Holyoke council confirms appointments to restore quorum on planning board and fills commissions

The Holyoke City Council confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments on Jan. 6, addressing vacancies that had affected board quorums.

The council corrected the term date on a reappointment letter for Bernice Fuller and approved her reappointment to the Conservation Commission for a three-year term (corrected to 02/01/2029 on the agenda). Councilor Anderson Burgos moved to confirm the reappointment.

The council confirmed John Wellahan to the Board of Appeals to fill a vacancy; the appointment will run through July 1, 2027. Several councilors praised Wellahan’s long record of public service; Councilor Graney called his record “impeccable.”

To restore the Planning Board’s ability to hear applications after a quorum was lost, the council voted to remove Paul Burns Johnson’s appointment from committee and confirm him to a five-year term on the Planning Board, expiring June 30, 2030. Councilor Panitch said the move was intended to ensure the Planning Board can conduct site-plan reviews and avoid delays.

The council also discussed tabling a group of appointments (item 8) until the next meeting so new councilors could meet the nominees. The clerk read the appointments into the record and roll-call votes were taken where required.

Next steps: Confirmed appointees will be notified and administrative staff will post updated membership rosters for the relevant boards and commissions.