21.209 A Resolution Thanking Health Department, 1st Responders, Support Staff and Volunteers for Efforts to Vaccinate CommunityIn the City Council, March 18, 2021
Upon the Recommendation of Councilor Marianne LaBarge, Councilor Gina-
Louise Sciarra, and Councilor Michael Quinlan
R-20.208 A Resolution Expressing Gratitude to Mayor Narkewicz, Northampton Health Director
Merridith O’Leary, the Northampton Health Department, Northampton Fire Rescue, Department of
Central Services, Information Technology Services and the Many Volunteers for Their Efforts to
Vaccinate Our Community
WHEREAS, Northampton Health Director Merridith O’Leary and Fire Chief Jon Davine
appeared before the City Council Committee on City Services on March 4, 2020 and
described efforts underway by Northampton’s Emergency Management Team at that
time to prepare to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Northampton, and
WHEREAS, Northampton had its first positive COVID-19 case on March 16, 2020 and
since that time more than 1150 Northampton residents have contracted COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, Northampton has lost 43 people to the pandemic, including our five
residents who died at the Holyoke Soldier’s Home, and
WHEREAS, Mayor David J. Narkewicz and Health Director Merridith O’Leary following
Commonwealth of Massachusetts guidelines, designed and advocated for a vaccination
site at our Senior Center which opened and began vaccinating our community on
January 11, 2021, and
WHEREAS, when vaccination clinic requirements were changed by the state in
February 2021, cutting supply to many municipal clinics, Mayor Narkewicz and Health
Director O’Leary quickly worked to meet the new requirements and with collaboration
with the Town of Amherst, Northampton was approved as a regional vaccination clinic,
ensuring that our clinic would stay in operation to provide vaccines for Northampton and
other Massachusetts residents, and
WHEREAS, vaccinating our community will provide immunity and therefore save lives
by preventing the further spread of COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, Health Director Merridith O’Leary, Public Health Nurse Kate Kelly, Public
Health Nurse Vivian Franklin, Inspector Amy Hutchins, Inspector Jasmine Ward, COVID
Compliance Agents Ben O’Connor and Kelly Constantine and 10-12 Health
Ambassadors have been working countless hours, seven days per week to operate an
effective and safe vaccination clinic in Northampton, and
WHEREAS, Volunteer Coordinator and Operations Manager Loren Davine and an
estimated 40 volunteers per day have worked in support of the vaccination clinic, and
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Jon Davine, Deputy EMS Chief John Garriepy, and an additional
seven or so members of Northampton Fire Rescue per day have worked at the
vaccination clinic, with assistance from the Easthampton Fire Department and Highland
Ambulance Service, including joining the volunteer corps on days off, and
WHEREAS, Northampton’s Central Services Department led by Director David
Pomerantz and with special recognition of City Maintenance Foreman Warren Jones,
has been vital to the success of the clinic by opening and closing the Senior Center, and
taking on many additional tasks for its operation, and
WHEREAS, the Northampton Information Technology Services Department led by
Director Antonio Pagán has provided support to the Health Department at all hours of
the day throughout the pandemic, and
WHEREAS, the Northampton Senior Center, led by Director Marie Westburg has been
of great support and cooperation in creating an effective and safe vaccination clinic at
the Senior Center, and
WHEREAS, the dedication, effort and outstanding public service of these many people
is contributing to the recovery and safety of our community.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Northampton City Council commends these
many people for their tremendous efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and in
special recognition of their work to operate a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination
clinic in Northampton.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Administrative Assistant to the City Council will
cause a copy of this resolution to be sent to the following Northampton departments:
Office of the Mayor, the Health Department, Northampton Fire Rescue, Central
Services, Information Technology Services, and the Senior Center with our collective
gratitude.