Smoother sailing. (WMP&I and Google images)

As summer heats up, the Springfield City Council begins to slow down, holding fewer meetings than during the rest of the year. The body’s July 8 sitting was its only scheduled regular meeting until September. Despite the policy and finance-heavy agenda, there was little of major controversy before councilors last Monday.

The focus at the beginning was a pair of measures to let the city offer additional retirement benefits for Springfield Police Officer Misael Rodriguez. In 2020, Rodriguez suffered an especially violent injury when an individual hit him in the head with a hammer. The city is seeking legislation to ensure Rodriquez’s early retirement does not compromise his pension.

Councilors Timothy Allen, Malo Brown, Sean Curran, Brian Santaniello and Kateri Walsh attended the meeting virtually. Ward 1 Councilor Maria Perez was absent.

City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti presented the items to the Council. The first was a home rule petition to let the city amend Rodriguez’s retirement benefits. The other was a $500,000 appropriation to fund the mechanism. The money would come out of stabilization reserves.

“What this special act will do, Mr. President, is give him additional benefits that are not afforded to him under state law currently,” he said.

Rodriguez, center in tie, with Councilors after the vote. (still via YouTube/Focus Springfield)

Under the proposal, Rodriguez, who entered disability retirement after his injuries, would essentially receive his old salary until age 65. At that point, which is the state’s mandatory retirement age for public safety workers, he would receive his normal pension. Given his years of service and age, that would be 80% of his old salary. Under his current disability pension, he is receiving 72% of his former salary. That would otherwise be his benefit for the rest of his life.

Buoniconti said the city reached out to state officials beforehand, who, he said, had cleared the changes. Rodriguez would continue to be eligible for normal cost-of-living adjustments like any retiree.

Councilors approved both components unanimously.

From there the meeting moved into more typical financial and administrative matters. Comptroller Patrick Burns presented the May Revenue and Expenditure report. The revenue targets fell short, but only because the state transferred a monthly tranche of funds on June 4 rather than in May.

The Council also passed the election warrant for the September 3 state primary. City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez retains her previous position overseeing the Election Commission. She explained that the only change was the return of the polling place for precincts 1D and 1E to Bay State Place Apartments. She said that an earlier renovation there had forced the polling place out of the building even though many of the precincts’ voters live in the complex.

Oyola-Lopez acknowledged Councilor Perez’s work to move the polling place back and thanked building management for their cooperation.

“The management company for Bay State Place has been amazing,” she said.

The warrant also authorizes the city’s early voting schedule. Early voting will begin on August 24, a Monday, and run through August 30.

The Council approved the warrant without dissent, although Councilor Brown abstained. He did not give a reason, but Brown is a candidate on the primary ballot challenging Senator Adam Gomez.

Councilors greenlit a series of street permits for utilities. Eversource is seeking access to Alton and Renceleau street and Sumner and Willard avenues. A fifth permit, ostensibly for the Springfield Water & Sewer Commission, authorized installing a new sewer pipe at Allen Estates, a development off Allen Street.

Deputy Economic Development Director Brian Connors presented a $2,640,800 grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s community mitigation fund. Connors said the money could cover police, fire, health & human services, and planning projects among others. Historically, he explained, these were awarded to departments, but they came as a group this time.

Non-casino gaming cash! (WMP&I)

Another $1.5 million MGC grant was for transportation, namely parking infrastructure on Willow Street. Both direct MGC grants passed unanimously.

Springfield also received $1,117,816 for dispatch operations. Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi, who oversees the dispatch department, told councilors it would help defray costs for wages. Calvi later presented a $173,000 grant for 911 training. The Council accepted both grants without dissent, but at-large Councilor Jose Delgado, who works for the state agency that awards the grant, abstained.

There was one other gaming-related item before the body. It was approval of a $1,210,383 contract to fund Pearl Street’s operations around the casino. It too passed without dissent.

Switching gears, councilors approved a $427,854 grant to fund the Council on Aging’s staff. Another $369,000 grant went into the police department’s mental health arrest diversion program. The mayor’s office of consumer affairs also received a $127,357 grant. All passed unanimously.

Smaller grants for the Fire, Library, Parks and Police departments, taken collectively, also received approval.

The Council ruminated over a $500,000 grant to the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). The money arises from a state economic development bill. However, the legislature wanted to use the city as a passthrough entity for the grant. The LEDC will distribute microgrants to small businesses and entrepreneurs. However, it will not be limited to Latino entrepreneurs.

“How are you going to market to communities outside the Latino communities?” at-large councilor Tracye Whitfield inquired.

Melendez said the grant program would have something for everyone. (still via YouTube/Focus Springfield)

The LEDC’s executive director, Andrew Melendez, said he would be reaching out to groups like his but which represent different cohorts such as Black and LGBTQ chambers of commerce.

“It is my prerogative as leading this organization with this grant to ensure there is a fair percentage throughout all small businesses throughout the city of Springfield,” Melendez said.

Responding to Ward 6 Councilor Victor Davila, Melendez explained that $300,000 of the money would be in direct grants. The remainder would be used for technical assistance to entrepreneurs.

Councilor Delgado asked about the guidelines for participation. Melendez replied that he wanted to dole out $180,000 in microgrants in 18 months. Therefore, he said that eligibility would be “broad.”

“We want to be able to have that broad range really to meet people where they’re at,” he explained.

The body approved the grant without dissent.

In two separate items, the Council approved the appropriation and taking of land for a conservation project at Abbey Brook. The properties are along Liberty Street and the project originally arose from a Community Preservation Act proposal.

Mahoney booked a library labor pact. (still via YouTube/Focus Springfield)

Labor Relations/HR director William Mahoney presented a labor pact with library employees. The agreement between the city and the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 1596A is technically two pacts, though. Together, they run for four years. The first is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The second runs form July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.

Mahoney told councilors that Local 1596A represents librarians, branch supervisors, and children’s librarians. The agreement grants them 2% raises each year and has signing bonuses of $600 and $300 for full-time and part-time employees respectively. As per usual, the bargaining unit had already ratified the agreement.

This is not the only bargaining unit for Library employees. Library clerical workers fall under the Springfield Organization of Library Employees. AFSCME does represent other employees, but through different locals. All AFSCME locals representing Springfield employees fall under Council 93.

The final item before the Council last Monday was first step on an ordinance that would allow veterans to park at meters for free. Councilor Davila is the lead sponsor and presented it to the Council. He explained that the Council could only effect the ordinance at meters and not city-owned garages. The Springfield Parking Authority, an entity legally distinct from the city, owns and controls the garages. However, the SPA manages parking meters for the city under contract.

To qualify, a veteran would need to secure a veteran plate from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Based on Davila’s description, city meter maids would not ticket cars with veteran plates at otherwise expired meters. This is, in essence, how drivers with handicap plates or placards avoid tickets. State law exempts them from meters. Under the veteran’s ordinance, all other parking rules would still apply.

After some discussion, the Council approved first step on the ordinance unanimously. It will require a second and final reading at the next regular Council meeting.

(WMP&I)

It is hardly unusual for policy-heavy meetings to pass without rancor. If the underlying issue is popular, and fundamentally good, there is no reason for strife. Jostling to sign on as a cosponsor is expected. The measures taken to compensate Officer Rodriguez is one such example.

Presumably, the city’s delegation will sprint to get it through, too, unless there is some heretofore undisclosed quirk. If that is the case, Rodriquez’s special act will sail through, a contrast from another police retirement home rule petition.