Finance Committee Meeting November 9, 2020

Holyoke Massachusetts

 Notice of Committee Meeting

There will be a regular meeting of the Ordinance Committee

Meeting will take place remotely on zoom on Monday 11/9/20 at 6:30pm

*** Meeting will take place remotely and can be accessed via www.zoom.us Meeting ID:878 3715 9197 Meeting Password: 710740 or by call in at 1 (929)205-6099 with same Meeting ID and Password.  ***

Item 1: Collective Bargaining Agreement between by and between the Board of Public Works of the City of Holyoke MA and the UPSEU Local 424 Holyoke Public Works Supervisors

Item 2: McGiverin 11/4/20: Financial Transfer of $2,907.00 FROM Refuse/Recycling  Coordinator TO: Forester ($930.00) Forester Overtime ($187.00) Forestry Longevity ($100) Gen. Construction Inspector ($449.00)Gen. Const. Inspector Vaca Buyback ($63) Supt. Of Outdoor Works ($863.00) DPW Admin Overtime ($65.00) DPW Admin. Longevity ($100.00) DPW Admin Vaca Buyback ($50.00) TOTAL: $2,907.00

Item 3: McGiverin 11/4/20: Financial Transfer Request of $2,689.00 as follows FROM: Refuse/Recycling Coordinator ($2,689.00) TO: Building Maint. Supervisor ($839.00) Building Overtime ($99.00) Building Longevity ($100.00) Highway Foreman ($521.00) Highway Overtime ($96.00) Highway Snow Overtime ($176.00) Highway Longevity ($100) Auto Foreman ($622.00) Auto Overtime ($36.00) Auto Longevity ($100) TOTAL: $2,689

Item 4: McGiverin 11/5/20: Financial Transfer Request of $9,650 FROM: Refuse/Recycling Coordinator ($1,100) Shut Off Program ($8,550.00) TO: Refuse Foreman ($776.00) Refuse Overtime ($124.00) Refuse Longevity ($200.00) WW Principal Clerk/Stenographer ($5,576.00) WW Overtime ($2,874.00) WW Longevity ($100) TOTAL: $9,650

Item 5: McGiverin 11/4/20: Ordered that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “DEPT. OF JUSTICE COMPREHENSIVE OPIOID, STIMULANT, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SITE-BASED PROGRAM” grant and authorized the establishment of a fund or other method appropriate for the accounting of the receipts and expenditures of all resources associated with said grant.

Item 6: McGiverin 11/4/20: Financial Transfer of $3,656.00 FROM: Professional Acct./Audit ($3,656.00) TO: Vacation Buyback TOTAL: $3,656.00

Item 7: Murphy 11/4/20: Ordered that the City Council request the Mayor, the Blighted Property Committee, and the HRA, move forward on the demolition of the remaining parts of the Armory Building. With a report that just to shore up the building, the expense would be approximately $625,000 and the potential cost of demolition estimated at between $100,000 and $150,000, it makes more sense to demolish the building and potentially seek construction of single or two family homes which could compliment the adjacent properties on Pine St.

Item 8: Murphy /Sullivan 2/4/20: Ordered that the finance committee meet with the mayor, treasurer, and the auditor to discuss bonding for the demolition
of the following buildings recommended by the problem
building group.  In addition, a portion of the bond
should be used to purchase a used excavator estimated
at $150,000, which could reduce city expenses for
demolition, drainage improvements, utility replacement,
and road work.
394 High, estimated cost $244,800

146 Brown, ” $161,400
16 Commercial, ” $250,000

345 Dwight, ” $400,000
115 Newton, ” $125,000

281 Main, ” $163,800
246 Lyman, ” $40,000
84
Newton, ” $100,000
106 Pine, ” $125,000
588 High,
” $224,000
115 Cabot, ” $250,000
Estimated cost
of demolition $2,084,000 which could be reduced significantly
with purchase of excavator.

Item 9: Murphy 6/16/20: Ordered that the Finance Committee meet with the Mayor or his designee to provide a summary of all of the community host agreements currently in place with various marijuana businesses. Such summary should list each company and the date of the signed contract, as well as a report of any payments made to the City thus far. In addition please also provide a listing of the companies with which the City is expecting to finalize an agreement within the next six months.

Item 10: Murphy 8/4/20: Ordered that the council vote to have the city take over ownership of South Water Street from the state. Once the transfer is completed, that the city pave at least the roadway connecting Main Street via South Water Street to the properties of Hazen Paper and Sunoco Paper. Estimated cost of repaving is $88,000, and these two business currently pay about $130,000 in taxes, as well as significant water and sewer payments. Each also employs a significant number of well paid employees. In addition, Sunoco has stepped up to accept 10 paper recycling products, reducing the city’s recycling expense by around $50,000

Item 11: Sullivan 10/20/20: Ordered that the City Council approve funding of $18,000 in CPA Funding for a small grant program. This would allow for up to 6 or more small grants, none to exceed $3,000

Item 12: Bartley 10/20/20: Ordered that the Law Dept. give the City Council a legal opinion. Pas to whether the Mayor has the unilateral authority to waive fees and (b) to select the fees he chooses to waive.

Item 13: Communication from the Law Dept. Addressing Order filed by Councilor Bartley on 10/20/20 regarding the Mayor’s ability to waive fees.

Administrative Assistant: Ryan M. Allen
The listing of matters are those reasonable 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. Also one or two items may require the committee
to enter into executive session at this meeting.