AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 438 of the acts of 1896, as most recently amended by chapter 104 of the acts of 2026, is hereby further amended by striking out section 27 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 27. Whenever by reason of sickness or other cause the mayor shall be unable to perform the duties of the office, the mayor may designate, by writing filed in the office of the city clerk, the city clerk to act as mayor, or in case of the failure of the mayor to make such designation, said city clerk shall act as mayor for the duration of the mayor's absence due to said inability to perform the duties of the office. The city clerk shall, during the continuance of such inability to perform the duties of the office, have all the rights and powers of the mayor, except that the city clerk shall not, when so acting, have the power of removal, unless otherwise authorized by vote of the city council, nor any power of appointment, unless such inability to perform by the mayor has continued for a period of 30 days, and then, subject to the approval of the city council, nor power to approve or disapprove any ordinance, order, resolution or vote until not earlier than 24 hours of the time when it would take effect, without the approval of the mayor. In the event that the city clerk shall be unable to perform the above duties, the mayor may designate the city council president to act as mayor and perform said duties, subject to the aforementioned restrictions, or in the case of the failure of the mayor to make such designation, said city council president shall act as mayor for the duration of the mayor's absence due to said inability to perform the duties of the office, subject to the aforementioned restrictions. In the case of such inability to perform by the mayor continuing for a period exceeding 60 days, the city council may, at any time after the expiration of that period, declare a vacancy to exist in the office of mayor.
SECTION 2. So much of chapter 438 of the acts of 1896 and chapter 327 of the acts of 1936 and acts in amendment thereof and addition thereto, as is inconsistent with this act, is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, October 21, 2026.