GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — UPDATE 08/25/25 At last week’s Greenfield City Council meeting, resolutions in Support of Public Safety and Equal Justice – a response in support of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and in Support of An Act Establishing a Climate Change Superfund – legislation applying the “polluter pays” principle, both passed the Council vote. 

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08/16/2025 The Greenfield City Council is considering supporting three different resolutions this month pertaining to the Climate Change Superfund legislation, state-based Single Payer Healthcare, and another in support of bar advocates who are on striking as they seek fair pay.

The first resolution would support a bill titled an Act Establishing a Climate Change Superfund, and was submitted by Councilor Patricia Williams. If passed, the bill would put more climate responsibility on the shoulders of oil and gas companies by mandating they pay into the superfund, in proportion to their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions as determined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The resolution will go to the Community Relations Committee on August 18th and then onto full City Council on August 20th.

The City Council president, Lora Wondolowski, has been asked by the Human Rights Commission to be authorized to sign a letter of support of a resolution regarding Single Payer Healthcare which was passed by the Human Rights Commission in their July 14th meeting. Single Payer Healthcare in Massachusetts has been advocated for by an organization called MassCare and claims single payer healthcare would be significantly less expensive as it cuts out the for-profit insurance companies. This matter will also come before the Community Relations Committee at their August 18th meeting, however it will not appear before the full City Council until their September meeting.

And finally, the Emergency Resolution in Support of Public Safety and Equal Justice is going to come to full City Council meeting on August 20th after discussion at the Community Relations Committee meeting on the 18th due to its timeliness as the Massachusetts bar advocates representing indigent defendants have been on strike since May as they fight for better working conditions and higher pay. Massachusetts bar advocates are paid $65 an hour, less than half of neighboring states and over 3,000 defendants are currently without representation.