City Council President Justin Hurst

36 COURT STREET SPRINGFIELD, MA 01103  (413)787-6170  FAX (413)787-6833

Dear Councilors,

In response to the recent COVID 19 pandemic, I have provided the following updates and changes to our meeting schedule for the next 3 months. Please share with your constituents and contact me with any questions.  There may be additional changes and or cancellations in the future that I will be sure to keep you abreast of. 

City Council Meeting Updates:

• Public Speak Out for all Regular Meetings is cancelled until further notice.
• The presenting of proclamations prior to our Hearings Meetings is cancelled until further notice.
• In accordance with Governor Baker’s Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, the public will no longer be allowed in the City Council chambers unless they are essential to conducting the business of the council until further notice. To view the meeting, go to: Focusspringfield.com, and click on the “Springfield City Council” box. The meeting can also be viewed on Comcast Channel 17.
• During a Hearing for a Special Permit or a Zone Change, we will only allow the petitioners for each agenda item into the chambers at one time.
• TJ Plante, our Chief Administrative and Financial Officer, or his designee, will present to the Council on all financial orders, land transfers, and grants. All Department Heads and City Employees who normally present to the City Council on agenda items are relieved of their duty to do so, unless specifically requested to appear by the City Council President.
• Chris Cignoli, our Director of the Department of Public Works, or his designee, will present to the Council on all petitions. All representatives from utility companies will no longer be asked to appear unless they are specifically requested to do so by the City Council President.
• I am asking all Chairs of City Council Sub-Committees to strongly consider limiting the number of meetings to those that are absolutely necessary until further notice.
• If you are sick, then please stay home and for Councilors who are in attendance please remember to wash your hands regularly prior to meetings. I will be asking the Mayor’s office to provide the Council with hand sanitizer for our meetings and to place an emphasis on disinfecting the chambers after our meetings are over.

City Council Meeting Schedule:

March

• Our Regular Meeting on March 16th will take place as planned. However, the provisions above will be in effect for this meeting.
• Our Hearings Meeting on March 30th will take place as planned. However, all financial items (Orders and Grants) and any other pressing matters that need City Council Approval for the month of April will be heard at this meeting as well.

April

• Both our Regular City Council Meeting on April 6th and our Hearings Meeting on April 27th are cancelled.

May

• The Regular City Council Meeting on May 4th and our Hearings Meeting on May 25th will be cancelled.
• Our Regular City Council Meeting on May 11th will remain as scheduled. However, we will be adding any Zone Changes and Special Permits that are urgent to be heard as determined by the City Council President and Deputy Director of Planning, Phil Dromey.

Thank you,