Take My Council, Please: The Time Has Come to Be Blunt…
SPRINGFIELD—With a lighter agenda on Monday compared to recent weeks, the City Council dispensed with a series of financial orders and legislation before the home stretch of the election.
Tag Archives: municipal finance
Analysis: A Key Ryan Decision Gave Springfield a Second Chance…
The city of Springfield should thank Charles Ryan, at least partly, for having the breathing room to whether this mother of all crises.
Garcia Argues Holyoke Needs a Manager, So He’s Running for Mayor…
HOLYOKE—The Town of Blandford needed a new administrator. Eventually, Joshua Garcia would get the job permanently. His experience in municipal services has become foundational in his campaign for mayor of Holyoke.
Glidden Wants to Hear Holyoke out—and Bring It Together…
HOLYOKE—There is one candidate for whom unity is truly central. It anchors the attitude and direction of both his campaign and the mayor’s office William Glidden would run.
Take My Council, Please: Mayor’s Post-COVID Budget Passes Unscathed…
SPRINGFIELD—Despite roughly two hours of often passionate debate, the City Council here unanimously approved Mayor Domenico Sarno’s budget for fiscal year 2022 without cuts. With some help from the American Rescue Plan, the $756 million spending plan largely peels city government off the floor after going into a defensive fiscal crouch during the coronavirus pandemic.
Take My Council, Please: Will the Sequels Be Better Than the Originals…?
SPRINGFIELD—Aside from a one-liner admonishing a permit-seeker’s counsel to not interrupt the Council president, the sequels to a few permit hearings last Monday were no better than the originals in the preceding weeks.
Take My Council, Please: Turning into Pumpkins after 10pm…
SPRINGFIELD—At its June 7 meeting last Monday, the City Council cut itself off. After some members had spent a third of their day in Council Zoom meetings—the body remains virtual for now—councilors agreed to execute the 10pm drop-dead rule.
Springfield Set to Adopt Its First Budget As COVID Recedes…
UPDATED 4:30PM: An earlier version of this post indicated the Springfield City Council will vote to approve the budget this week. That vote will actually be later in June.
Springfield is set to emerge from the pandemic in relatively fiscal good shape as the city’s various organs come together to approve the budget.
Briefings: Other Holyoke Executive Races Flying Solo Thus Far…
While Holyoke is set for a wild ride in the open mayoral race, the city’s other executive offices look like a walk in Heritage State Park. In addition to the mayor, the city will also elect the Treasurer and City Clerk.
Take My Council, Please: Consider the Wards of the City…
SPRINGFIELD—The wards were the highlight of Monday’s City Council virtual meeting. Early on, the Council considered a crush of utility petitions that received an unusual amount of scrutiny. Oddly most of these items happened to fall within Ward 2. Its councilor, Michael Fenton, raised the