Holyoke council debates municipal modernization package; several charter items sent back to committee

The Holyoke City Council spent more than three hours debating a municipal modernization package that would restructure finance and council operations, create new finance positions and propose multiple charter amendments, but did not finalize most of the changes.

Councilors discussed a packet of orders and charter amendments (items 1–10 on the special-meeting agenda) that included creation of a chief administrative and financial officer (CAFO), a combined treasurer-collector office, a comptroller and a director of internal audit, as well as amendments affecting the fire and public works commissions and clarifications about reading and voting procedures in the charter. Councilor Jourdain circulated a separate set of charter amendment drafts that he described as “golden oldies” — provisions that have been debated in past councils and which he said he wanted to fold into the broader package for consideration.

The council moved the items as a package for discussion but did not vote to adopt the full package.…