignment Decision dated Feb. 26, 2009 are adopted and incorporated into the special permit and a copy of the decision shall be attached to the permit as exhibit A; The conditions set forth in the host community agreement dated May 13, 2009 are adopted and incorporated into the special permit and a copy of the agreement shall be attached to the permit as exhibit B; All signs at the property shall comply with the City of Holyoke zoning ordinance; The special permit is non-transferable; The 24-hour emergency contact phone number required under site assignment conditions #6 shall be answered by a person at all times and not have an answering machine; The notification required under site assignment condition #10 shall also be sent to the mayor and ward councilor; The correspondence required under site assignment condition #41 shall also be sent to the ward councilor; and The facility shall install a scanning device to screen incoming trucks for radioactive materials.

Environmental and health concerns are addressed in the conditions recommended by the Board of Health. Scott Lemay, an official with United Waste Management, insists that the facility will be a quarter mile from any residence and will itself be located close to an old incinerator and sewage treatment plant, and that the conditions proposed by the Board of Health would be sufficient in ensuring that the facility is run in a way that is clean and safe.

Lemay also said such a station would bring revenue to the city, create at least eight on sight jobs and provide work for others in the fields of maintenance and repairs, more infrastructure such as sewers, increase business to local restaurants and establishments, and offer a solution to the problem of trash disposal as dumps and landfills inch closer to reaching their full capacity.

Event: Meet and Greet at the home of Lori Belanger and Barbara Raines

2009-09-25T20:25:00.003-04:00

Sunday, September 27, from 2:00-4:00pm.

Lori Belanger and Barbara Raines are hosting a "Meet and Greet" event at their home at 16 Roland St, Holyoke.

This will be a multi-candidate event as Lori and Barb have invited At-Large Councilors, Rebecca Lisi and Kevin Joudain; Ward 5 City Council Candidate, Linda Vacon; and Candidate for Treasurer, Jon Lumbra may be participating as well.

Neighbors interested in learning about the different candidates' campaign platforms are invited to attend.

View Larger Map

Newly formed energy committee looks towards a ‘green’ future

2009-09-20T10:07:00.003-04:00

from The Sun, September18- September 24, 2009
by Dennis P. Hohenberger

HOLYOKE – On Tuesday Mayor Michael J. Sullivan introduced the newlyformed City of Holyoke Energy Committee that looks to make the city more energy efficient and be designated a “Green Community” by the state.

In July 2008, Gov. Deval Patrick signed the Green Communities Act, as cities and towns vie for the coveted “Green Community” designation that will allow communities, such as Holyoke, to tap into $10 million annually of available grants and assistance through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Though better positioned than most communities in the Commonwealth, Holyoke must still meet five criteria set forth by the DOER to tap into those funds.

The criteria includes: Development of renewable energy or alternative energy facilities or research and development facilities, adopt an expedited application and permitting process for energy facilities, energy audits of municipal buildings, purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, and set new energy guidelines on residential and commercial construction or stretch codes.

Sullivan, along with Jim Barry, Western Mass. Region Coordinator of the Green Communities Division of the DOER, met with committee members at Holyoke City Hall Tuesday afternoon. Sullivan told those in attendance that the goal of the committee is to incorporate “good, sound policies” when it comes to energy consumption and conservation.

Sullivan produced a binder of energy reports and audits that the city conducted the past few years on municipal building and facilities. He said the city has benefited from the information as it strives for energy efficiency.

“We're really proud, in fact, Jim (Barry) said today we're one of the communities that's farthest along that he's seen in this planning process and we're happy to hear that,” said Sullivan. “A lot of that has to do with the expertise that we have at the Holyoke Gas & Electric.”

At this stage in the process, Holyoke meets or in the process of meeting the DOER's criteria, as the city adopted Chapter 43B in 2007, which allows for expedited permitting within a “priority development site.” Recently Holyoke received an energy block grant from the DOER that will be used to complete energy audits on all municipal buildings, street and stop lights.

Sullivan said Holyoke will hear this week whether the city has been awarded a Green Communities Technical Assistance Grant from the DOER. The grant will assist the city with completing those goals set by the Commonwealth.

He said the biggest challenge is getting funding for capital improvements. “It’s taking capital equipment, particularly in buildings, retrofitting them to be more energy efficient,” said Sullivan.

