Ward 1 newsletter (1/06/23): Money for Resilience Hub approved
Resilience Hub The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved appropriating $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to purchase the former First Baptist Church at 298 Main St. for use as the Community Resilience Hub. The vote came after Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra told the council that the city had extensively explored about [...]
Ward 1 newsletter (12/16/22): Cannabis dispensaries cap proposed
Cannabis dispensaries The City Council on Thursday began discussing a proposed ordinance to cap at 12 the number of retail marijuana dispensaries in Northampton. The measure was referred to the Committee on Legislative Matters, of which I am a member, for further deliberation during a virtual meeting at 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, [...]
Ward 1 newsletter (12/3/22): City has option for Resilience Hub site
Former First Baptist Church potential Resilience Hub Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced Friday that the city has an option to buy the former First Baptist Church at 298 Main St. for use as the Community Resilience Hub. This allows the city to do the necessary work to determine if the 14,500-square-foot building can [...]
Ward 1 newsletter (11/9/22): Ceremony honors veterans
Veterans Day ceremony The Northampton Veterans’ Services Department will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11, in Pulaski Park Parking on Stoddard and Prospect streets The City Council Committee on Legislative Matters, of which I am a member, during its virtual meeting at 5 p.m., Monday, [...]
Ward 1 newsletter (10/24/22): Marijuana dispensaries cap debated
Cannabis dispensaries The City Council will continue its fact-finding about the impact of cannabis dispensaries in the community when the Finance Committee, of which I am a member, holds a virtual discussion at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, about the financial impact of capping retail marijuana stores and legal questions [...]
Ward 1 newsletter (10/16/22): St. John Cantius gets CPA funds
CPA money for St. John Cantius Church The City Council on Oct. 6 voted 7-2 to appropriate $500,000 from Community Preservation Act funds for exterior repairs to the former St. John Cantius Church at 10 Hawley St. The CPA appropriation includes a permanent historical preservation restriction for as long as [...]