NORTHAMPTON — In the wake of a recent settlement between the city and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield over the removal of five stained-glass windows at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, the mayor this week said she’s eagerly anticipating plans for the long-vacant downtown church property.

“I am thrilled that we’ve reached an agreement that will breathe new life into the former St. Mary’s church, a cornerstone at the entrance to our city,” Sciarra said in a statement. “I eagerly anticipate seeing the soon-to-be new owners’ plans for this site and am confident their vision will enhance our city’s landscape.”

The diocese had sued the city over a stop-work order that prevented the removal of the windows near the altar of St. Mary’s, a requisite before the church could complete a purchase-and-sale agreement of the property to Sunwood Builders of Amherst. After an evidentiary hearing at the U.S. District Court in Springfield, the two sides settled, with the city agreed to rescind the stop-work order and the church saying it would apply for the proper permits.

In her statement, Sciarra said that the new owners would have to go through the same zoning, planning and permitting process as any other property in Northampton.

“We’re committed to a transparent process as this project moves forward,” Sciarra said. “As mayor, I’m excited about this project’s potential for economic development and preserving our city’s historic character.”

Mayor testifieson Beacon Hill

In testimony before the State House Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government last week, Mayor Sciarra underscored the importance of hybrid and remote meetings during discussion of an act introduced by Gov. Maura Healey that would give more powers to municipalities across the state.

The Municipal Empowerment Act would allow municipalities like Northampton to expand local meals and lodging taxes, and the creation of regional boards of assessors. It would also extend the option for municipalities to continue to hold remote and hybrid meetings until March of 2025.

In testimony to the committee, which features Sen. Jake Oliveira as co-chair and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa as co-vice-chair, Sciarra said the city had made investments totaling around $210,000 to equip rooms for hybrid meetings, and that its implementation had been beneficial for both city staff and the general public.

“Not only is it incredibly useful to be able to use formats that work best for each meeting and its volunteer members, but it is also crucial to recognize that public participation and engagement have significantly increased and benefited from flexible formats,” Sciarra said.

Sciarra noted that the hearing itself was an example of the need for hybrid meetings, as Sciarra attended the meeting remotely, allowing her to participate while located far from Beacon Hill.

“Codifying remote public body meetings would enable us to continue to invest time, money, and resources to ensure broader public access to our meetings and a more inclusive and accessible government,” she said.

Movement Voter Project
to ‘Sing Out the Vote’

The Movement Voter Project, a national progressive organization based in Northampton, will host a fund-raiser concert at the Unitarian Society building at 220 Main St. on Sunday to provide support for community organizations across the country.

The concert, titled “Sing Out the Vote,” will feature musical performances by New England singer-songwriter Annie Patterson and the Fiery Hope Chorus, known for performances supporting the end of apartheid in South Africa.

The funds raised through the concert are meant to go toward activist organizations in swing states, where election results could go either way and where political spending by both parties is likely to be highest in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. The project currently lists seven states as “battlegrounds” in the upcoming election: Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.

The MVP was founded in 2016, and has since raised millions of dollars from thousands of donors to different organizations.

The concert begins at 3 p.m., and tickets can be purchased on the organization’s website.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.