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Apr 19, 2021 A judge has ruled that Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno must appoint a police commission to oversee the city police force.
Hampden Superior Court Judge Francis Flannery said on Friday that the Springfield City Council s 2018 ordinance creating a new commission to replace the one that was shut down in 2005 was quote, valid and enforceable .
Sarno has supported keeping a single police commissioner in charge and plans to appeal the judge s ruling.
Hampden Superior Court Judge orders Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to appoint civilian police commission
Updated 6:09 PM;
SPRINGFIELD A Hampden Superior Court judge ruled Friday that Mayor Domenic J. Sarno must appoint a five-member commission to oversee the Police Department, as sought by the City Council for years.
Judge Francis E. Flannery, in a 20-page ruling, said that the council’s 2018 ordinance creating the commission “is valid and enforceable.”
Flannery further stated that Sarno “must without further delay and in good faith endeavor to identify and appoint qualified individuals to serve on the Board of Police Commissioners.”
Sarno said Friday that he intends to appeal.
Hampden Superior Court Judge John Ferrara recuses himself over allegations of ‘trash talk’ about suspended Springfield Police Officer Gregg Bigda
Updated Apr 05, 2021;
Posted Apr 05, 2021
Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara, pictured in 2017, agreed to recuse himself from a civil case over allegations of decades-old “trash talk.” (Don Treeger / The Republican file photo)Staff-Shot
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SPRINGFIELD Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara agreed to recuse himself from a civil case over allegations of decades-old “trash talk,” though the says he has no memory of the comments.
Ferrara was presiding over the case of Steven Vigneault, a former Springfield police detective who said he was forced out of the job and is suing the city and his former colleagues.
Regional equity, tight timeline re-emerge as prime concerns over $400 million bond bill for new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
Updated Apr 05, 3:23 PM;
Posted Apr 05, 2:00 PM
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A joint legislative committee on capital expenditures is considering the $400 million bond bill to pay for the construction of a new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, slated for completion in 2026.
Monday’s hearing before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets is the second hurdle to push the bill through ahead of a critical deadline to secure up to $260 million in federal dollars for the project.
The bill cleared the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight last month, but needs to emerge favorably from this committee and the Ways and Means Committee before debate in the full House and Senate. The bill has 10 days pass before April 15, to satisfy the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ deadline to secure a 65% reimbursement.