Several municipal employees and union representatives told the Chicopee City Council they face low wages, rising insurance costs and persistent vacancies that are undermining city services.

Crystal Boucher, representing UFCW Local 1459, told the council the administration and laborer groups have been offered wages that do not keep pace with the cost of living and insurance increases; she said roughly 70 municipal positions across groups remain open, including about 45 laborer jobs that have been vacant for years. Boucher told the council those vacancies have resulted in approximately $8.1 million in budgeted base-salary savings over three years, and she asked the city to use available funds to improve contract offers.

Kristen Pope, a city employee who said she lives in Ward 1, described a concrete household impact after recent insurance increases: her family-plan insurance costs left her take-home pay reduced by about $80 per month and her husband’s by the same amount, for a combined loss she described as roughly $160 per month. She said many city employees start at roughly $18–$20 per hour and struggle to remain in Chicopee when costs rise.

Councilors expressed sympathy for speakers but several noted limits on the council’s role. Councilor Wagner said the council is constrained by the city charter (chapter/section cited in the meeting as section 17) from intervening directly in contract negotiations. Councilor Roy said he understood the financial strain and wished the employees luck in negotiations.

No formal action was taken; speakers addressed the council during the public-input period and the council closed public input by motion. Councilors asked staff and department heads about budget study opportunities but did not direct a specific policy change during the meeting.