Browse By

Tag Archives: Kateri Walsh

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: The Conception of Priorities…

UPDATED 3/8/13 12:56PM: Photograph of current Springfield Senior Center added. SPRINGFIELD—During a particularly policy-heavy evening, taking form in both ordinance and other measure, the City Council confronted a host of issue from finance to foreclosures to bonding.  However, while some of the more substantive debate

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Topping the Billboard Charts…

UPDATED 8:56 PM: For, clarity,  grammar, and inclusion of links. UPDATED 2/28/13 3:09PM: For accuracy. SPRINGFIELD—Among the powers of the City Council, few bring about more unpredictable results than the exercise of its permit-granting authority.  For whatever reason, the special-permit granting authority of the city

Springfield City Hall Snow

The Winter of Our Discontent…

SPRINGFIELD—As warming temperatures and city crews were finally and fully conquering last weekend’s snow fall, City Councilors were taking Department of Public Works officials to task for a recovery called inadequate and “dangerous.”  DPW Chief Allan Chwalek faced withering criticism and probing questions even as

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: That’s Out of Order!…

SPRINGFIELD—The order of items on the City Council’s agenda is defined by the Council’s rules.  Items that fall under certain categories are grouped together and then listed in a certain order, each item assigned a number.  The Council may, by unanimous consent take things out

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: What Lies Beneath?…

SPRINGFIELD—A quiet quick meeting for the Springfield City Council dispensed with numerous housekeeping measures.  However some items sent to committee portend either broader conflicts or a healthy helping of grandstanding. Still recuperating from injuries sustained in August, Ward 3 Councilor Melvin Edwards was absent from

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Sound & Fury Signifying What?…

For weeks now, tension has been building among city councilors over the mayor’s budget.  Even before Mayor Domenic Sarno presented his budget two weeks ago, many councilors were almost livid over the process.  Consequently, when the budget faced its annual scrutiny Wednesday evening, it was

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Fee for Service…

This post has been updated to reflect confirmation from the Department of Revenue on the Hotel Tax. With tension high following last week’s release of the mayor’s budget, on Monday the Springfield City Council staked out its own position on the proposed financial plan and

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Rules of Engagement…

The following Post refers to the 6/17/12 Council Meeting postponed from its originally scheduled date on 6/10/12 due to the death of Ofc. Kevin Ambrose on that day.  We apologize for the delay in its posting. Less than twenty-four hours before Mayor Domenic Sarno released

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Historical Implications…

First, a note to our readers.  We apologize for failing to post on the last two city council meetings.  On balance, there was not much lost in our failure, however, we still regret our failure.  There is at least one issue that merited some further

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: Pushing Paper…

Every now and then the Springfield City Council assembles and does little more than ministerial duties dressed up as discretionary acts.  For example, the city cannot accept a grant or money outside of its own tax base or consistent with a general state law unless