[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6368795,"mediaKeyId","2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217","parentId",2155987,"title","At-large councilor announces he will not seek reelection after one term","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",1685000,"endMs",1845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217&start=1685&end=1845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217/thumbnail_1685000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6368795/Chicopee-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/At-large-councilor-announces-he-will-not-seek-reelection-after-one-term","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368795-7bc3967bebc2ac7cb35ba2f59627f948/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196673&Signature=EiXbAS57d07vUB151HP0unSLqFnAVZDRnNQWqEUH760qTmceD~YtLDja5lwby4ot69Voln9UK27C5OOjcR6JkwBDh2S7kwcoHlhjuLDKYTVjVi00oysGBDtlK3UnX~5pKzwt6QTT6qNoECURXDPCxr1mAkv89Ji-F962HkKPrV2AshIO1bD46HDkQFWE3V87a-zjkvUuljtj7V8j5J2UOYTs0LfPtlsypyw0on8~adPyFW4yAwMYomHTgDjWYCCuB-p4oj-DBuAZ2yBH60EyAcZXxjWaZ44OhGcFtOoPnO2AKS-SyA0H6VcCLUA3BZloGy7ItRTwmp7HnQV7sqiO6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chicopee City, MA","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","An at-large member of the Chicopee City Council announced Jan. 7 that he will not seek reelection.

The councilor, speaking after a suspension of the public-input time limit, said he was sworn in just over a year ago and described himself as the council's youngest member, the first Gen Z member and a member of the LGBTQ community. He listed accomplishments including recreating an economic development director position, pushing rules changes to give council committees more autonomy, adopting a new master plan and advancing reporting for school finance subcommittees.

Nut graf: The councilor said he will not be a \"lame duck\" during his remaining year, pledged continued advocacy for monthly budget presentations or at least posted budget reports on the city website, and said he planned to pursue ballot initiatives to move certain municipal finance positions toward professional appointment requirements.

He said Chicopee manages a budget of \"over $200,000,000\" and argued the city should select key finance officials based on professional qualifications rather than popular election, and pledged continued work on economic development, Chapter 90 funding advocacy and transparency measures.

Ending: The councilor thanked colleagues and constituents and said he will continue to serve for the remainder of his term; the council record does not show any formal motion or vote tied to the announcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chicopee City Council 1-7-25 ","oneSentenceSummary","An at-large Chicopee councilor announced during public input that he will not seek reelection, recapped accomplishments from his term and said he will continue to advocate for professionalization of municipal finance and monthly budget transparency.","taxTitle","Chicopee City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",8030,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6368800,"Residents urge school capital repairs; council questioned on Safe Streets plan and hears sewer project update",263,955000,1218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217&start=955&end=1218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6368800/Chicopee-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Residents-urge-school-capital-repairs-council-questioned-on-Safe-Streets-plan-and-hears-sewer-project-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368800-2cb927447b65f4e3bfada0b933411a2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196673&Signature=HinghveM9WCMC7I0WVnsPP9sF0gx4~Uh3LGRtoZBPJdAZ3txhiPjqFci~8m-64skqU8OgW-OckUJeU2YK7aKuocJQ6NSCm887152XCuUi7Zu2W4en9gd2ElZHDfBzNIxYlq1~iKIr8MzhsUYL9MwZQO~45tlZ5oqVu6oM0xEZSpKmvi631ZgINrqrsR1x1Iw8Hlga634cZXOn3G8sMUfMY5iRik2lEwzwiZjRf0uu7LUeHTcSLNRghVj2lllzo9Jb50SH6h8QY3lOKB~Ih~7Gl~sGnNya14zDuGUCcAOX0cYonc~X87wJk92CHXk6K~vkFIiyqn5sUdNvDgGRKfgJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public input at the Jan. 7 meeting, several residents urged the City Council to address pressing school capital needs and to report on previously accepted safety planning grants.

Sonny Brooks, identified as a school committee representative, spoke for the record from 22 Circle Drive and asked the council and mayor to consider an appropriation to address drainage improvements at Bowie and Satella school parking lots, completion of air-conditioning projects at multiple schools and a full remediation and replacement of an asbestos gym floor in his ward. Brooks cited an estimated total of $8,300,000 for the listed projects and noted the school department's in-house maintenance work has saved about $5,000,000 on previous projects, arguing that delaying work will increase costs.

Lisa Bienvenue of Everett Street pressed the council and the mayor's office for an update on the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant work. Bienvenue said the council voted last year to accept a federal Safe Streets grant of $320,000 and that the mayor had appropriated $400,000 to a planning account, totaling $720,000. She said she had seen no public updates on an action plan and asked \"what exactly has been done\" with the funds.

Council response and other input: The council did not provide detailed updates on the Safe Streets plan during the meeting. Mary Beth Costello offered a public-status update on the South Fairview sewer project, telling residents the work is paused for winter and will resume when weather permits; she thanked DPW, the water department and contractors for ongoing coordination.

