GREENFIELD — While awaiting clarification from an attorney as to whether a restricted or revolving fund can be created to hold money collected by the Health Department as part of a proposed rental registry, City Council tabled a vote on the matter until next month.
In addition to discussing the proposed rental registry, members also voted on Wednesday to revise the city code to make it easier for residents to hold tag sales, approved an ordinance stating the city will prioritize zero-emission vehicles when making purchases and approved new memorandums of understanding with several of the city’s unions.
Rental registry
Members of the public who have shared their thoughts online and during public meetings about City Council Vice President John Garrett’s proposal to require landlords to register all of their rental units will have more opportunities to do so, as the council voted unanimously to table the matter until next month.
The ordinance states that all owners of dwelling units (not counting exempt units, such as those not currently being rented and those operated by the Greenfield Housing Authority) must apply for a rental registry permit with the Health Department. Permits must be renewed annually for a cost of $30 per unit and the property owner must submit their contact information, and if they have a property manager, their contact information as well, along with details from a self-inspection conducted by the property owner.
The ordinance also outlines how tenants can file complaints and report violations, and how landlords can pay fines, fees and file appeals.
The ordinance had received unanimous support from the Appointments and Ordinances Committee this week. However, Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub, who chairs the committee, explained that the committee wanted more information and clarification from legal counsel as to how the $30 registration fee, per unit, will be collected.
“I asked for the attorney to give an opinion to make sure it would be possible to create that restricted fund and the attorney responded saying they didn’t have enough time to give a thorough response, but it is legally tricky,” she said. “We know it’s possible. … I personally am advocating for this to go back to the committee so when we vote on it as a full council, it includes that fund so we can be sure that the funds are dedicated to this purpose.”
Garrett said he has been working on the ordinance for more than a year, and did not mind pushing the vote back another month to ensure the final version answers all questions and concerns.
Tag sales
With a unanimous vote of support from the council, Greenfield residents can now hold tag sales for up to two days in a row or three weekends per year without needing approval from the city. Holding a tag sale longer than this will require city permission, however.
Previously, Chapter 394 of the city code stated that “no person shall conduct a tag sale until registering with the city of Greenfield.” There were no permit fees required to host a tag sale; however, people were required to call City Hall and notify the city of where and when the sale would take place.
Golub said the change came as a result of a review of the city’s code that took place last year. Since then, the Appointments and Ordinances Committee has been working to update codes, and she hopes this one will make it easier for people to have a tag sale.
“This was the key piece, just making sure that people are able to have some tag sales without having to go to the Board of License Commissioners,” Golub said.
Golub added that the committee came up with the restriction of no more than two consecutive days or three weekends per year, as tag sales more frequent than that could be considered “a standing business.”
Union contracts
The council voted unanimously to approve new memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with several of the city staff unions. The contracts, all of which Precinct 6 Councilor Patricia Williams said have already been ratified by the unions, will expire in 2029.
The agreement with the Library Employees United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), and its affiliate, Local 274 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment in fiscal year 2027 and a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment in FY28 and FY29. It also includes a 25-cent increase to shift differentials, which are hours worked past 5 p.m. or on the sixth and seventh day of a week; has a $1,000 stipend for an employee to provide notary services at the library; and outlines that at least four staffers must be on shift during open hours Monday through Friday.
The MOU with the Department of Public Works and its affiliate, Local 424 Unit MADIV 116 of United Public Service Employees Union offers a 3% cost-of-living adjustment in FY28 and FY29; a $5 increase to standby pay and a $10 increase to holiday standby pay; a $75 increase that bring the employees’ annual boot allowance to $300; a $50 increase that brings the annual tool allowance to $500; the creation of a new $600 general outfitting allowance for clothing, boots or tools; and various changes to job descriptions.
The MOU with Central Maintenance includes a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for FY27 and FY28, and a 2.75% adjustment for FY29. It also states that hours worked on Christmas and Thanksgiving will be paid at double time, in addition to holiday pay, and the outfitting allowance will be increased by $175 per employee annually.
Zero-emission vehicles
The city also took a step toward meeting the requirements to earn the state Climate Leader Community designation by adopting a zero-emission-first vehicle policy.
City Council President Lora Wondolowski said Greenfield was one of the first municipalities to become a Green Community in 2010, and has been working to achieve the designation of Climate Leader Community, which comes with up to $1 million in grant opportunities, since the state introduced it.
“When we became a Green Community, we adopted vehicle standards that were putting preference to purchasing vehicles that were [higher] miles per gallon,” Wondolowski said, noting that the updated policy now puts preference on electric vehicles.
The approved zero-emission-first policy directs the city to prioritize electric vehicles for replacements as its fleet ages, and will apply to all passenger vehicles, utility vehicles and pickup trucks. If it is determined that a zero-emission vehicle does not meet the city’s operational needs, the city must seek a fuel-efficient vehicle instead. Off-road vehicles, motorcycles and heavy-duty vehicles will be exempt.