Kathleen Anderson, of the Office of Planning & Development, said that over the past few months the city has been collecting data and other information to support the Holyoke's drive to become a Green Community.

Besides mayoral approval, she said the city council must also adopt the five criteria before Holyoke can move forward, similar to the adoption of Chapter 43D. “Once that happens, it then goes to the state and we become a Green Community,” said Anderson.

City Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Elaine Pluta, who were present at the meeting, said they filed an order at the last city council meeting to have Barry and Mark Silvia of the DOER to give a presentation about the Green Communities Act.

“When we are asked to make a decision on the different criteria coming through the council, we can be prepared and be better informed before we make a decision,” said Lisi. She added that with the progress so far, the mayor and city council can meet the DOER's criteria.

“I also think there is an amazing amount of synergy between the different government offices, the council, and the public in working to market Holyoke as a green, friendly, industrial area,” she said.

As the meeting concluded, Sullivan introduced the ad hoc committee comprised of: William Fuqua, Superintendent of Public Works; James Lavelle, Director of Holyoke Gas & Electric; Kathleen Anderson, Office of Planning & Development; Fire Chief David LaFond; Melinda Lane, Police Department; and Whitney Anderson, Maintenance Administration Holyoke School Department.

Event: Meet and Greet at the Gilburg's, 110 Lincoln St.

2009-09-18T22:02:00.003-04:00

Sunday, September 20, from 4:00-6:00pm.

The Gilburg Family is hosting a "Meet and Greet" event at their home at 110 Lincoln St, Holyoke.

This will be a multi-candidate event as the Gilburg's have invited At-Large Candidates, Rebecca Lisi, Rory Casey, Jay Ferreira, and Aaron Vega, as well as Candidate for Treasurer, Jon Lumbra.

Neighbors interested in learning about the different candidates' campaign platforms are invited to attend.

View Larger Map

Historic Holyoke homes look for official oversight

2009-09-09T08:32:00.002-04:00

from The Republican
Wednesday, September 09, 2009

By MIKE PLAISANCE

mplaisance@repub.com

HOLYOKE - Stone walls frame the intersection. The road itself presents a median of trees and green grass bisecting a street lined with hulking Victorians, the old mansions standing on both sides of Fairfield Avenue like some heroic, hoary regiment.

Its median and houses of dusty elegance immediately show Fairfield Avenue to be different from most streets in the city.

Records from the Board of Assessors show at least two of the homes were built when the assassination of Abraham Lincoln was still a very recent memory.

Keeping Fairfield Avenue unique is presenting a challenge.

The City Council voted in December 2007 to designate Fairfield Avenue a historic district, which means exterior alterations must maintain the lane's historic integrity.

That means residents still can paint their homes any color they want. But permanent awnings are prohibited and utilities must remain in the back of homes.

Changes to siding must be approved, and residents are

urged to keep the shape of roofs, railings, porches and exterior door locations.

The issue is that the seven-member commission authorized to approve or reject proposed alterations of property on Fairfield Avenue has yet to be appointed.

The council on Aug. 4 referred to Mayor Michael J. Sullivan an order from Councilor Rebecca Lisi urging that he appoint the Fairfield Avenue Historic District.

"In the simplest terms, it's important because the city needs to do a better job with accountability and follow-through," Lisi said later.

Sullivan said the issue isn't simple. The ordinance establishing the Fairfield Avenue Historic District says that in addition to residents, the commission must include one member from two nominees submitted by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and one member from two nominees submitted by the local Board of Realtors.

City letters to both organizations seeking nominees have gone unanswered, and he is unlikely to appoint the panel until the organizations respond, Sullivan said.

Also, he said, while there was support from residents of Fairfield Avenue to make their street a historic district, there also was opposition.

"I was marginally supportive of it," Sullivan said.

A Republican story in February 2008 showed some residents embraced the historic designation but others weren't completely receptive.

In the meantime, Historian Kate N. Thibodeau said the city Historical Commission - which with the establishment of the Fairfield Avenue Historic Commission no longer has jurisdiction over Fairfield Avenue - nonetheless has been fielding questions as they arise about proposed alterations.

It is a myth, for example, that a homeowner cannot paint a house the color of his or her choice, she said.

Getting Fairfield Avenue declared a historic place was a yearslong and worthy effort, she said, hopeful that qualified commission members can be found.

The goal of preserving a community's historic nature is that such detail distinguishes the community, she said.

