I will not be a candidate for reelection to the City Council in this year’s municipal election so I can pursue other interests. I also hope to encourage a new generation of leaders to participate in municipal government.

New departments established during my two terms are the Division of Community Care, the city’s non-police response team that supports people with mental health and substance use challenges, housing instability, and other crises; and the Climate Action and Project Administration, which helps guide the city in meeting the goals of achieving carbon neutrality for municipal operations by 2030 and for net-zero carbon emissions citywide by 2050, and provides resources to residents, businesses and other institutions in Northampton

Significant downtown projects advanced by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and the City Council since 2022 are Picture Main Street, which will channel motor vehicle traffic to one travel lane in each direction, add physically separated bicycle lanes on both sides of the road, widen sidewalks, and shorten crosswalks, with construction scheduled between 2026 and 2028; and purchase of the former First Baptist Church, 298 Main St., for the Resilience Hub, which will provide resources to the city’s most vulnerable population and serve as an emergency response center and shelter during crises.

In Ward 1, I have advocated for affordable housing projects at the former nursing home at 737 Bridge Road, which Valley Community Development Corp. is converting to 60 apartments, and 196 Cooke Ave., where Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity plans four single-family homes owned by first-time home buyers.

During my first year on the City Council, I served on the mayor’s advisory commission that recommended how to spend $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to help recover from the pandemic by supporting housing and shelter services, addressing food insecurity, assisting nonprofits and small businesses, financing arts programs, and aiding early education, child care, health care and other projects that helped reconnect the community.

During my final year on the City Council, I am one of three city councilors on the Ordinance Review Committee that every five years considers revisions. In addition to consulting with department heads and other municipal staff, the committee will seek suggestions from community groups, including ideas for new ordinances, before filing a report by the end of this year

Nomination papers for candidates seeking to run for elected office in the Nov. 4 municipal election are available in the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 210 Main St. The deadline for submitting nomination papers for certification of signatures is 5 p.m., Monday, July 21.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, of which I am vice chair, will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, in the City Council chambers, 212 Main St., to review the independent auditor’s report and consider a recommendation on an order that would give the City Council authority to increase the school budget over the amount requested by the mayor.

Here is the Zoom link for remote participation (passcode 923835):

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85660067321

The annual audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, was conducted by Scanlon & Associates of South Deerfield.

The order regarding school spending was filed by Ward 7 Councilor Rachel Maiore, who chairs the Finance Committee. If both the City Council and mayor approve adoption of the state legislation, under certain circumstances it would permit the council to increase the total amount appropriated for the schools over that requested by the mayor. The School Committee would have to recommend the higher amount, and at least six members of the City Council would have to agree. The legislation (Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1987) also specifies “that no such increase shall be voted if it would render the total annual budget in excess of the property tax limitations set forth” by state law.

Under the city charter, the City Council may only delete or decrease amounts, except expenditures required by law, in the budget proposed by the mayor. The charter states that “except on the recommendation of the mayor, the City Council shall not increase any item in or the total of the proposed operating budget.”

The City Council on May 16, 2024, voted 6-3 against adopting the same legislation.

Any recommendation made by the Finance Committee on Wednesday would go to the full City Council, which meets at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, for another vote.

Stan