[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6658068,"mediaKeyId","5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3","parentId",5033056,"title","Residents urge Holyoke City Council to act on $1.2 million in opioid settlement funds","audioSeconds",1577,"startMs",607000,"endMs",2184000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3&start=607&end=2184","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3/thumbnail_607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658068/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Residents-urge-Holyoke-City-Council-to-act-on-12-million-in-opioid-settlement-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658068-1a88e1794dbdcbf9d56755a58a10da77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176171&Signature=gukjTfK61O-cYYNuu1I6Hpd0dcfYIpdkA88Rd-rIFTJvX-jZtAocwRqzKQW~uPmo4RbK9beus0ruGsolDp~3-6YlBA7zUrrN37VCMYwnvF2ldCrMsYrhIqs6EbzXMt9JXvwog2rnHpMkW-3FZ1xnZ5DAwF3PgMeOo~myNzDn4v5QfsSq2ofnr3CsbHqRiXWbpdEjiK2dxVDrlqlkN1YRyuegTWqVXtRazECfYeoRaBkkXZe2rS9UBVHondRiuJNpezQv-vpAFuJ~s2RYqTMgo2CC3c8lkFRhBwYMjd8wymdykYa2BSxIe2VY5kV4hZ48eOKWVnV5dH9c~r0XmlQxMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke","date","2025-06-20T00:00:00Z","article","Dozens of residents, recovery advocates and people with lived experience urged the Holyoke City Council on Tuesday to begin using the citys opioid settlement (abatement) funds, which speakers said currently total about $1,200,000.

The public comments came during the councils allotted public-comment period before the evenings business items, and speakers urged next weeks Finance Committee meeting and the mayors office to accelerate planning and include people directly affected by opioid use in decisions.

Tonight, Im here as a Holyoke resident to speak about the critical importance of our opioid settlement dollars, Taylor McAndrew said. McAndrew identified themself as a public-health professional and said local government should \"center lived experience\" in deciding how to spend funds.

Speakers listed three recurring priorities: center people with lived and living experience in advisory and funding decisions; maintain ongoing public communication about planning and spending; and prioritize treatment, recovery, harm reduction and prevention.

This $1,200,000 is just sitting there unused and has been for years, Bridget Kearney told the council, adding that some residents and local organizations are ready to help the city develop programs. Kearney and other speakers said the funds will grow to roughly $3.6 million through 2039 under the settlements and that the money is secure funding the city should not overlook.

Several speakers described programs and services they said could be funded, including administrative support, connection-to-care work, criminal-justice supports, family supports, harm-reduction supplies and opioid-use-disorder treatment and recovery supports. Paul Alves, who said he runs a small local nonprofit, highlighted recovery principles such as trauma-informed, peer-led and person-driven services.

Some speakers recounted local response activity: Pedro Alvarez, a Tapestry staff member, said 483 opioid-related 911 calls occurred in Holyoke during a recent three-month period, and that nearly 3,000 naloxone kits had been distributed by Holyoke staff in recent periods. He also said the city did not appear to have hired a fiscal agent or engaged people in recovery or subject-matter experts.

Several speakers described models from nearby communities. Sarah Hearn (identified in the record as from Greenfield), described Greenfields 05/21/2025 ordinance that created an opioid use and prevention commission with seats for people with lived and living experience and said that commission includes compensated roles and authority over abatement money. Hearn said the structure changed who sat at budgeting decisions and created a path for people directly affected to evaluate outcomes.

Council members acknowledged the public comments and noted the topic is scheduled for the Finance Committee next week. Council President Tessa Murphy Ramboletti reminded the public that the council will hold additional hearings on fiscal-year decisions before the councils budget vote.

Ending: Speakers asked the city to use the settlement funds for programs that do not rely solely on policing, to make decisions transparently, and to involve those with direct experience of opioid use in program design and oversight. No formal council action on the funds was recorded during Tuesdays meeting; Council members said follow-up work will be handled in committee and by the mayors office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Council 6/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents, recovery advocates and people with lived experience urged the Holyoke City Council on Tuesday to begin using the citys opioid settlement (abatement) funds, which speakers said currently total about $1,200,000.","taxTitle","Holyoke City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",52807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658064,"Council debate stalls municipal modernization ordinance; vote to table three companion orders",1092,3068000,4160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3&start=3068&end=4160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3/thumbnail_3068000.jpg","/articles/6658064/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-debate-stalls-municipal-modernization-ordinance-vote-to-table-three-companion-orders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658064-e053d6b1de6aa043417026ae78fde419/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176171&Signature=nq4NXDPX9eB9TCA68tXjuk6gvLQ0XLfE8bgTkjwdfAueDRnwKE58vQf5C7xoUZHWtYiYkUJJ5oVzMsV4pvdfYIeweifFc6jQFCj80clfFRsapuW23gdoAZpatspE844HLDHWqAh2bAPSnGR2Kihqk6-sU8ulRxCJhWxwR3W8KVAsxBesTSRrfMVfP1P7xJCGjitWdDPXdN5Upg9ZDf6m0r5-1EI4swMQbX2g6sxkpxqvLIZC0JjYLPpl9DIPQmK8CCLOcFDjBMQUrcQJrKTvGI7Gbzll3heS5AcwW9n7k76wG8ohfKwMC1~eJJGMBP90MhG0jLwWtZUB~4WE7a14Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Holyoke City Councilors debated a package of ordinance and charter changes Tuesday intended to \"modernize\" several municipal finance and administrative functions, but deferred final action after extended debate.