Some of the frames of Fairfield Avenue's homes are sagging and the siding on some is more chipped than whole. But most have a "look at that" quality, some with colors that pop like blue, yellow or aqua, others with two-toned detailing around windows.

Some have wrap-around porches and even a few turrets. Some were built as far back as 1870, 1880 and 1891.

"They're gorgeous houses," Thibodeau said. "They're close to what they looked like 100 years ago."

Chatter about a Charter Commission in Holyoke

2009-08-15T21:11:00.003-04:00

By Alex Ross, Turley Correspondent

HOLYOKE - Residents of the Paper City will soon know the candidates appearing on the ballot this November for seats on a Charter Commission, as the Sept. 22 deadline for nomination papers to be submitted inches ever closer.

In order to serve on the commission, that will be tasked with examining the structure and procedures as well as recommending changes to the city’s charter and government; one must be a registered Holyoke voter, acquire the signatures of at least 50 other fellow Holyoke voters, and have the necessary paper work and signatures handed into the city clerk by Sept. 22. The candidates will then be elected for membership in the upcoming November elections. Already some candidates have filed and submitted their papers.

“We have some people who have taken up nomination papers so far,” said Holyoke City Clerk Susan Eagan. “I’d say so far about 10 or 11.”

Holyoke has not had such a Commission since 1973, and support from Holyoke’s 15 member City Council, the legislative body of the city, has been far from unanimous. In January a measure to create such a body was rejected by the Council by a razor thin margin of 8-7. However just two to three months ago the measure was voted on again, passing by 8-7.

The margin in both cases of a single vote demonstrates the contrasting positions of within the council. Advocates of the measure say that such an examination and changes are necessary and important in ensuring that the city government be more efficient and useful to the public in the 21st century. That there needs to be an inventory of what operates the best in a municipal government and what is lacking.

“My experience in my first term as a city councilor is city government is not as efficient as it could be,” said Rebecca Lisi, a first term Councilor that supports a Charter Commission. “Specifically our power to hold our appointees accountable in their appointed positions is fairly limited. The process, by which we pass city ordinances in my opinion, could be opened up so there is a lot more dialogue and discussion.”

Lisi says that the council rules governing a meeting are too limiting and should have more opportunity for citizen input. However, fellow Councilor John Brunelle, who represents the city’s fifth ward, says that public meetings and hearings offer ample opportunity, and that meeting rules can be suspended and are flexible enough to allow citizens and councilor’s alike to voice their ideas and sentiments on public issues.

Brunelle also adds that there are some issues; among others possibly making the positions of tax collector and City treasurer appointed positions rather then elected ones, or proposals regarding the size of the City Council; among others are worthy of discussions and that he is not opposed to all efforts at reform.

However Brunelle states that a charter commission would be too costly, too slow of a process that could take years for any changes to go into affect, and that from what he has heard there is little demand for the establishment of such a commission.

“There are certain changes I think we could look at and need,” said Brunelle. “But I have not gotten one call in regard to anybody for a charter commission or against a charter commission.”

According to the city clerk’s office there have been citizens who have advocated such a measure and that in the event that it was not voted to be placed on the ballot through a council vote; citizens if they desired could do so themselves if they were able to obtain the signatures of 15 percent of the city’s registered voters.

Either way, the membership of a Charter Commission will be determined this November, when citizens head to the polls and cast a ballot deciding the membership of such an entity. The Commission will then examine the current charter and mechanisms of the city government, before putting forth a series of reforms that will be distributed to the public and voted on in the 2011 elections.

Council urges mayor to appoint historical review commission

2009-08-08T23:23:00.008-04:00

from The Sun, August 7-13, 2009
by Amiee Henderson, Staff Writer, ahenderson@turley.com

HOLYOKE – The City Council voted at Tuesday’s meeting to urge Mayor Michael J. Sullivan to appoint at least five people to serve on a review commission for the recently established historical district on Fairfield Avenue.

City Councilor At-Large Rebecca Lisi said she filed the order after residents on the street expressed concern over the issue.

“They were getting no response from the mayor’s office,” said Lisi. “And, they were very concerned that building permits were being issued for that block with no historic review commission to look at them.”

Lisi said the residents spent a lot of time to see that the neighborhood became a historical district, and they don’t want to see that go to waste.

