image of city seal

CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS

City Councilors:
Marissa Elkins, At-Large
Jamila Gore, At-Large
Stanley W. Moulton, III, Ward 1
Vice-President - Karen Foster, Ward 2
Council President - James Nash, Ward 3
Garrick Perry, Ward 4
Alex Jarrett, Ward 5
Marianne LaBarge, Ward 6
Rachel Maiore, Ward 7

Meeting Agenda
City Council Chambers
212 Main Street, Northampton
Thursday, March 16, 2023, 7 p.m.

This City Council meeting will be conducted in hybrid format with the option for both councilors and the public to attend in person or participate remotely. The public may follow the council's deliberations by attending in person, watching the meeting live on Comcast channel 15, live-streaming it on YouTube here or joining the virtual meeting by phone or computer. Live public comment is available beginning at 7 p.m.
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1.

Roll Call

2.

Announcement that meeting is being Audio/Video Recorded

This meeting is being audio/video recorded.

3.

Public Hearings

A.

Announcement of Public Hearing on Administrative Order

Per Northampton Charter Section 6-1 Organization of City Agencies, the Northampton City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA  on an Administrative Order. The City Council will consider a proposed amendment to the City of Northampton Administrative Code, Part II Multiple-Member Appointive Organization, Section 9.0 Council on Aging to reduce the number of members from 15 to 9. The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon. 

SEE DOCUMENTS BELOW

B.

Announcement of Public Hearing to Consider FY2024 Water and Sewer Rates

The Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 30, 2023 @ 7:05 p.m. in Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA The City Council will consider the proposed FY2024 water and sewer rates and hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon. 

C.
7:00P.M.

Public Hearing on 22.199 National Grid/Verizon Pole Petition for North Main Street (Petition #30610121)

Per M.G.L. Ch. 166, Section 22, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7 p.m. on National Grid/Verizon's petition to install two (2) jointly-owned stub poles on North Main Street. (Petition #30610121). The City Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon.

D.
7:05P.M.

Public hearing re: Northampton Capital Improvement Program for FY2024 - FY2028

In accordance with Article 7, Section 7-5 of the Charter, the Northampton City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7:05 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Wallace J. Puchalski Municipal Building, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA  The City Council will consider the Capital Improvement Program for FY2024-FY2028, and hear all persons who wish to be heard thereon. The CIP is available for inspection online here

4.

Public Comment

5.

Announcements from Councilors and the Mayor

6.

Presentations

7.

Consent Agenda

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.

A.

Minutes of February 16, 2023 and March 2, 2023

B.

Approve 22.199 National Grid/Verizon Pole Petition for North Main Street (Petition #30610121)

See Documents Above

C.

23.253 An Order to Approve FY23 COLA Increase for Retirees - 2nd reading

History:
- Referred to consent agenda - 3/2/2023

D.

23.276 Appointment to the Arts Council - for referral to City Services

Arts Council

Ronald Smith, 14 Emily Lane, Northampton

Term: February 2023-June 2026

To fill a vacancy

 

8.

Financial Orders (on 1st reading)

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.

A.

23.262 An Order to Appropriate $45,000 Free Cash to Economic Development Projects and Initiatives - 1st reading

B.

23.263 An Order to Authorize Additional FY2023 Inter-municipal Agreements - 1st reading

C.

23.264 An Order to Appropriate Free Cash to Purchase LUCAS 3 Devices for NFR - 1st reading

D.

23.275 An Order to Appropriate Additional Funding for Hybrid Inspection Vehicle - 1st reading

Process note: Suspension of rules is respectfully requested to waive the requirement that the order be considered at a second meeting so the vehicle can be purchased as soon as possible.

9.

Package of 10 Financial Orders to Implement FY2024 - FY2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) (on 1st reading)

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.

A.

23.265 An Order to Appropriate $450,000 from Capital Stabilization for Hotel Bridge Project - 1st reading

B.

23.266 An Order to Appropriate Smith College Gift Toward 21st Century Classroom Technology Project - 1st reading

C.

23.267 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $577,500 for DPW Vehicles - 1st reading

D.

23.268 An Order to Authorize Borrowing $1.5 Million for Paving Projects - 1st reading

E.

