Finance Committee Meeting January 14, 2026
Published January 6, 2026, 1:26 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
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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/87589435664?pwd=NXBzrFfGLgCsbVUIwklAVEBCQXV5TT.1
Meeting ID: 875 8943 5664 Meeting Passcode: 946014 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: Minutes of December 8, 2025 meeting.
Item 2: 12-16-25 Devine: ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Six Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve ($636,812) Dollars, which is in addition to the $4,498,497 previously appropriated, for the purpose of paying costs of a replacement of the Lt. Elmer J. McMahon Elementary School Roof, located at 75 Kane Rd, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing EPDM roof and installing 35,000 SF of PVC membrane during the summer of 2026, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.
To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.
FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.
FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
Item 3: 12-16-25 Devine- ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty Three Thousand Four Hundred Eighteen Dollars and No Cents ($5,753,418) Dollars for the purpose of paying costs of partial roof replacement and code-required upgrades at the Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School, located at 200 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing PVC roof and installing 43,000 SF of PVC membrane, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.
To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.
FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.
FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
Item 4: 12-16-25 DEVINE – ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Six Million Seven Hundred Thirty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred Sixty Two Dollars and No Cents ($6,739,962) Dollars for the purpose of paying costs of partial roof replacement and code-required upgrades at the Lt. Clayre Sullivan Middle School, located at 400 Jarvis Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing PVC roof and installing 50,000 SF of PVC membrane, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.
To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.
FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.
FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
Item 5: 12-16-25 Devine-Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY2026 STATE 911 DEPARTMENT TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM, $12,967.16 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: 12-16-25 Devine-Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY2026 STATE 911 DEPARTMENT SUPPORT & INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM, $306,443.00 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: 1-6-26 DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($8,900.00) as follows:
FROM
12101-51105 PAY-POLICE SERGEANT $8,900.00
TOTAL $8,900.00
TO:
12101-51450 PAY-SETTLEMENT/SIGN BONUS $8,900.00
TOTAL $8,900.00
Item 8: 1-6-26 Devine- ORDERED that Chapter 32, section 90, a,c,d of the pension law (regarding half-pay) be sent to the Finance Committee for discussion with the Retirement Board.
LAID ON THE TABLE
ADMINISTRATIVELY LAID ON THE TABLE
Item 9: 12-3-24 BARTLEY, VACON – 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 10: 5-6-25 Jourdain, Vacon – That the Mayor, City Clerk and Auditor please come to the Finance Committee to discuss the city’s compliance with MGL Ch. 41 Section 17 and Holyoke City Charter Section 52. MGL Ch. 41 Section 17 requires the following: “Every officer of a city who makes or executes a contract on behalf of the city shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city clerk and the city auditor within one week after its execution; and the city clerk shall keep such contract or copy on file, open to public inspection during business hours. Such contracts or copies shall be kept in a book by themselves or in several books, arranged according to the subject of the contract, or in other convenient form, and an index to the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form. All allowances under and additions to such contracts, or copies thereof, shall be filed with the city clerk and the city auditor, together with a sworn statement of the officer making such allowances or additions that the same are correct and in accordance with the contract. A city clerk or other city officer failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.”
Moreover, Holyoke City Charter Section 52 requires, “All contracts made by any department of the city shall, when the amount involved is five hundred dollars or more, be in writing, and no such contract shall be deemed to have been made or executed until the approval of the mayor is affixed thereto. All such contracts shall be accompanied by a bond, with sureties satisfactory to the board or committee having the matter in charge, or by a deposit of money or other security for the faithful performance of such contracts; and such bonds or other security shall be deposited with the city auditor until the contract has been carried out in all respects; and no such contract shall be altered except by a written agreement of the contractor, the sureties on his or their bond, and the officer making the contract, with the approval of the mayor affixed thereto.”
Can the City Clerk’s office create an on-line database in pdf format for the public inspection of all city contracts exceeding $500 in value? City Auditor please advise if the holders of all said contracts are providing a bond and if it is only being released in accordance with the Charter?
Item 11: 6-3-25 Letter from David Conti, FY2026 Water Rates and Maintenance Charge
Item 12: 10-21-25 Vacon, Jourdain- ORDER: request our outside auditor provide an update on the status of the 2023 & 2024 audits, in person or by written update as soon as possible.
Item 13: 11-6-25 From Jack Dowd, Down Insurance, Overview of prevent auto claim trends, COH analysis of vehicles, Police 3 year trend, DPW 3 year trend, COH claim trends
Item 14: 11-6-25 Jourdain, Vacon- Ordered, Treasurer please appear before the finance committee to explain how he is paying the city bills with no payments from the state & no cash transfer requests submitted to the city council. That our Auditor share any information provided to her office re: any cash transfers to pay city payroll & bills.
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.