HOLYOKE – In a nearly five-hour meeting on Sept. 15, the city council rejected an order concerning a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment and sent to committee a proposed ordinance that would establish a recall procedure for elected officials.

An additional order to request the results of the UMass investigation into Mayor Alex Morse was passed unanimously.

An order filed by Councilor Libby Hernandez asking for apologies from some members of the council as well as censure concerning alleged remarks about Mayor Alex Morse was rejected.  

Opening the meeting were numerous Holyoke residents who spoke against the “partisanship” of some of the city council concerning the fall-out from the reports that Morse had dated students at the University of Massachusetts

Councilor Michael Sullivan offered an order to establish a means to recall elected officials, while Councilor Linda Vacon sought approval of an order to “adopt a resolution on zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment and abuse of power.”

The council rejected Vacon’s motion and her efforts to send it to committee.

Vacon said the idea is nothing new and was discussed earlier in 2017 when the term of office for the mayor was increased to four years.

Sullivan said his recall proposal “has absolutely zero effect” on the mayor. He noted such an ordinance would have to be ultimately approved by the mayor and then Legislature and would apply to officials in the future.

Councilor David Bartley wanted to see the recall ordinance sent to committee and invite the mayor for a discussion.

Sullivan said he believes that Morse vetoed the previous vote because he knew he was going to run for Congress. Sullivan added such a campaign is “is not a hobby, not a part-time job” and charged that Morse has been absent from the city.

“It’s been horrendous what has happened in the last 18 months,” Sullivan said,

Vacon wrote in her proposed ordinance, “Whereas, the city of Holyoke and the Holyoke City Council has a zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment and abuse of power; Whereas, city councilors and city employees; including, the mayor, individually agree to follow the sexual harassment policy of the city of Holyoke and the state laws of Massachusetts; Whereas, the mayor has acknowledged publicly that he had sexual relations with students while he was a member of the faculty at UMass Amherst. In response to the serious allegations of students and his response, Mayor Morse has been removed from the UMass employee roster and will not be invited back to work as a lecturer; moreover, UMass has retained outside counsel to do an independent investigation and thorough examination of the facts surrounding these serious allegations; Whereas, the mayor of Holyoke, is the top elected official of the city, is in his elected capacity as mayor in all settings at all times and represents the city in all that he or she does. His actions, given that his admitted behavior and apparent abuse of power is alleged to have occurred with students of a school at which he was teaching, the mayor, who also serves as chairman of the Holyoke School Committee, has brought into question his effectiveness to additionally serve in that role and be a leader of our school system. Now therefore be it resolved that, we, the city council, seek the results of the outside independent investigation being conducted by UMass to determine if further investigation is warranted to determine if the mayor acted in violation of the city’s zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and abuse of power towards students, employees, contractors or such related parties of the city of Holyoke. In the event that further investigation is found to be warranted, the mayor and city council shall fully cooperate in any investigation.”

Vacon said the order adds to existing legislation and should be sent to committee and not acted upon during the meeting. She added the results of the formal investigation should be considered.

Councilor James Leahy said, “Policy is always developed without a person in mind.”

Councilor Rebecca Lisi said she was “hugely uncomfortable with the accusations that are being made in the order.” She added the order is not a governance issue but “a further attempt to smear the mayor.”

Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos criticized his fellow councilor for what he termed an “attack” on the mayor.

In reaction to the two orders, Councilor Libby Hernandez submitted the following order, “The city council must acknowledge and disavow the embarrassing and inflammatory public statement made by Councilor Michael Sullivan, and other councilors such as David Bartley, Linda Vacon and Howard Greaney who signed on, regarding our Still Honorable Mayor Alex Morse and the fabricated allegations of sexual misconduct against him: a) that Councilor Sullivan be censured for his inappropriate public remarks, which were an abuse of his position and which has caused an embarrassment to the city of Holyoke and this body, b)that councilor Sullivan issue an apology for his inappropriate public remarks, c)that Councilors Sullivan, Vacon, Bartley and Greaney retract their endorsement of a petition to initiate an investigation, void of any factual basis, of Mayor Morse’s personal life.”

Vacon said the order was a violation of the council’s rules concerning attacks on a councilor.             

“It’s ridiculous. It’s censorship. It’s a stifling of freedom of speech,” she added.

Vacon called for a leave to withdraw.

Greaney asserted Hernandez falsely accused him and Sullivan said, “This is a complete crock.” Bartley called the accusations about him “a blatant lie.”

Hernandez said she would not retract the order or what it neither said nor would apologize to any member of the council. Instead she called for an apology from Sullivan for “his abuse.”

Councilor Joseph McGiverin said asking to take a vote about a difference of opinion on the council is wrong.

City Council Todd McGee said this discussion was a “learning moment.” He noted as council president he does not have censuring power.

In other action the council approved a special permit for Budda Brothers LLC for a marijuana manufacturing establishment at 602-606 Main St., as well as the special permit for Exotica Farms at 5 Appleton St. also for a marijuana manufacturing establishment.

Lisi spoke about both businesses and how including marijuana manufacturing establishments would be of benefit to the growth of the cannabis industry in the city.

The permits required both businesses retain a minimum 30 percent Holyoke residents for of non-security jobs as well as hiring preference be given to security personnel that are retired Holyoke police or are a retired member of another police department who now lives in the city of Holyoke.