Charter & Rules committee tightens notice rules, creates law‑department question process and advances municipal modernization language

The Holyoke City Council Charter and Rules Committee voted to allow councilors to opt out of routine U.S. mail delivery of regular meeting agendas by notifying the city clerk in writing and to add a new rule permitting a council member, once recognized, to pose a question to the law department during a meeting.

The committee also tabled two competing proposals that would change how “late‑filed” orders are handled — one that would permit posting and limited distribution up to 1 p.m. on the day of a meeting, and another that would ban late files except in “an absolute emergency” and only if no member objects. Committee members said the competing proposals were confusing and warranted further drafting.

The opt‑out change to Rule 4(b) — introduced as Item 2 — will let a council member, by written notice to the clerk, choose not to have the agenda mailed and instead to receive it by electronic mail. Committee members amended the language to preserve mailed copies as the default and to allow personal delivery…