“There was a lot of work done to establish what the area would look like and what the flavor of the neighborhood would be historically speaking, and without a commission those are not being recognized,” said Lisi.

At Tuesday’s meeting Lisi explained to fellow councilors that after the establishment of the historical section on Fairfield Avenue a review commission should have been appointed according to Massachusetts General Laws (MGL).

“On December 18, 2007 we as a council unanimously voted to create a historical district, and under Massachusetts General Laws the mayor has to appoint at least five, but up to seven, to a serve on a review commission,” said Lisi. “I want to make sure the historical codes are being met because any permit that the building commissioner issues may be putting the city at risk of violation.”

Lisi cited multiple MGS chapters and sections which layout rules for historical districts, but MGL Chapter 40C: Section 4, “Study committees; commissions; establishment; membership; terms; vacancies; compensation; officers” discusses the appointment of said commission.

“Whenever an historic district is established as provided in section three an historic district commission shall be established,” reads the MGL. “An historic district commission shall be appointed in a city by the mayor…the members of the historic district commission shall include one or more residents of or owners of property in an historic district to be administered by the commission.”

At the council’s Dec. 18, 2007 meeting it voted unanimously on an ordinance granting the historical section on Fairfield Avenue. The ordinance states that the commission board would be composed of seven members, allowing two seats for outside professionals (an architect and a realtor). The remaining seats would be filled by residents. Councilor John J. O’Neill also made an amendment to the ordinance that night to include a clause under the “commission” section that read, “at all times no less than five members of the board be residents of Holyoke.”

Lisi said residents “feel slighted” for the lack of response from the mayor to appoint a board seeing historic preservation is something the community and residents are interested in.

“After receiving a blessing from the mayor and city council to go forward with the program, residents feel slighted that it hasn’t gone anywhere,” said Lisi.

As of press time, Mayor Sullivan was unavailable for comment.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING CONSIDERS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY CAMPAIGN

2009-06-21T19:17:00.005-04:00

from The Sun, June 12- 18

HOLYOKE- Wednesday, June 10th the Public Safety Committee met at City Hall to hear information regarding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) an environmental policy approach in which producers assume responsibility for their products by financing the collection and responsible reuse, recycling or disposal of those products. Currently, taxpayers pay for the management of waste that is discarded.

"The taxpayers of Holyoke bear an unfair burden of costs associated with managing large and toxic trash items that cannot be broken down or recycled. We get hit twice; once for having to pay for handling such products and then again, when we cannot pull in revenues associated with recyclable products," said Lisi.

Councilor Lisi, along with Councilors Kevin Jordain, Diosdado Lopez, and Elaine Pluta filed the order at the April 21st City Council meeting for Lynne Pledger of Clean Water Action, an environmental advocacy group, to speak about EPR and bring how it could benefit the city. Ms. Pledger urged Holyoke to adopt a resolution supporting statewide EPR legislation and regulation. In the meeting, she explained that Massachusetts cities and towns collectively spend millions of dollars managing discarded items, many of which are toxic and/or designed for one-time use.

“Town government started paying for trash clean up more than a hundred years ago when waste was mostly coal ash. Now that trash is mostly products and packaging, we need a new system,” said Pledger.

Many Holyoke residents and members of Project GreenHolyoke, a subgroup of C.R.U.S.H. (Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke) attended the meeting in support of the EPR campaign and to speak in favor of the city’s efforts to adopt the resolution.

Carlos Vega of 51 Portland St. said, "By expanding recycling opportunities in the city, we would be able to cut costs associated with items such as computers and refrigerators that are extremely costly for the city to handle due to their large sizes and toxic parts".

The full Council will be voting on the EPR Resolution at their next meeting on June 16, 2009. For more information on the MA EPR campaign visit: http://holyoke.ning.com/group/greenholyoke/forum/topics/extended-producer

For an overview of the MA EPR campaign click on the link below:
/EPR%20overview%20w.%20LP%20contact%20outside%20pdf.pdf

Councilor Lisi’s Campaign Kick-Off: Bringing the Holyoke Community Together

2009-06-01T12:06:00.001-04:00

HOLYOKE- At-Large City Councilor Rebecca Lisi drew a large and diverse crowd of friends, neighbors and community stakeholders to celebrate her 2009 campaign kick-off at the Delaney House on Wednesday, May 27. At the event, Lisi shared her vision for a revitalized Holyoke that builds on a strong sense of community.

