Finance Committee Meeting August 11, 2025

Published August 6, 2025, 2:56 p.m.

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Finance

Monday, August 11, 2025
6:30 PM

Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Patti Devine
Remote access via zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84515723251?pwd=8gjZWbAtlbaa6Db3bUK2E0Wv770JMa.1
Meeting ID: 845 1572 3251 Meeting Passcode: 983503 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Live Spanish interpretation will be available on local access channel 15 using the television’s SAP option, through the live stream on the city website, as well as on the Zoom feed by clicking the interpretation option and choosing Spanish.

Agenda

Item 1: 8-5-25 Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the REVISED “FY2023 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL, $197,850, LOCAL FUNDS $24,570 / IN KIND MATCH $15,000” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
Sec 2-509 – Grant Reporting
Any city department, of which has received grant funding by approval of the city council pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, or any other authorizing criteria, shall within a reasonable period of time, but no later than 60 days from the conclusion of said grant, generate a detailed report which outlines the planned outcomes with the documented actual results. Said report shall be submitted to the city clerk for addition to the city council’s next agenda.

Item 2: 8-5-25 From Fire Chief John Kadlewicz, Ambulance transport services feasibility study final report

Item 3: 8-5-25 DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, NINE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO AND 11/100 Dollars ($9,342.11) as follows:
FROM
12401-51103 CHIEF INSPECTOR OF WIRES                     $9,342.11
TOTAL $9,342.11
TO:
12402-53050 INSPECTIONS-ELECTRIC                 $9,342.11
TOTAL             $9,342.11

Item 4: 8-5-25 Devine- Ordered, that the amount of THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 Dollars ($3,250.00) be authorized from the BUILDING Department’s ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS (12402-53050) appropriation in fiscal year 2026 for services rendered in fiscal year 2025 which were unencumbered at the 2025 fiscal year end.

Item 5: 8-5-25 Devine-Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “MASSACHUSETTS SAFE & SUCCESSFUL YOUTH INITIATIVE (SSYI), $709,700, NO MATCH” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
Sec 2-509 – Grant Reporting
Any city department, of which has received grant funding by approval of the city council pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, or any other authorizing criteria, shall within a reasonable period of time, but no later than 60 days from the conclusion of said grant, generate a detailed report which outlines the planned outcomes with the documented actual results. Said report shall be submitted to the city clerk for addition to the city council’s next agenda.

Item 6: 8-5-25 Devine-Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY23 COPS OFFICE ANTI-HEROIN TASK FORCE PROGRAM, $10,000, NO MATCH” grant and authorizes the establishment of a Fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with the administration of said grant.
Sec 2-509 – Grant Reporting
Any city department, of which has received grant funding by approval of the city council pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, or any other authorizing criteria, shall within a reasonable period of time, but no later than 60 days from the conclusion of said grant, generate a detailed report which outlines the planned outcomes with the documented actual results. Said report shall be submitted to the city clerk for addition to the city council’s next agenda.

Item 7: 8-5-25 DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($250,000) as follows:
FROM
12101-51117 DISPATCH                  $  50,000
12101-51105 SERGEANTS                 50,000
12101-51107 PATROLMEN               100,000
12101-51103 CAPTAINS                      50,000
TOTAL            $250,000
TO:
12101-51300 HPD OVERTIME                     $250,000
TOTAL            $250,000

Item 8: 8-5-25 Magrath-Smith-Ordered, that the City Council approve for their consideration $15,000 from the CPA budget to be used for “small grants” as outlined in the attached letter from the Holyoke Community Preservation Committee.

Item 9: 8-5-25 From Community Preservation Act Committee-FY26 Operating Budget

Item 10: 8-5-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that the City Council consider for its approval the FY26 budget from the Holyoke Community Preservation Committee. Note, this is the last budget that will be funded under the previous 1.5% surcharge. The FY27 budget will decrease by approximately one-third.

