Holyoke City Council OKs permits for cannabis growers; honors activist
Updated 9:08 AM;
Massbiology proposes to build and operate a marijuana cultivation and processing facility at 6 Appleton St.
The permit requires Massbiology to add a bike rack. Holyoke Fire Department approves a generator for the site, finds an alternative fuel source, and “obtain site control of the area slated for parking.”
The Massachusetts Cannabis Commission requires all licensing applicants to apply for a special permit at the municipal level. The commission oversees the Commonwealth’s medical and recreational marijuana industry, an economic bright spot in Holyoke’s economy.
Councilor At-large Rebecca Lisi, who chairs the Ordinance Committee, said Massbiology’s application was “straightforward and very complete” during an April 13 committee hearing.
Holyoke City Council proceeds with Home Rule Petition in wake of Mayor Alex Morse resignation
Updated Mar 17, 2021;
HOLYOKE – The City Council on Tuesday passed a home rule petition to eliminate a special election and require the council president to serve as acting mayor once Alex B. Morse resigns.
Morse plans to leave office March 26 at 4:30 p.m. to become town manager of Provincetown. The council formally accepted Morse’s resignation letter Tuesday.
The home rule petition also states the winner of the mayoral race in November would immediately be sworn in, rather than waiting for the typical January inauguration.
Council President Todd McGee has said work commitment and potential conflicts of interest make him unable to be a full-time acting mayor. But he said Tuesday he could serve in a temporary capacity until the petition is passed or rejected by the state Legislature. McGee works for Springfield-based MassMutual, a Fortune 100 company and insurance industry giant.
Holyoke City Council sets property tax rates; commercial rate exceeds $40 mark
Updated Dec 19, 2020;
HOLYOKE Property taxes will go up in 2021, with homeowners paying $19.28 per $1,000 in assessed valuation and businesses paying $40.65 per $1,000.
The new commercial rate likely will produce groans in Holyoke’s business community, which feared breaking the $40 mark. Holyoke has the highest commercial tax rate in Massachusetts.
The City Council set the rates during an online session Friday night.
The new resident rate is a 1.0% increase from 2020′s rate of $19.08. It reflects in part the assessed value of the average single-family home in Holyoke jumping from $197,000 to $207,000. The average residential tax bill in 2021 will be around $3,990.
Holyoke landlords seek help ousting drug dealers
Updated Dec 10, 2020;
HOLYOKE Landlords, city councilors and police are weighing options to confront the persistent presence of drug dealers in apartment buildings on Elm and Walnut streets.
Discussion at a virtual meeting Wednesday of the Public Safety Committee centered on a proposal from Ward 4 Councilor Libby Hernandez that includes increased video surveillance along the corridor.
Existing cameras in the area can be monitored by police but are outdated, landlords said.
Hernandez requested the appearance of Carrie and Arthur Naatz, the new owners of 287-291 Elm St., and Toney Visone, who owns 294-298 Elm St. and 300 Walnut St. Hernandez said the owners have made strides to improve lighting and secure the buildings.