The package of items includes an ordinance to add a Chief Administrative and Finance Officer (CAFO), regrade the treasurer-collector and comptroller positions and reassign some duties across finance, human resources and auditing; councilors said the changes were intended to improve year-end closing, reduce contractor reliance and enhance oversight.

Councilors said the proposal had been discussed in the Ordinance Committee for weeks, with multiple meetings and attempts to land on final language. Supporters said the reorganization would create efficiencies and respond to audit findings; opponents warned the changes would expand local government and raise costs. Councilor Bacon offered a written minority report in committee arguing the package was a large expansion that mirrored staffing levels in cities three to four times the size of Holyoke and raised tax-burden concerns.

Councilor Israel Rivera, who chaired the Ordinance Committee, said committee meetings had been lengthy and substantive and that the package was designed to address audit recommendations and staffing shortfalls. Opposing councilors said the process had at times felt rushed and noted a missing legal subsection that needed to be corrected before passage.

After discussion, a motion to table items 21, 22 and 41 was made and seconded; councilors subsequently agreed the ordinance and charter changes would be taken up together as a package at the councils next meeting, allowing additional review and coordination with related charter amendments. Council President Tessa Murphy Ramboletti said the mayor had sent a late-filed communication indicating he would approve the package if the council passed it as a whole.

Councilor Bacon said she supported consolidating some finance functions but opposed other elements and described limited committee notice and hurried scheduling across the reorganization work. Councilor Jourdain and others urged decisive action to complete reforms similar to the police chief selection process, saying civil-service limits had become a barrier to selecting external candidates for top posts.

Ending: The council tabled the municipal modernization ordinance package (items 21, 22 and 41) for further committee review and scheduled the items to be considered together at a future meeting so the package and related charter amendments could be voted as one unit.","Holyoke City Councilors debated a package of ordinance and charter changes Tuesday intended to \"modernize\" several municipal finance and administrative functions, but deferred final action after extended debate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658049,"Council refers resolution on cooperation with ICE to committee after public opposition",4501,1459000,5960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3&start=1459&end=5960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3/thumbnail_1459000.jpg","/articles/6658049/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-refers-resolution-on-cooperation-with-ICE-to-committee-after-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658049-83ee9a8a36de2ccb3808684a54dbf8f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176171&Signature=AGy2S8ioI6VXp33IrLwdO1iGT3Nvt4-BcfaIHZxm8~KrcnJuWWJHAxEBf7zBBsA6rU9j~6c-zyz7suAZldHGuI08jHaPc6N0qrfyfXOFOFHnwSYzYTidTLRmby6nPq61p4uVpJNrj6w7eP3LINhv6wV4RpZUKjYxiuIW1BTFBkEa-1Bp3ILx3R4Lb50HQMZ3BUwhm8TEpGN1y1Bx6RpfkxDhh8HqBC5pHcCRDIsHrq43VSWsaiclf2Ky5BCwjLfLnYFR6~k3UFS46viFIAKp~hBhs3rICnSvqDMLrWI70rnmAt8SQddNwSaa5qfWiufWw55IpAMQFIHA2UdVNhD57g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at Tuesdays Holyoke City Council meeting urged the council not to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying such cooperation would deter immigrant communities from calling police or seeking city services.

Elizabeth Gersanti (recorded as Elizabeth Coretti Ramirez in the sign-in) told the council that cooperating with ICE would have a profit motive in detention and deportation and would have blood on our hands, adding that immigrants who fear enforcement stop reporting crimes, sending children to school and seeking medical care. Mimi Panitch, Spencer Fox Peterson, JR Rivera and others echoed concerns that police cooperation with ICE would erode community trust and public safety.

On the council agenda, item 70 was a resolution filed by councilors and read into the record seeking certain cooperation or guidance regarding ICE and local processes. After public comment, councilors moved to refer the resolution to the Development and Government Relations (DGR) committee for further review; the motion was seconded and carried, and the record shows the item will undergo committee consideration.

