Holyoke council creates municipal hearing officer, tightens vacant‑building fees and approves multiple transfers

The Holyoke City Council on Feb. 4 voted to create a part‑time municipal hearing officer position to hear certain local code appeals, adopted a tiered fee schedule for vacant properties, and approved several budget transfers and a small emergency management grant during its regular meeting at City Hall.

The council passed the municipal hearing officer ordinance after an amendment that added a maximum three‑year term for the officer. Council members described the position as a lower‑cost local alternative to repeated court hearings for code and nuisance disputes. Councilor Israel Rivera said the intent was to provide quicker, more affordable local resolution options for residents. Councilor Bacon said she would “be voting in favor of this tonight” after committee discussion that narrowed the stipend to $2,500 a year.

The council agreed to an amendment to the ordinance that set a maximum term of three years for the municipal hearing officer; that amendment passed 11–2. The ordinance itself then passed on final reading by unanimous roll call.

Council members discussed funding sources. Attorney Jeffrey Bissonnette told the panel that under state law fines collected by code enforcement can be used to fund the position’s stipend; the council also filed a related order asking the mayor and law…