MassachusettsHolyoke bill would name who acts when mayor cannot serve
When Holyoke’s mayor cannot perform the job, the city clerk would serve first as acting mayor, with the council president as backup if the clerk cannot serve.
What it does
When Holyoke’s mayor cannot perform the job, the city clerk would act as mayor first. The clerk’s powers would be limited, including rules for removals and appointments.
If the clerk cannot serve, the council president would act as mayor, under the same limits on powers that apply to the clerk.
If the mayor remains unable to perform the job for more than 60 days, the city council could declare the mayor’s office vacant.
Argument forNaming a first and backup stand-in could help Holyoke keep city business moving when the mayor cannot perform the job.
Argument againstLimits on the stand-in’s power to appoint people or act on city measures could delay some city decisions while the mayor is unable to serve.
More detail
When the mayor cannot perform the job, the city clerk would act as mayor first. This applies when sickness or another cause prevents the Holyoke mayor from performing the job. The mayor may name the clerk in writing; if the mayor does not, the clerk would act by default. The clerk could not remove someone from a city job unless the city council authorizes it in that case. The clerk could appoint people only if the mayor’s inability lasts 30 days, and then only with city council approval. The text also limits when the clerk may approve or reject city measures; its wording on that limit is unclear. The clerk would act for as long as the mayor cannot perform the job.
If the clerk cannot perform the stand-in duties, the city council president would act as mayor. This applies when the mayor cannot perform the job and the clerk cannot perform the stand-in duties. The mayor may name the council president; if the mayor does not, the president would act by default. The same limits on removals, appointments, and city measures would apply to the president. The president would act for as long as the mayor cannot perform the job and the clerk cannot perform the stand-in duties.
The city council could declare the mayor’s office vacant after the mayor’s inability to perform the job lasts more than 60 days. This applies when the mayor’s inability to perform the job continues for more than 60 days. The city council may declare a vacancy any time after that period; the text does not require it to do so. The council could declare a vacancy only after the inability has lasted more than 60 days.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 21Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Oct 15Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Oct 15EnactedBecame Law
- Oct 13Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Oct 13Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Sep 3Read, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Aug 31Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- May 14Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- May 14Rules suspended
- May 14Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Apr 15Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Mar 27Hearing scheduled for 04/08/2026 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in 222
- Mar 2Senate concurred
- Feb 26Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional GovernmentIntroduced
Government & Ethics