Ending: The council did not take final action on the resolution; instead it referred item 70 to the DGR committee. Public speakers asked the council to consider the public-safety and civil-rights consequences of any cooperation or policy changes affecting immigrants.","Public commenters warned that cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would harm community trust and public safety. The council accepted a motion to send the item (Resolution 70) to the Development and Government Relations committee for further review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658055,"Council approves two special permits for cannabis businesses, sets local hiring and safety conditions",359,6096000,6455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3&start=6096&end=6455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3/thumbnail_6096000.jpg","/articles/6658055/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-two-special-permits-for-cannabis-businesses-sets-local-hiring-and-safety-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658055-e2afd356ad391b8fc6373600189b9f92/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176172&Signature=gRP-5AYiU4RjFjYA6hCXdMo1EXHHMPbEAKz9aWfvhiwnMJ6wzrlLPHLwwQiPO8BhduTHLlB-xac5Bhd3fMMosK54XOAK1GQ8o~QdwQ-BjhcTABhAw9Er5C4N-KRBbjPEBHZ43e9UVzcZbguzjplP~Jd6TcTy-9eOz7A70kjnTQJ7Rhjsfs6RJC50KciMrE400zcGwZBUiF3HNI3zepT8Uu6SqEiA-d8ezA~MCpRZnLAq2fHjYsrTppwjNo9Qbolbh-Z1j2T-DOs4UsV~H-oOEW3nyBa~Am8Z5YBNC3vNaOpLdEhgc-mh~IgxcRXbNJou8jiipaBDjpmQEtgDabItnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Council voted Tuesday to approve two special permits for cannabis operations with conditions requiring local hiring targets, tax compliance and safety approvals.

The council acted on committee recommendations to grant a special permit to Mass Cannabis Growers Cooperative LLC for a cultivation facility at 1 Cabot Street (item 32) and to grant an amendment permit for Blue Fox Brands Inc. at the same address to add a C1D1 extraction booth (item 33). Both permits were approved with conditions set by the Ordinance Committee.

Conditions applied to both approvals included: a requirement that building owners pay commercial property tax where allowed; a hiring goal to retain at least 30% Holyoke residents in non-security positions; a hiring preference for security staff who are retired Holyoke police or retired officers living in the city; a prohibition on on-site marijuana consumption; adherence to state Cannabis Control Commission regulations; compliance with city and state health and odor-control requirements; and a two-year substantial-progress requirement with extensions subject to council review. The Blue Fox amendment added a condition that the applicant obtain a fire-department permit before operations begin.

The roll call on final adoption recorded nine yes votes, one no and one abstention. Councilors voting yes included McGrath Smith, Ocasio, Israel Rivera, Bacon, Anderson Burgos, Bartley, Devine, Gibner and Jourdain. Councilor Graney voted no; Councilor Jenny Rivera was absent from the room and recorded as not voting.

Ending: Approved permits are subject to the listed conditions and to any further state permitting or local inspections; the council recorded the roll-call vote and the committee recommendations on the record.","The Holyoke City Council approved two special permits: one for a marijuana cultivation facility and one amendment adding an extraction booth to a marijuana manufacturing facility. Both permits passed with conditions including local-hire targets and fire department approval; the final vote was 9 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658059,"City Council OKs city clerk salary increase to $88,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026",643,6675000,7318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3&start=6675&end=7318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5033056-4cc70bb357167dfa0020604072e318e3/thumbnail_6675000.jpg","/articles/6658059/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/City-Council-OKs-city-clerk-salary-increase-to-88000-effective-Jan-1-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658059-ab2a2395cdca6285b19f2e74e5a070a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176172&Signature=Mj~y9ZB~mDCko85dPBZA8UXcQ2Zqs3UH5MGTypFMBNW2IJ6DM7stltRTBLblmi5ILKtrWqEADiGLpMbUIpO-nNLnKJW6xJ8AWOuQaTm-T2MVx9NQc855ZF4DpoH0CPO7hpohjZ66jnyaWhlQI4ZwyZTSnG6soRhvKrVY3KtJJVIv9woE8DSPbxfGIaeVk~dUAdQ4yxQyQJmTV9nMmpyS4myvIPt3L5OPvWQ5L2HlpqznAjCDcu0mlfSK7ahKEgI7hho7FpwzHf7eS8nQ~-DFdd4cH1YJzQweye8UGw1Vbu6rFGBwgCAmSvtzSf0tmDGfYPXnjH7-evO5fjVpZRjiJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Council voted Tuesday to raise the city clerks salary to an annual $88,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Councilors voted unanimously after a committee review and a short amendment that reduced the proposals top figure from $90,000 to $88,000. The council recorded a roll-call vote after discussion about timing and stipend arrangements attached to the clerks duties.

Supporters said the increase reflects years of stagnant compensation and an expanded workload for the clerks office. Councilor Bartley, who filed the order and proposed the $88,000 figure as a friendly amendment, said the change was meant to be broadly acceptable to council members and timed to standard municipal salary-adjustment practice.

Opponents raised procedural concerns during committee hearings about notice and timing; one opponent later said they supported the raise but had procedural objections to aspects of the package. Councilors reiterated the effective date would be Jan. 1, 2026.

Ending: The council adopted the ordinance amendment on a unanimous roll-call vote; the clerk will include the change in the citys compensation schedule and implement the pay change beginning Jan. 1, 2026.","By unanimous vote the Holyoke City Council approved raising the city clerks base salary to $88,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026; councilors said the change recognizes workload and aligns the position with comparable communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge Holyoke City Council to act on $1.2 million in opioid settlement funds

Council debate stalls municipal modernization ordinance; vote to table three companion orders

Council refers resolution on cooperation with ICE to committee after public opposition

Council approves two special permits for cannabis businesses, sets local hiring and safety conditions

City Council OKs city clerk salary increase to $88,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026