Item 11: 6-3-25 DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year EIGHTY THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY SIX AND 00/100 Dollars ($83,656) as follows:
FROM
11511-51202 PT ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR             $83,656
TOTAL            $83,656
TO:
11511-51201 PT ASSISTANT SOLICITOR                           $83,656
TOTAL            $83,656
*Tabled 6-10-25, to be returned to the auditor

LAID ON THE TABLE

Item 12: 3-4-25 Jourdain, Vacon- Ordered, that the Treasurer, Auditor and Mayor please come to the Finance Committee to discuss why the Schedule A year end reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2024 has not yet been filed with the State.  Failure to make this end of year filing timely potentially jeopardizes our future state aid payments, cash flow and the certification of our free cash.  This filing was due on November 30 and is still unfiled.  It should be noted that it was filed many months late last year and appears to be late again.  Let’s discuss please how we can get this back on track.
*Tabled 6-25-25

Item 13: 3-19-24 MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI – Ordered that the City Council invite the Mayor, Police Department and relevant financial department heads to a future meeting of the Finance Committee to provide an update on the status of the off-duty police account and former vendor Off-Duty Blue.
*Tabled 4-3-24, 5-15-24, 8-12-24, 9-11-24

Item 14: 11-7-24 – Murphy-Romboletti- In an effort to provide clarity for all councilors and the public, ordered that the law department provide guidance or a memo that outlines the number of votes required for different items related to finance, ordinances, real estate and other relevant voting topics.
*Tabled 1-14-25

Item 15: 11-7-24 – Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered that the law department provide a legal opinion on the number of votes required to make transfers from a special stabilization fund.
*Tabled 1-14-25

ADMINISTRATIVELY LAID ON THE TABLE

Item 16: 11-7-24 – Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – Ordered that the City Solicitor, Auditor, and Treasurer develop and present a clear policy regarding the use of the remaining collected cannabis fees, outlining a process for billing hours to the cannabis fund for work done by city employees connected to cannabis-related activities, such as:
1. Inspections of cannabis businesses
2. Processing of licensing and excise payments for cannabis businesses
3. Cannabis-related educational programming in schools
4. Safe driving and DUI prevention campaigns related to cannabis use also develop and present guidance on the use of cannabis fees for capital improvements or equipment (including related labor costs to support those projects and purchases) that is consistent with offsetting the impact of cannabis-related activities.

Item 17: 11-7-24 – Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – Ordered that the City Solicitor develop and present a clear policy regarding acceptable fees that can be levied against future cannabis businesses related to concrete, specific impacts of cannabis businesses where they exist.

Item 18: 11-7-24 – Magrath-Smith, Jourdain – Ordered that the HR Director come into Finance to present which HR functions are being completed by which Departments, Commissions, or Boards with a goal of seeking out areas where we can become more consistent or streamline processes and positions in the future with the goal of enhancing a more centralized HR function in our city.

Item 19: 11-7-24 From Mayor Joshua Garcia- 2023 Signed MOU HPD RollKall

Item 20: 11-7-24 From Mayor Joshua Garcia- 2021 Signed MOU HPD RollKall

Item 21: 11-7-24 HPD – OffDutyBlue Services Agreement

Item 22: 12-3-24 BARTLEY -Ordered, the mayor be requested to act on the bond study from last year and put together a plan to demo the old police station.

Item 23: 4-1-25 From Health Benefit Trust meeting, meeting minutes from December 4, 2024, January 13, February 24, and March 10, 2025

Item 24: 5-20-25 Devine, J. Rivera- Ordered that the Commission on Disabilities be invited to the Finance Committee to discuss MGL Chapter 40 Section 22G which will officially set aside funds from Handicap Parking Violation fines into an Independent Budget.

Item 25: 6-3-25 Rivera, I- Order that the Mayor along with the director of the office of Community Development present on the current amount dollars currently accumulated via the Opioid class action law suit and how the city plans to allocate/spend the funding.

Item 26: 6-3-25 Rivera, I- Order that 5% of Cannabis revenue be set aside specifically for capital improvements within and around the communities that the industry is held in.

Item 27: 6-3-25 Letter from David Conti, FY2026 Water Rates and Maintenance Charge

Item 28: 6-3-25 Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that the City Engineer provide a list of approximate costs for often-requested services around traffic calming evaluations, temporary speed humps, permanent speed humps, flashing lights, and stop sign placement. Additionally, provide an updated list of such measures voted on by Council but awaiting available appropriation. Lastly, provide clarity on which budgetary line items such appropriations would be made out of in comparison to the financial cost of current pending work that has been approved by Council.

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos
The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.