23.269 An Order to Appropriate $25,000 from Cemetery Trust and Income for Cemetery Restorative Work - 1st reading

F.

23.270 An Order to Reprogram Unused Funds to City Hall Exterior Repairs and OPS Shared Use Paths - 1st reading

G.

23.271 An Order to Appropriate Parking Receipts Reserved Funds for Parking Projects - 1st reading

H.

23.272 An Order to Appropriate $2.63 Million Free Cash to Various Capital Projects - 1st reading

I.

23.273 An Order to Appropriate $30,000 from Sale of Land RRA Account for Tax Title Properties - 1st reading

J.

23.274 An Order to Appropriate $975,000 from Stabilization for Various Capital Projects - 1st reading

10.

Financial Orders (on 2nd reading)

11.

Orders

A.

23.277 An Administrative Order to Amend the City of Northampton Administrative Code - 1st reading

Process note: CHARTER SECTION 6-1 ORGANIZATION OF CITY AGENCIES: ". . . The mayor may prepare and submit to the city council, administrative orders that establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct of the business of the city. These administrative orders shall be accompanied by a message from the mayor which explains the expected benefits and advises the city council if an administrative order shall require amendments, insertions, revisions, repeal or otherwise of existing ordinances. Whenever the mayor proposes an administrative order, the city council shall hold 1 or more public hearings on the proposal giving notice by publication in a local newspaper, which notice shall describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which the public hearing will be held, not less than 7 nor more than 14 days following the publication." 

12.

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.

13.

Ordinances

A.

23.244 An Ordinance Relative to Parking on North Elm Street, referred by City Council - 2nd reading

History:
- Referred to Legislative Matters (LM) - 2/16/2023
- Positive recommendation, LM - 3/13/2023

B.

23.245 An Ordinance Relative to School Zones - 2nd reading

History:
- Referred to Legislative Matters (LM) - 2/16/2023
- Positive recommendation, LM - 3/13/2023

14.

Zoning 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.

15.

Zoning Ordinances

Process note: 23.246 A Package of Seven (7) Ordinance Amendments Related to the Form-Based Code was divided into two separate ordinances since LM made a neutral rather than positive recommendation on 350.22.1-22.5 (an ordinance allowing marijuana microbusinesses in Central Business and Florence Village Districts).  

A.

23.246A A Package of Six (6) Ordinance Amendments Related to the Form-Based Code - 2nd reading

History:
- Referred to Planning Board (PB) and Legislative Matters (LM) for public hearings under M.G.L. Ch. 40A, Section 5 - 2/16/2023
- PB hearing held, positive recommendation with amendment to add word 'other' to right-hand column of Table of Off-Street Parking Regulations (350-8.1) so the text reads "All other districts including CBg" 
- LM hearing held, amended 285-4C(4)(b) to clarify mobile food trucks still allowed in CBg, positive recommendation on all amendments except 350.22.1-22.5 - 3/13/2023 

B.

23.246B A Zoning Ordinance Amendment Related to the Form-Based Code - 2nd reading

History:
- Referred to Planning Board (PB) and Legislative Matters (LM) - 2/16/2023
- PB hearing held, positive recommendation - 3/9/2023
- LM hearing held, removed from package of seven (7) ordinance amendments for separate recommendation - 3/13/2023
- Neutral recommendation, LM - 3/13/2023

16.

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

17.

Resolutions

A.

23.256 A Resolution to Adopt the Capital Improvement Program for FY2024-FY2028 Submitted to City Council March 2, 2023 - 1st reading

Process note: Per the Northampton City Charter, Section 7-5 Capital Improvement Program, "Adoption - At any time after the public hearing but before the first day of the last month of the current fiscal year, the city council shall by resolution adopt the capital improvements program, which may be amended, provided that each amendment shall be voted on separately and that an increase in the capital improvements program as submitted shall clearly identify the method of financing to accomplish the proposed increase'  

18.

Continued Discussion of Hybrid Meeting Guidelines/Optional Directive to State Legislators regarding Preferred Meeting Format

19.

New Business

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. 

20.

Adjourn

Contact: Jim Nash, Council President
Email: jnash@northamptonma.gov
Phone: (413) 582-0637