Citing an effective turnaround strategy, Holyoke Receiver/Superintendent Anthony Soto recommended in a December 21 letter to the state Education Commissioner “that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education begin the transition to exit receivership in a careful and highly planned manner.” In his letter to Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley, Soto outlines the turnaround plan drawn … Continued
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) recently notified Holyoke officials that they will provide additional reimbursement for the new middle school construction project. The Owner’s Project Manager (Anser Advisory) has estimated the additional funding will be approximately $11.7 million, which would bring the MSBA’s total contribution to an estimated $57.6 million. This would reduce the … Continued
The following is a proposed supplemental budget for FY24 on its way to the City Council for approval (note: these figures are subject to change until final vote of the City Council). Proposed FY24 Supplemental Budget Consolidated Budget Workbook The updated figures are based on current revenue and expense projections to-date including revenue figures from … Continued
HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has released his public safety plan — “Ezekiel’s Plan / Operation Safe Streets” — named after the unborn child who died October 7 in a shooting incident on Maple and Sergeant Streets. “Holyoke is a compassionate city,” Garcia stated in the plan’s Executive Summary, “but that commitment to compassion … Continued
HOLYOKE — The City of Holyoke ARPA Small Business Code Compliance Program is opened and accepting applications. This program offers financial assistance to those businesses in need of code compliance updates to resume or continue operations. The City of Holyoke has allocated $800,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support small businesses with … Continued
Statement from Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia regarding Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) consent decree: A new federal court judgment reduces the Holyoke sewer construction costs from over $170 million in the original partial consent decree to $35 million through 2035. This was a true team effort that allowed the city to effectively make its case … Continued
Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has initiated a series of out-of-the-office, “Meet the Mayor” gatherings in different parts of the city. The first will be held at the Holyoke Senior Center at 291 Pine Street at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 8. Subsequent “Meet the Mayor” dates and locations are Friday, September 15, at 3 p.m. … Continued
HOLYOKE — Starting September 18, the Department of Public Works will distribute new, 96-gallon trash carts to city residents. Effective the week of September 25, bags of garbage left in front of homes will no longer be picked up. Garbage placed in cans, containers, or carts other than the city-issued models also will not be … Continued
Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, as cable television licensing authority, will hold a public cable license renewal hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Holyoke Media, 1 Court Plaza, Holyoke, as part of the City’s license renewal proceedings pertaining to Comcast. Holyoke’s Comcast cable license expires on March 11, 2024. To review existing … Continued
HOLYOKE — In an effort to get the City’s financial departments on the same page — literally — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia recently commissioned a Financial Policy Manual to address planning and day-to-day operations. The manual initiative aligns with frequently articulated Council wishes. The 99-page guidebook (click to review copy) created by the state’s Division … Continued