Nut graf: Residents called for a clearer plan and possible capital appropriation to address district school infrastructure needs and for transparency on how $720,000 in Safe Streets planning funds had been used; the council referred some items for committee follow-up but did not adopt new appropriations at the meeting.

Ending: The transcript records public requests and councilors' acknowledgments but no council appropriation or formal directive on the school capital figure or Safe Streets action-plan status was adopted during the Jan. 7 meeting.","Speakers called for a multi-million-dollar school capital program, asked for progress reporting on a $720,000 Safe Streets action plan, and received an update that the South Fairview sewer project is paused for winter and will resume in warmer weather.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6368807,"Council approves Eversource petitions to replace aging gas mains on several Chicopee streets",89,2307000,2396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217&start=2307&end=2396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217/thumbnail_2307000.jpg","/articles/6368807/Chicopee-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-Eversource-petitions-to-replace-aging-gas-mains-on-several-Chicopee-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368807-95a3f7839965ecca1b02e22aed0b7829/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196673&Signature=Q3CXPNnGrQ92z9ZvFCW-duqMM6gTthZLT1ysRCj5pPfUoih3IZDpyFZLyFRhItYcZ5KbJmKShsGbfSnfnze18-VNOGYHtrjn2t7TMaN6aT1IcFcLMhFUb-J1bctrZeCQvH5QyPYAtCooqox0Qy7uA363qNhc0JlbKQl30XHiMrIsR-Qr00YEKoLpes~yqCcf2JpgeRPOX4MtxFTjGk79uU6PzvAZQG3XbGdD6krSZE8U78~E93rn69uQP~1zwrIdZ~gKaSw~eGitF5yDYYSJmJHAYIYubwxlmvvDe9ae5DgRgVWMAt3e0drPXAwRm8HJeR1zuOrGFf7ldpont8IuKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chicopee City Council on Jan. 7 voted to accept favorable reports from its Utilities Committee permitting Eversource Gas to replace aging natural-gas mains on multiple streets.

One petition authorizes location and permission to install and maintain 1,090 feet of 6-inch and 2-inch plastic gas main on Linwood Drive and Greenwood Terrace; another petition covers replacement of plastic 2-inch gas main on Sherman Avenue, Davenport Street, Northwood Street and Mellon Street (length stated in the utilities report was unclear on the record). Councilors said the work replaces aging infrastructure.

Nut graf: The council accepted the Utilities Committee's recommendations and approved the petitions by roll-call votes; the approvals allow Eversource to proceed to permitting and installation steps under standard public-utility procedures.

Council discussion and votes: Councilors noted the projects are replacements of aging lines. On each petition the council recorded a roll-call vote in favor; the minutes show 12 yes votes on both Utilities Committee favorable reports.

Ending: The approvals send the petitions forward for implementation by Eversource under applicable permitting and safety protocols; the council did not discuss construction timing or traffic impacts in detail during the meeting.","The City Council received and approved favorable Utilities Committee reports authorizing Eversource to install and maintain gas mains on Linwood Drive, Greenwood Terrace, Sherman Avenue and other streets.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6368812,"Council rules overhaul and recall thresholds draw debate; recall proposal sent back to rules committee",2117,1284000,3401000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217&start=1284&end=3401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","/articles/6368812/Chicopee-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Council-rules-overhaul-and-recall-thresholds-draw-debate-recall-proposal-sent-back-to-rules-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368812-c8edf599d998efa4925b78ac57b4d7d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196673&Signature=o3d9G2FLrYu6oY0FZHHwlHf0yvG~Ahds1WK3HNZmHdOwygV2kKZXK50tYxHPVRGsGwA3~qTSHbmsWwEmr5TZCzUfngMeOYKZJXHTD5NBVoRwOS2FC7NVkuAeiK-bnggwLhvpj9YSX99J9K6INzbpHfoO6Atu8d1UX7WoCBz-lqcc-QdPxe84C7i6eArNAU5gB1-iMt-hnOoUE7-GImbHMyZyjre8FqLQJRFbPgX-TyHt4mkXIx3EzoUTWVIxbQMsOVwpyd7OvBcp-IDhqZRvWe7soTWx5s6z7vz9GRuRnqAcD9G9-Ro94ogtEFuVRKuROeb6Ify9u-Xs8QY-8Uu5IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chicopee City Council spent a substantial portion of its Jan. 7 meeting discussing changes to its rules and the city charter language on recall elections, including a petition to file special-legislation at the statehouse to change the local recall process.

Public commenter Catherine Pierce urged the council to use percentage-based thresholds for recalls rather than flat numbers, saying a flat 5,000-signature trigger is effectively impossible in a ward context and could block removal of officials elected with only hundreds of votes. Councilors on both sides said the draft thresholds — 500 signatures to initiate a petition and 5,000 to trigger a recall election — were problematic and discussed alternatives such as ward-specific thresholds or percentage-based rules.

