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Commission on Disabilities faults late notice to panel after ordinance on handicap-sign renewals advanced
Summary
The commission said it was not given advance copies before an ordinance committee voted to set a two-year renewal period for handicap-parking signs and urged continued coordination and mapping to track signs' locations.
The Holyoke Commission on Disabilities said city ordinance drafters advanced a change to the handicap-parking renewal process without giving the commission advance copies of the draft.
Lynn Horan, chair of the commission, told members the ordinance committee met May 21 and voted on a draft amendment that sets a two-year renewal cycle for handicap-parking signs. "I did not realize and was not told that they were gonna vote on it that night," Horan said. Horan said the commission had recommended a longer renewal interval (three to five years) and that members were disappointed they were not given the draft earlier for formal review.
Horan said the ordinance committee agreed to a spreadsheet and a review process coordinated through the city clerk's office; Brenna and the clerk's staff will prepare a multi-year inventory to identify where disabled-parking signs are placed. Commissioners discussed density concerns — that signs in high-density areas should be renewed efficiently when occupants move — and suggested coordination with the city engineer and DPW to map locations.
Members expressed frustration at the communication lapse but praised the clerk's office for agreeing to support mapping and noted Councilor Izzy Rivera invited commissioners to flag concerns directly if the two-year interval proves problematic. Horan said the commission will still pursue training for new councilors to explain the permitting process and noted Betty Larrivee’s long involvement on these issues.
No formal commission vote on the ordinance change occurred at the meeting; Horan said the ordinance had already left the ordinance committee.
Commissioners said a better public-facing application process and clearer data would help reduce confusion about overlapping or adjacent sign requests and speed decision-making.
