Staff Report
(Greenfield, MA) For the first time in recent history or possibly ever, the Greenfield City Council in a long and not unanimous decision adjourned its regular meeting in the 11 o’clock hour last night and voted to continue and resume today at 6:30 p.m. The agenda will continue where it left off, which was the 2023 budget. The other agenda items that were not heard last night will come up as it follows the original agenda. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the Jon Zim Center and via webex.
During the meeting on Wednesday evening, Greenfield residents urged the city not to appeal a jury’s finding that the city’s police department had racially discriminated against a former police officer, and instead use those legal resources to conduct an independent investigation into the culture of racism, sexism and impunity some officers exhibit. Greenfield resident David Cohen said the latest verdict follows a longstanding pattern of misbehavior by the Greenfield police department. Greenfield resident Marianna Richie called on city councilors to cut the police budget by $1 million dollars.