Northampton’s council president goes singing into the night with help from Johnny Cash | #citycouncil
NORTHAMPTON — Outgoing City Council President Jim Nash channeled a little help from country singer Johnny Cash to put a musical cap on his eight-year run as a member of the city’s top legislative body. At the council’s final meeting of the year last Thursday, Nash — together with Ward 5 councilor Alex Jarrett — […]
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Northampton council poised to act on outdoor lighting rules | #citycouncil
NORTHAMPTON — In an attempt to both reduce light pollution and allow for greater safety at night, the city is looking to update its outdoor lighting policy, something it hopes to bring to a vote before the end of the year and the subsequent formation of a new City Council. Members of the council’s Committee […]
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Contests shaping up for Northampton City Council, School Committee this fall | #citycouncil
NORTHAMPTON — As the deadlien nears to turn in nomination papers for this fall’s biennial municipal election, several new candidates appear poised to throw their hat in the ring for various City Council and School Committee positions, along with the return of several members already serving and two school committee positions that remain vacant. A […]
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New climate action department among highligh
NORTHAMPTON — Next fiscal year will bring several significant developments for the city, including the creation of a new climate action department, the opening of a new Resilience Hub, a proposal to hire student officers to address a staffing shortage in the Police Department, and a dramatic increase in water and sewer rates thanks to […]
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Northampton City Council set to vote on reparations panel | #citycouncil
Published: 2/1/2023 8:30:00 PM Modified: 2/1/2023 8:29:49 PM NORTHAMPTON — The City Council is expected to introduce a resolution to create a commission that would look into racial injustices perpetrated against Black residents and workers in the city, part of ongoing nationwide efforts to explore the idea of reparations. Groups in the city, such as […]
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Mayor denies cannabis shop at downtown Florence location
Published: 10/20/2022 10:35:19 AM NORTHAMPTON — Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra will not sign a host community agreement with a proposed Florence marijuana shop, saying that the location is not appropriate for a busy intersection in the middle of the village. In a Thursday announcement, in which Sciarra also said she opposes a City Council effort […]
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Northampton City Council confirms Misch as its new planning director | #citycouncil
Published: 9/16/2022 7:30:36 PM Modified: 9/16/2022 7:26:43 PM NORTHAMPTON — The City Council confirmed Carolyn Misch as director of the Office of Planning and Sustainability on Thursday, elevating her from the interim director role to replace longtime department leader Wayne Feiden. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra appointed Misch in July, when Feiden announced his retirement after 25 years […]
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Northampton City Council to vote on $500K for ‘iconic’ St. John Cantius Church | #citycouncil
NORTHAMPTON — The City Council will consider a $500,000 request to fix up the exterior of St. John Cantius Church next week in anticipation of a Holyoke developer turning the structure at 10 Hawley St. into multifamily housing. The Community Preservation Committee unanimously recommended the spending, which would come from the city’s Community Preservation Act […]
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Northampton City Council OK’s Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s $126M spending plan
Published: 6/4/2022 10:57:15 AM Modified: 6/4/2022 10:55:04 AM NORTHAMPTON — The City Council passed Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s first budget in office on Thursday night, approving a $126 million plan that increases spending on schools, public health and libraries while funding the new Department of Community Care and raising property taxes 2.5%. The budget that takes effect on July 1 […]
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