“The hard work before us is rebuilding a sense of community and an environment of trust that includes the entire city,” Lisi said.

In her platform, Lisi marked her commitment to Smart Growth principles and mixed use development downtown, claiming that these policies can increase job and business opportunities by attracting private sector investments and creating areas of clustered housing, workforce, and transportation options. She also stressed the importance of taking steps to ensure that our schools can provide quality education to our students, as well as developing collaborative relationships with non-profits and community organizations that can help leverage resources and cut costs throughout the city.

Lisi believes that the city is heading in the right direction as evidence by a renewed atmosphere of hope and political involvement. Lisi is excited by the number of young and new citizens who are actively attending public meetings, talking about downtown development, and running for political office. She credited these positive changes to the efforts of CRUSH (Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke) of which she is a founding member, as well as other community events that have been bringing residents from throughout the city together to talk about a shared vision for Holyoke’s future success.

Lisi said, “The plan for the future is clear. Residents from throughout the city continue to identify downtown development, preservation of historic buildings, attracting green business and industry to the city, and appreciating our community diversity as ways to improve our quality of life in Holyoke. To move forward on these initiatives the city will need support from dense and intricate networks of community member involvement”.

Lisi begins her door-to-door campaign on June 1. For more information, visit: www.votelisi.com.

Holyoke approves plan to address teen births

2009-05-06T23:06:00.001-04:00

from The Republican
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

By KEN ROSS

HOLYOKE - After two years of meetings, a unified plan to address the city's high teenage birthrate was finalized this week by city officials and community groups.

"This is great," said City Councilor Diosdado Lopez on Monday. "It's long overdue. It's an issue the city has been struggling with for years."

He chairs the City Council's Redevelopment Committee, which voted on Monday in favor of recommending a one-page document outlining a strategy for addressing the teenage birthrate. The recommendations will be forwarded to the council, which will meet on May 5 and must ultimately vote on the recommendations.

The panel has been studying the issue for more than two years, Lopez said. The council first referred the issue to it in March 2007.

Monday's document recommends the creation of a task force that will meet monthly and include representatives from the state, the mayor's office, the council, the Health and School departments, and religious community "in order to collaborate their time, effort, and resources in working to reduce the city's high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."

According to the most recent statistics, Holyoke's teenage birthrate was 95.4 out of 1,000 births in 2007, making it the highest in the state.

Lesley J. Kayan, the senior community health educator at Planned Parenthood's Springfield office, praised the council for taking action.

"I just think it's wonderful the City Council cares about this issue," she said. "They're being proactive and caring about these children."

Sarah T. Dunton, director of youth development programs at Girls Inc., agreed. "I'm hopeful. We know the issues. Residents of Holyoke know the issues. To put energy at this level is really important."

City Councilor Elaine A. Pluta, who attended Monday's meeting, hoped that the committee's work results in the creation of a task force.

"These are just recommendations," she said. "Hopefully, they (residents) will take the ball and run with it."

Councilor Lisi announces candidacy for re-election

2009-04-24T23:28:00.010-04:00

from The Sun

April 24-30, 2009

Holyoke - After a successful first year serving the City of Holyoke as an at-large city councilor, Rebecca Lisi took out nomination papers for her re-election campaign for the position. , Councilor Lisi is committed to continuing to represent the diverse needs of the people and neighborhoods throughout the city with a strong and independent voice.

“I’ve worked very hard in this first term to learn about the different issues that have come through the Council and I have considered it my responsibility to publicly share that information with Holyoke residents, so that they can make educated decisions about how they would like to be represented on those issues,” said Lisi.

As in her last two runs for office, Councilor Lisi plans to pursue an extensive door-to-door campaign because she believes that good government requires reaching out and listening to the specific needs and concerns Holyoke residents. For several years, Lisi worked as a policy advocate and community organizer with Clean Water Action and understands that citizens need to be engaged in the democratic process for government to function efficiently and effectively. She is passionate about politics and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Councilor Lisi is excited about the upcoming campaign season and is energized by the number of new and young candidates who are following her lead and finding local politics a valuable way to make positive changes in the quality of life for residents throughout the city. She hopes that as a new generation of Holyokers begins to take leadership in city government and work together with new ideas and guidance from seasoned mentors, real progress can be made toward revitalizing the city.

