Council adopts quarterly tax billing, confirms HR chief

Select Board · Meeting of August 18, 2026

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee City Council confirmed Bianca Janicek as the city's new Chief Human Resource Officer and adopted a state law letting the city bill property taxes quarterly starting in fiscal year 2028. The HR vote was unanimous, 11-0, after councilors questioned Janicek, a former McGill Hose and Coupling Inc. HR manager, on union experience and ADA compliance.

On taxes, the council adopted Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59, Section 57C, with Council President Frank LaFlam abstaining; task force members said mailing four separate bills instead of two combined mailings would cost about $56,000 versus roughly $31,000, a $25,000 difference. Assessor Laura McCarthy said the average tax bill rose from $2,900 in 2015 to $4,500 now. Councilor Piniak-Costello questioned whether voters fully understood last year's referendum before approving the change.

In the full story:

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Source: the Select Board meeting of August 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.