The September 21 meeting of the Springfield City Council concluded a lingering drama that had split the body for weeks. By a 9-2 vote, councilors finally approved a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant for a housing subsidiary of the New North Citizens Council (NNCC).
The September 8 Springfield City Council agenda was straightforward. There were grants. The body took initial steps on several ordinances. Things were moving along swimmingly. The only odd thing about the meeting was it was on Tuesday, thanks to Labor Day. Then an item that had been languishing in committee was summoned.
At its June 15 outing, the Springfield City Council took a significant step toward curbing councilors’ remote participation at meetings. Formally, the item was a resolution and not a rule change. Therefore, the body did not bind its members. Yet, the push marks an attitude shift for the body, which was among the last to return to any in-person operations.
The Springfield City Council had a debate May 18 that no one could miss. It was the first time since the shroud of the coronavirus fell upon the city that all 13 serving councilors had assembled in person for a regular meeting. Full in-person attendance had its advantages, including procedural efficiencies the Council had gone without for six years.
The trouble erupted after City Council Tracye President Whitfield failed to immediately recuse herself from consideration of a street discontinuance. She co-owns the entity that owns a property that would grow once the city discontinues the street. Plus, her son was presenting the item. While she did not vote on the item, her time briefly presiding during consideration means the Council must purge its vote to terminate the street.
SPRINGFIELD—Tracye Whitfield started her fifth term as an at-large City Council by taking a second office: City Council President. In doing so Monday, she became the first woman of color to lead the municipal legislature here. Although historic, a fact that inarguably filled the city’s biennial inaugural exercises, it was hardly the only takeaway Whitfield intended people to have.
Given a review of recent history in Springfield, 2025 may have expressed the disgruntlement many expected in 2023. However, the reasons may not be particular to the City of Homes. A foul wind from Washington was blowing and perhaps coloring the municipal electorate as much as anything. Courts also played a larger role in the city’s political fortunes than they had in years.
After appearances at several meetings, the GoNetSpeed requests are out the door. On Monday, the Springfield City Council approved 17 applications GoNetSpeed, an internet service provider, had filed for work that would affect city streets throughout the city. Fearing the company would only wire wealthier areas, the Council had delayed approval at least twice.
The Springfield City Council again put off approval of a bevy of permits for GoNetSpeed, an Internet Service Provider, fearing the company will not deliver on promises to wire the whole city. The issue has bubbled up at full Council and subcommittee meetings. In July, councilors continued the permits.
Springfield City Council and School Committee hopefuls plied their political wares last week during an outdoor forum. Focus Springfield and White Lion Brewing organized and staged the event in the “Pridelands” beer garden, across Main Street from the brewer’s taproom in Tower Square. It may