Nut graf: The rules committee's broader package proposed reducing and reorganizing standing committees and adjusting rules for committee referrals and late-filed orders; the council approved sending the package and the recall petition back to the Rules Committee for further work after debate and public comment.

Discussion highlights: Councilors criticized the flat-number threshold as too high for ward seats and urged differentiation between ward and citywide offices. Councilor Wagner said the flat 500 threshold to initiate a petition for any office is \"extremely high\" and described the current draft as effectively preserving the status quo. Several councilors favored returning the item for more work; a motion to send item 9 back to Rules passed by roll call.

The council also approved a separate rules change that reduced the number of standing committees and set committee membership to five unless specified otherwise; on that item the council ultimately defeated language attempting to finalize a particular draft and then agreed to return multiple items to committee for further public hearings.

Ending: Councilors and members of the public asked for further public hearings and revisions; the Rules Committee will reconvene to refine thresholds, committee structure and related clarifications before the council takes final votes.","Councilors and residents debated proposed changes to standing committees and a special-law recall petition that would set a flat threshold of 500 signatures to initiate a recall and 5,000 to trigger an election; council sent the recall proposal and other rule changes back to the Rules Committee for further review.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6368818,"Chicopee council accepts $27,608 JAG grant, approves related appropriations and appoints Monica Torres",1835,491000,2326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217&start=491&end=2326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2155987-aa73c7906b8493e60d23fa227f430217/thumbnail_491000.jpg","/articles/6368818/Chicopee-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Chicopee-council-accepts-27608-JAG-grant-approves-related-appropriations-and-appoints-Monica-Torres","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368818-3ab0accb4da1198477fa5c6c42b968a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196673&Signature=INoO9ue5u82~KwsbCidyli1WwxRu57XUzrlwb5svaBhnpHhjFm9xG71-djt-wjpu8D8NUmwH5rIs4KarDbgnQWBaClzuAFFNvgTZ~gEwFvP2vf344DLf8l9w1D28U4zyvfIBId~6VWO6MEEDeu2A-krUsVpcb5bFX3pnODXYaMG850ie5A9SLzdhnYpQ237-rrFW5SyLvaDEfdPUhltl6NI2qCDXzayAAGuMnyWKZfNL6K0A3V8kyd3wiVEC5pPrMXHs5Muud8daZNE1fqCPgRX8UQkRXdyLypiDE9O2vAsW~BN~f4see-SVCgZ-u~CI0lrHdWvPFBVGd7hGYU4T2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chicopee City Council on Jan. 7 approved four mayor's orders including acceptance of a FY2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) of $27,608 for the Chicopee Police Department and related appropriations to buy three sit-stand workstation consoles for the department's real-time information center.

The grant acceptance was announced by the mayor, who told the council the funds will buy sit-stand workstations for the real-time information center. The council then voted to appropriate $27,608 from the city's stabilization fund to a police special account for building renovation, to be reimbursed when grant funds are received.

The council also approved an appropriation of $15,540.92 to a Human Resources special account for indemnification payments related to police and fire injuries on duty, and confirmed Monica Torres as the designated responsible party to solicit contributions for municipal-sponsored entertainment, educational programs and other city activities.

Nut graf: The actions together authorize the immediate purchase of equipment for the police department's operations center, cover a contractual indemnification payment for public-safety employees, and shift a solicitation designation in the mayor's office; all four orders passed by roll call votes.

On process and votes: Councilor Brooks moved that the mayor's orders be received and pass through all stages on the mayor's written recommendation. The motions for the grant acceptance, the appropriation for building renovations, the indemnification appropriation, and the appointment of Monica Torres each passed by recorded roll calls. The recorded tallies shown on the record were 12 yes, 0 no for each of those mayor's orders.

Council responses and context: The mayor said the $27,608 JAG grant would be used to purchase three sit-stand workstation consoles for the real-time information center and noted job postings for four positions to staff the center had been or would be posted. The mayor also confirmed the city is self-insured and described the indemnification appropriation as payment for police and fire bills when employees are injured on duty.

Monica Torres' appointment drew several brief endorsements from councilors who called Torres \"professional\" and a \"go-getter.\" The council approved the appointment by roll call (12 yes).

Ending: The council completed votes on the four mayor's orders during the meeting; the appropriation for building renovations is recorded as reimbursable when the JAG grant funds are received.

","The City Council approved a $27,608 Justice Assistance Grant for the police department, voted to appropriate matching stabilization funds for workstation purchases and to cover indemnification costs for public-safety injuries, and confirmed Monica Torres as the city's authorized fundraiser for municipal events.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At-large councilor announces he will not seek reelection after one term

Residents urge school capital repairs; council questioned on Safe Streets plan and hears sewer project update

Council approves Eversource petitions to replace aging gas mains on several Chicopee streets

Council rules overhaul and recall thresholds draw debate; recall proposal sent back to rules committee

Chicopee council accepts $27,608 JAG grant, approves related appropriations and appoints Monica Torres