Lisi commented, “Holyoke’s future success rests on our ability to come together as a community and share our ideas, resources, and skills. As a founding member of c.r.u.s.h. (Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke) I have seen that we in fact have that capacity and I am confident that we are already on the right path”.

Councilor Lisi will be discussing more of her platform at her upcoming campaign kick-off event on May 27 at ~~the Bungalow at the waterfront Tavern~~ The Delaney House. For more information about the campaign and opportunities to get involved, visit www.votelisi.com.

Councilor Lisi Enjoys the Parade!

2009-04-02T01:17:00.008-04:00

Hope that everyone had a wonderful day at the parade! It was great to see you all out there.

photo courtesy of Sweet Dog Photos

Action urged on Holyoke's teen birth rate

2009-03-15T13:39:00.002-04:00

from The Republican
Saturday March 14, 2009, 6:51 PM

By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com

HOLYOKE - Community organizations and the city need to have a unified strategy for combating teen pregnancy, according to city officials and community leaders.

"City bodies are realizing this is a problem, and we want to come to a consensus," said City Councilor Rebecca Lisi this week.

She spoke last week at a City Council Redevelopment Committee meeting at which members agreed to meet on April 6 to finalize recommendations for addressing the city's high teenage birthrate.

"We have to get started," said Councilor Elaine A. Pluta.

The panel has been studying the issue for more than two years, according to Chairman and City Councilor Diosdado Lopez. The council first referred the issue to the committee in March 2007, he said.

According to the most recent statistics, Holyoke's teenage birthrate was 95.4 out of 1,000 births in 2007, making it the highest of any community in the state.

At the meeting, councilors met with five health officials, some of whom work for the city or the School District, to discuss ways to address the issue. One possible solution suggested by several people was making sure that the district has a uniform sex education curriculum.

Terri Pudlo, a part-time health director in the district, said sex and health education lessons vary from school to school. Or, according to Mary Fago of the River Valley Counseling Center, the district's sex education curriculum "is not being implemented consistently."

She said the School District needs to decide "what is and is not appropriate to be taught" in sex education classes.

But Lopez insisted that the district cannot be blamed for the teen birthrate.

"I'm not pointing a finger at the school," he said. "I think as a whole community we have failed."

Lopez and others said they believe that a task force of city councilors and School Committee members needs to be formed to address the issue.

"I'm looking for some committee that will have some force to get this going," he said. "If we create a task force, we will just talk back and forth."

Councilor Peter R. Tallman agreed that school officials need to be involved in the process.

"That's a key part to this," he said.

But no matter who is involved in the process, all agreed that the city needs to do more to educate teenagers about the impact of having a child at such a young age.

"There needs to be more education," said City Councilor Anthony M. Keane.

Sandy Zieminski, the city's public health nurse, agreed, "We talk a lot, but I'd like to see action."

Other health officials who attended the meeting included Lesley Kayan, a senior community health educator from Planned Parenthood, and Laurie Beauchemin, a nurse at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

City Council votes to join Agawam in opposing gas tax

2009-02-27T15:00:00.007-05:00

By Aimee Henderson, Staff Writer

HOLYOKE – The City Council voted 12-2 in its last meeting to join Agawam in a resolution opposing the suggested increase in gasoline tax by Gov. Deval Patrick. Voting against the resolution were Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Timothy Purington. Councilor Anthony Keane was absent.

“I just want to go on record opposing any increase,” said Councilor Patricia C. Devine, who originally submitted the order which read, “Ordered, that the Holyoke City Council go on record as opposing any increase in the gas tax in Massachusetts and a resolution that mirrors the Agawam City Council resolution dated Feb. 2, 2009 be sent to Governor Patrick.”

Lisi said she did not agree with opposing an increase in gasoline tax. “We need to invest in our public transportation,” said Lisi, adding that to oppose an increase would be a “disincentive” for people to invest in public transportation and the environment.

She said as more people invest in public transportation there would be less investment in personal transportation, eventually saving on emissions, and therefore helping to heal the environment.

Lisi said she could understand why her colleagues opposed the increase, but just didn’t agree.

“I think the idea of the city council is to ease the burden of high prices, and I can understand that because everyone is stretching these days,” said Lisi.

The Agawam City Council met on Feb. 2 during which time the councilors voted unanimously to send Gov. Deval Patrick a resolution opposing any increase in the gas tax. Agawam then sent a letter to the Holyoke City Council asking if they would join them.

