Marianne LaBarge City Councilor | Ward 6 | Northampton, MA

WARD 6

         CITY COUNCILOR

MARIANNE LABARGE
Text Box: WARD 6 IMPORTANT Updates for October 2024 Election November 5th This is a really big one!! Early voting started October 19th and continues until November 5th in the City Hall Hearing Room, Second Floor, 210 Main Street, Northampton. Visit the City of Northampton early voting page for days/times and to check the status of your vote. Voters can find reserved parking spots on Craft Ave. On Tuesday, November 5th poles are open from 7am-8pm. Ward 6A and 6B vote at Ryan Road School, 498 Ryan Road, Florence. Rail Trail Closure begins October 28th from King St to Bridge St The resurfacing project on the rail trail is about to begin! The City of Northampton has announced that reconstruction on the Northampton Bikeway segment of the Mass Central Rail Trail between Bridge Road and State Street will begin on October 28, 2024. Work is expected to last for at least 30 days. A detour for this segment of the trail will be in place for the duration of construction and the trail will be completely closed to all access while construction is underway.   Map of Trail Closure & Detours: here. Budget Listening Sessions: November 13th and 18th For the third year, the Council Finance Committee will hold two budget listening sessions ahead of Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 2025. This is your chance as Northampton residents to let City Councilors hear their priorities and concerns for spending on programs and services for the next fiscal year. These listening sessions are intended to allow all residents to speak to and be heard by the City Council. These listening sessions are separate from the budget meetings and hearings required by the City Charter during the formal budget submission process led by the Mayor. These listening sessions will be held in hybrid form, at City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton, and on Zoom: Wednesday, November 13th, at 6 pm Monday, November 18th, at 6 pm Agenda and access information will be posted on the City's website at least two business days in advance. Hope you will speak up, we want to hear your concerns! UPCOMING EVENTS Rag Shag Parade October 31st Florence’s annual Rag Shag Parade is the oldest continually running Rag Shag Parade in the country. The Florence Civic & Business Association are organizers of the Parade. Every Halloween, residents gather at 5:30PM at Trinity Park for a 6PM step-off. The march makes its way down Main Street and ends at the Florence Civic Center.  Don’t forget, new in 2024, you will find a haunted house inside the Florence Civic Center at the end of the parade route. All are welcome whether in costume or not. Veterans’ Day Breakfast November 9th The Veterans’ Day Breakfast will be held on Saturday, November 9th, at the Blue Bonnet Restaurant in Northampton, from 9-11AM. Veterans are free, spouses are $20.00. Get your tickets soon, they are going fast. For tickets call the VFW in Florence at 413-584-8006, the Elks 997 on Spring Street in Florence at (413)584-0297, or the Veteran’s Office in Northampton at 587-1299. Veterans’ Day Parade November 11th Our annual Veterans’ Day Parade is Monday, November 11th, stepping off at 11AM from VFW Post 8006 in Florence. The Parade marches down Main Street and ends at Trinity Row Park with a brief ceremony. Please come and support our Veterans! BRIEFS A round-up of the most significant issues, presentations, resolutions, orders and ordinances since late September Nonotuck & Maple Zoning Change Public Hearing There will be a public hearing on Thursday, October 24th, at 6:30 pm, with the Planning Board and our Legislative Matters Committee, in City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, and on Zoom. The agenda and access information will be posted Here Hotel Bridge Reprogramming Order At the October 1st meeting of City Council we discussed the condition of the Hotel Bridge. We also discussed a proposal to reprogram the funds that were set aside to reopen it as a pedestrian/bicycle bridge and to use those funds ($823,631) for general sidewalk repair instead. There were three bidding rounds, all were significantly over what the City had been prepared to spend (the low bid was $1.65 million). We have significant deferred maintenance on many of the 85 miles of sidewalks in the City. The Finance Committee discussed at length and made a neutral recommendation at its Wednesday, October 16th meeting, and the Council expects to vote at its full meeting on Thursday, October 17th. Embargo of U.S. Arms to Israel resolution Councilor Jeremy Dubs introduced a resolution on October 17th calling for an embargo on U.S. arms to Israel, and to support U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' Joint Resolutions of Disapproval in Congress. A vote is expected at our November 7th meeting. Tax classification hearing Nov. 7th Each year the City Council sets the relative tax rates of residential and commercial/industrial properties. The Principal Assessor will present a recommendation to us at a public hearing on Thursday, November 7th, at 6:30 pm, during our regular Council meeting. Thank you for reading!