“Our intent is to send a clear message to Governor Deval L. Patrick that we are opposed to the addition of a gasoline tax as it is not in the best interests of the taxpayers of Massachusetts,” wrote Donald M. Rheault of the Agawam City Council. “It would be more beneficial to get this message sent from the majority of the communities here in Western Massachusetts.”

The resolution submitted by Agawam suggests increasing tolls instead of the gas tax “if an increase is indeed deemed necessary.”

[[What is your reaction to this story,specifically the proposed gas tax increase?
Send your responses to ahenderson@turley.com]]

Holyoke to demolish 'hazardous' building at 506 Maple St.

2009-01-23T17:13:00.002-05:00

by The Republican Newsroom

Friday January 23, 2009, 4:30 PM

By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com

HOLYOKE - A building deemed hazardous by city officials will be torn down as early as June using $400,000 of city funds.

"We have this (project) on a fast track," David A. Martins, chief procurement officer for the city, said Wednesday.

City officials wish they did not have to use city funds to tear down a privately owned, Maple Street building, but they insist the city needs to do something soon for public safety reasons.

"I'd love to let it sit there and rot," City Councilor Todd A. McGee said Tuesday, adding, "This building is a hazard and the potential for harm is high."

On Tuesday, the council voted 11-3 to appropriate $400,000 in free cash to demolish the building at 506 Maple St. Councilors John B. Brunelle, Rebecca Lisi and Donald R. Welch cast the three dissenting votes.

Free cash is a term used by the state for unused appropriations from a previous fiscal year. The previous fiscal year ended on June 30.

Councilors were advised by the city's building inspector and Fire Department that the Maple Street building should be torn down. They were warned the building was in danger of collapse.

"You have a building held up by straps," McGee said. And in one corner, the building is "actually pitching out" and on the verge of falling over, according to Councilor John J. O'Neill.

Upon hearing about Tuesday's vote, Martins contacted Forbes & Wheeler of Holyoke that same night to discuss doing an asbestos survey of the building. A contract with the company has not been finalized, Martins said.

The asbestos survey will likely take two to four weeks. Bids will then be solicited to remove asbestos. The actual asbestos removal will then take three to six months. During that time, demolition bids will solicited. Based on this timeline, Martins said he hopes demolition work will begin in June and take 90 to 120 days to complete.

Some city officials strongly object to using city funds to demolish a privately owned building. "There's no way I'm going to invest $400,000 to tear down a private building," Lisi said. "We need to reclaim the land for the city and get it back on the tax rolls."

The city has been trying to do just that, McGee said. But McGee and other councilors noted that the city's attempts have been thwarted by the property owner, a New York-based company listed as S3W Realty, LLP, according to city records. State records list the business as having a Springfield address but no phone number or person associated with the business.

The city took the company to Housing Court in Springfield, which Mayor Michael J. Sullivan said ruled that property owner was responsible for making repairs to the building. But officials have been unable to reach the property owner, Sullivan said.

Some city councilors Tuesday questioned why police don't arrest the building's owner. But since the company's owner has not committed a criminal offense, that person can only be arrested in this state, Sullivan said. Finding the owners of such vacant buildings is also extremely difficult, Sullivan added.

And because the building is privately owned, the city cannot use federal Community Development Block Grant money to tear it down as suggested by some councilors, Councilor John P. Brunelle said.

Either way, many councilors agreed the city needs to develop a city-wide plan for dealing with vacant and decrepit buildings on the verge of collapsing. "We have to try and find a way to keep landlords responsible," City Councilor Anthony M. Keane said.

More than 200 vacant and decrepit buildings in the city need to be demolished for safety and economic reasons, Sullivan said.

Holyoke council rejects charter change board

2009-01-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

Friday, January 09, 2009
By KEN ROSS
kross@repub.com

HOLYOKE - Many city councilors support the idea of creating a charter commission to study possible ways to change the city's government structure.

But councilors are divided over who should initiate the drive to create such a commission, which would review issues like the size of city council and who should appoint certain city officials.

Some believe the council should initiate the process. But a majority of councilors Tuesday rejected a proposal to place a question on the November ballot. Instead, many of the councilors who voted against the proposal said they believe residents should initiate the drive.

"Let's get the people involved," City Councilor James M. Leahy said. "Let's just wait and see what the people have to say."

Others agreed. "If you're really serious about this, I think the people should be involved first," Councilor John P. Brunelle said.

The council voted 8-7 against placing the question on the ballot. The seven councilors who voted in favor were Anthony M. Keane, Rebecca Lisi, Joseph M. McGiverin, John J. O'Neill, Timothy Purington, Peter R. Tallman and Donald R. Welch.

O'Neill introduced the resolution to place the question the ballot. At Tuesday's meeting, O'Neill spoke at length about the importance of creating such a commission.

"There are many issues that are out there," he said. In particular, O'Neill cited proposals to review whether to reduce the size of the 15-member City Council and to review the city's management practices. In recent years, there has been much debate about who should appoint certain city officials: the council or the mayor.

"It makes sense to do these things together," he said. "Things have changed in 35 years and it's high time we looked at it again."

Tallman agreed. "I think it is important we do take a look at what's happening in our city," he said.

But like Leahy and Brunelle, City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain said he believes residents need to initiate the process, not the council. Jourdain also noted that the process is a very long and expensive one. "To actually have an informed decision about this will require a lot of resources," Jourdain said.

In order to create a charter commission, 15 percent of the city's registered voters need to sign a petition requesting the creation of a charter commission, according to City Clerk Susan M. Egan. A question requesting the creation of a charter commission can then be placed on a ballot for residents to vote on.

The earliest such a question could appear on a ballot would be this November, Egan said. If approved, any changes recommended by the charter commission would not go into effect until 2013.

Zone-change presents unique opportunity for Holyoke

2009-01-04T23:39:00.002-05:00

Holyoke has a unique opportunity to leverage a development agreement with SK Properties Development Corporation to ensure that the proposed Lowe's project has real benefits for the residents of Holyoke. Unfortunately, the conversation regarding the City Council's vote to re-zone the 18-acre parcel of land on Whiting Farms Rd. has slipped into a divisive for-Lowe's or against-Lowe's argument. This has distracted our community from having a meaningful discussion about what is involved in the zone change process, and what is at stake.

This is not a simple, black-or-white issue. It is a serious decision that merits careful consideration by the city's leadership to be sure that we are doing what is in the best interest of all our constituents. SK Properties is currently petitioning the city for a zone-change from "Industrial use" to "General Business use" for the Whiting Farms Parcel. The new use should develop the land efficiently and avoid public costs associated with haphazard development.

If a zone change is approved by the City Council, the developer can contract to bring in a specific project, in this case the development of a Lowe's. The zone change grants the developer the "right to build," so any modifications must be deemed "reasonable" by the developer. At that point, the city must rely on the developer to implement the conditions set by the Planning Board. Any modification deemed "unreasonable" by the developer can actually be grounds for legal action against the city.

With this in mind and while we are now deliberating the zone-change the city has an opportunity to request concessions from SK Properties to ensure: (1) funding for the city to conduct an independent traffic study of the area; (2) bonding to ensure that traffic mitigation is completed along Whiting Farms Rd. from Northampton St. to Lower Westfield Rd.; (3) financial support for a downtown economic development fund; and (4) restrictions on the building's size and environmental footprint. In fact, many municipalities across the Commonwealth, including Danvers, North Attleboro, Woburn, Weymouth and Hadley have used "contract-zoning" to secure added benefits for their communities in negotiating contracts up-front with petitioning developers for Lowe's projects.

The Town of Hadley, for example was able to secure a package of $410,000 for farmland preservation, parks and recreation, and long-range planning. Other cities have negotiated packages that include extensive traffic mitigation, bonding to ensure that it is completed to the municipality's satisfaction, financial support for master plan assistance, wetlands protection, landscaping and more. These development agreements were secured up-front in exchange for the desired zone-change.

The city of Holyoke holds a lot of power in this process and should not sell itself short. We need to learn from the precedents set by our neighbors in order to understand how we can use these tools to our advantage. Lowe's has expressed interest in Holyoke. This interest is based on scouting a location which has convinced them that they will make a solid return on their investment. If they want to site a store in Holyoke, then we need to exercise our right to ask that they invest in our community in return.

As City Councilors, we are looking to work with the city’s leadership to take an active role in negotiating the terms of those concessions now, while we still can. The citizens of Holyoke should expect nothing less than the citizens of Danvers, North Attleboro, Woburn, Weymouth and Hadley.

City Councilors-At-Large
Rebecca Lisi and Elaine Pluta