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AGENDA

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

1. June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes – Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025

2. December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes – Reviewed and withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025

3. From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos- meeting minutes from May 19, 2026

 

LAID ON THE TABLE

4. Proposed FY2027 City Budget

5. From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos – October 7, 2025 meeting minutes

6. Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This appointment would legally establish the Treasurer position & for practical purposes combines the positions, while waiting for further charter changes that will be sent to the state legislature in a home rule petition. Transition changes can happen in coordination with other ordinance changes.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

7. From Mayor Joshua Garcia-letter reappointing Mr. Jeremy Smith of 485 Hillsdie Ave to the Library Board of Directors. Mr. Smith will serve a three-year term expiring February 2029.

8. City Council NOD – Cypress Acquisitions, alteration of nonconforming structure at 2201 Northampton Street

9. City Council NOD – Wayne Versace, construction of nonconforming structure at 5 Brightwood Avenue

 

PETITIONS

 

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

10. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order That the City Council receive and adopt the recommendation from the Board of Public Works for a sewer rate of $9.11
Recommended that the order, with a recommended rate of $8.76, be adopted.

11. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the City Council adjust the sewer rate according to operational costs and revenue/deficit projections.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

12. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that St. Jerome from Dwight to Sargeant be reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. Speeding has been an issue and the limit being higher than the citywide limit seems to give drivers the sense they can go much faster.
Recommended that the 30 mph sign be replaced by a thickly settled 25 mph sign.

13. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that speed limit on Cypress & Sequoia be lowered to 15 or 20mph due to safety concerns similar to Bemis. They are being used as a cut through.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

14. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the city engineer provide draft language for a formal program to prioritize and schedule placement of speed humps and recommend other traffic calming/safety interventions based on data collected from speed data collection via tubes or radar. That additional traffic speed data collection units be purchased as needed for the program.
Establish a method for seeking traffic safety/calming recommendations so that citizens can request measures for improvements to neighborhood traffic issues before completing a petition for a speed hump or raised crosswalk.
Please include police department input for the enforcement component.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

15. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that a list of all received speed hump petitions that have not been acted upon be drafted, along with a plan for Engineering to complete in-house conducting those traffic studies and submit recommendations to Council. Please include in the report the last time each road was paved, its current pavement rating, and if it is likely to be paved in the next 1, 5, or 10 years.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

16. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order DPW post ‘no left turn’ and ‘no U-turn’ signs at the traffic light near Brightside Ave and the jug handle. Motorists are consistently making illegal (and very dangerous) turns.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

17. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that DPW advises if the street sign and one way sign on Pearl at Lincoln Street should be moved back to the East side of the corner. It had been there for years and was moved to the opposite corner. If you are traveling on Lincoln towards Stop and Shop, the street sign and one way sign are not visible, as it is blocked by a beautiful, huge tree. Google street view of this corner shows the original placement of the sign (2015) vs the current placement. If it is moved back to the original location, it will be visible from both directions of travel on Lincoln.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

18. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the No Parking sign outside of 127 Pearl Street be removed. 27 Pearl Street used to be a group home run by Western MA Training Consortium and housed folks who were wheelchair bound. They would be picked up by a van in the morning and brought home in the afternoon. It is no longer needed and parking on the one way side of Pearl is limited, especially in the winter.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

19. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order at Pearl and Allyn that a WRONG WAY sign can be added on the existing post upon the advice of DPW/Engineering. One would think cars parked facing the same way on both sides would be a clear indicator of a one way street, but that is not always the case.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

20. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order Add STOP condition on Woodland St, westerly at Westfield Road to list of STOP streets in Holyoke code of Ordinances Sec 86-325. — Schedule IV: Stop streets.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

21. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order To alleviate confusion, the city of Holyoke hereby adopts an ordinance to post prominent signage onto street signs if the street is an unaccepted way. In Springfield (and other municipalities), such signs are affixed to street signs and labled “private ways.” This may help to better educate and inform the public.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

22. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that Council separate the positions of Parks Superintendent and City Forester and make necessary changes in Ordinance in order to do so. Our current combined position is not supported by Ordinance.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

23. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the handicap sign in front of 332 Sargeant Street be removed as the resident no longer lives there.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

24. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that we amend our ordinances to ban the use and local sale of anticoagulant rodenticides, specifically Second-Generation ARs (SGARs).
Recommended that the order be given a leave to withdraw.

25. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the Holyoke Zoning Ordinance be amended to add a definition of “Data Center” as a use, and to clarify that this use is not allowable in any zoning district in the city.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

26. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN AND 00/100 Dollars ($21,667.00)as follows:
FROM
14211-51106 PAY-SUPT. OUTDOOR WORKS $21,667.00
TOTAL $21,667.00
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING $13,333.50
14102-53100 OTHER CONTRACT SERVICES 8,333.50
TOTAL $21,667.00
Recommended that the order be adopted.

27. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN AND 00/100 Dollars ($21,667.00)as follows:
FROM
12201-51105 PAY-FIREFIGHTERS $21,667.00
TOTAL $21,667.00
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING $13,333.50
14102-53100 OTHER CONTRACT SERVICES 8,333.50
TOTAL $21,667.00
Recommended that the order be adopted.

28. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN AND 00/100 Dollars ($21,667.00)as follows:
FROM
12101-51107 PAY-PATROL OFFICERS $21,667.00
TOTAL $21,667.00
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING $13,333.50
14102-53100 OTHER CONTRACT SERVICES 8,333.50
TOTAL $21,667.00
Recommended that the order be adopted.

29. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY26 SAFE AND SENIOR SAFE, $13,300.00, 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.
Recommended that the order be adopted.

30. The Committee on Finance to whom was referred an order that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, NINE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY AND 77/100 Dollars ($9,730.77)as follows:
FROM
11351-51103 PAY-PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT $9,730.77
TOTAL $9,730.77
TO:
11321-51101 PAY-COMPTROLLER $9,730.77
TOTAL $9,730.77
Recommended that the order be adopted.

31. The Committee on Development and Governmental Relations to whom was referred an order With the washout of the water/sewer line at S. Elm St. (behind Fitzpatrick Skating Rink), the impact on the neighborhood needs to be addressed by the City leaders in terms of the timeline for repairs, alternate means for walkers to navigate this area and overall appearance. This is a constituent request.
Recommended that the order has been complied with.

 

MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS

32. Anderson-Burgos – Ordered that the city engineer evaluate Edwin Street for possible 15 minute limit parking, or propose other possible remedies to address issues. Edwin Street is narrow and it’s impossible for emergency vehicles to get through in the event of an emergency. Constituents that live on the street have been concerned. Send to Ordinance.

33. Devine- Ordered, that the City Clerk be granted an annual stipend for serving as the Records Access Officer in recognition of the additional responsibilities required under Massachusetts Public Records Law.

34. Devine, Magrath-Smith- Ordered, that the fines be increased for illegal dumping, especially construction equipment and garbage on a sidewalk or street that has not been recycled.
The word “rubbish”shall mean solid waste consisting of both combustible and non combustible wastes such as paper, wrappings, newsprint, cardboard, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, glass, plastics (as in nip bottles) and bedding.

35. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($31,500.00) as follows:
FROM
15411-51105 PAY-VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR $13,000.00
15411-51106 PAY-PART TIME CUSTODIAN 14,500.00
15411-51203 PAY-DRIVER 4,000.00
TOTAL $31,500.00
TO:
15411-51102 PAY-NUTRITIONAL DIRECTOR $ 1,000.00
15411-51104 PAY-UTILITY PERSON 1,000.00
15411-51300 PAY-OVERTIME 1,500.00
15412-52100 ENERGY-GAS/OIL/ELECTRIC 25,000.00
15412-52300 WATER & SEWER 1,500.00
15412-53010 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 500.00
14102-54800 MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL 1,000.00
TOTAL $31,500.00

36. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($68,600.00) as follows:
FROM
19161-51999 F.I.C.A.-MEDICARE $65,000.00
11451-51132 PAY-PAYROLL SPECIALIST 3,600.00
TOTAL $68,600.00
TO:
11452-53420 POSTAGE $68,600.00
TOTAL $68,600.00

37. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($500.00) as follows:
FROM
11451-51132 PAY-PAYROLL SPECIALIST $500.00
TOTAL $500.00
TO:
11451-51300 OVERTIME $500.00
TOTAL $500.00

38. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE AND 79/100 Dollars ($20,389.79) as follows:
FROM
14261-51102 PAY-MOTOR EQUIP REPAIRMAN $20,389.79
TOTAL $20,389.79
TO:
14262-54800 MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL $18,646.32
14262-52410 R & M VEHICLES 1,743.47
TOTAL $20,389.79

39. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, FIVE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX AND 02/100 Dollars ($5,866.02) as follows:
FROM
14211-51103 PAY-OFFICE MANAGER $5,866.02
TOTAL $5,866.02
TO:
14212-55830 UNIFORMS RENTAL SERVICE $4,721.02
14212-57300 DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS 1,145.00
TOTAL $5,866.02

40. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, ELEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX AND 00/100 Dollars ($11,436.00) as follows:
FROM
14251-51102 PAY-HOISTING EQUIPMENT OPER $11,436.00
TOTAL $11,436.00
TO:
14222-52112 ENERGY-TRAIN STATION $ 458.30
14222-52502 R & M-CITY HALL 196.44
14222-52503 R & M-CITY HALL ANNEX 3,066.94
14222-52510 R & M-CENTRAL FIRE STA’N 2,092.49
14222-52511 R & M-ELMWOOD FIRE STA’N 3,563.24
14222-52512 R & M-HIGHLAND FIRE STA’N 1,403.71
14222-52514 R & M-HOLYOKE FIRE STA 654.88
TOTAL $11,436.00

41. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY-SIX AND 99/100 Dollars ($31,646.99) as follows:
FROM
16501-51109 PAY-PARKS MAINTENANCE MAN $31,646.99
TOTAL $31,646.99
TO:
16502-52100 ENERGY-GAS/OIL/ELECTRIC $ 6,941.93
16502-52300 WATER & SEWER 18,739.90
16502-54800 SUPPLIES-OTHER 5,965.16
TOTAL $31,646.99

42. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, EIGHTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE AND 42/100 Dollars ($18,381.42) as follows:
FROM
14801-51101 PAY-PARKING CONTROL OFFIC $18,381.42
TOTAL $18,381.42
TO:
14802-52100 ENERGY-DWIGHT $ 2,900.82
14802-52101 ENERGY-SUFFOLK 2,882.15
14222-52509 R & M-POLICE STATION 12,598.45
TOTAL $18,381.42

43. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY-TWO AND 65/100 Dollars ($7,692.65) as follows:
FROM
14301-51102 PAY-HEAVY MOTOR EQUIP OP $7,692.65
TOTAL $7,692.65
TO
14301-51321 SPECIAL EVENTS OVERTIME $7,692.65
TOTAL $7,692.65

44. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($20,000.00) as follows:
FROM
14251-51102 PAY-HOISTING EQUIPMENT OPER $20,000.00
TOTAL $20,000.00
TO
14252-52600 R & M-STREETS & FIXTURES $20,000.00
TOTAL $20,000.00

45. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, FIFTEEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($15,000.00) as follows:
FROM
16911-51103 PAY-CITY HISTORIAN $15,000.00
TOTAL $15,000.00
TO:
16912-52100 ENERGY-GAS/OIL/ELECTRIC $10,000.00
16912-52420 R & M-OTHER 5,000.00
TOTAL $15,000.00

46. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTEEN AND 08/100 Dollars ($1,417.08) as follows:
FROM
14261-51102 PAY-MOTOR EQUIP REPAIRMAN $1,417.08
TOTAL $1,417.08
TO:
14261-51300 OVERTIME $1,417.08
TOTAL $1,417.08

47. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWO THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($2,000.00) as follows:
FROM
16932-52100 ENERGY-GAS/OIL/ELECTRIC $2,000.00
TOTAL $2,000.00
TO:
16931-51300 OVERTIME $2,000.00
TOTAL $2,000.00

48. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, ELEVEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($11,000.00) as follows:
FROM
14101-51105 PAY-SR CIVIL ENGINEER $11,000.00
TOTAL $11,000.00
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING $11,000.00
TOTAL $11,000.00

49. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($25,000.00) as follows:
FROM
8815-10400 CANNABIS STABILIZATION $25,000.00
TOTAL $25,000.00
TO:
19442-53003 SOLICITOR LEGAL SERVICES $25,000.00
TOTAL $25,000.00

50. Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that a crosswalk be added across Northampton Street at River Terrace.

51. Magrath-Smith – Ordered, that a crosswalk be added across Hampton Knolls where it intersects with Northampton Street.

52. Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered that the City Council establish an ordinance that allows HPS to accept non-monetary donations with approval from the School Committee.

53. Murphy-Romboletti- Ordered that the City Council invite the city’s legal team and cannabis consultant into a future Development & Governmental Relations meeting to provide an update on ongoing state and city regulations related to the social consumption of cannabis

54. Murphy-Romboletti: That the City create a general website policy and terms of use.

55. Panitch- Ordered that the Council approves the attached License Agreement between the city and Holyoke Housing Authority for the installation of a Valley Bike station.

56. Panitch, Thalheimer, Purcell: Ordered: that Section 6.4.6 Signs in Business and Industrial Districts, Size Limitations Table, of the Zoning Ordinance be amended to increase the maximum surface area permitted for each sign by special permit from 80 sf to 400 sf by special permit of the Planning Board, for projects having 50,000 sf of building area or greater, or for projects of such similar size and scale that said increased sign size is appropriate. In crafting this special permit, the Council might wish to consider the value of specifying findings and conditions beyond those already specified in Section 9.3 of the Zoning Ordinance that may be necessary to ensure that proposed signs have no undue impact on abutting neighborhoods or residences. Receive, send to Ordinance.

57. Purcell, Thalheimer- Ordered the City Council that the City Council declare its support for the attached resolution. “RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT FOR RENT STABILIZATION TO PROTECT TENANTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS”

58. Rivera, J.- Ordered that the DPW install a handicap sign at 216 Appleton St. Apt 218 for Vicente Padilla #PL3250370

59. Vacon- ORDER: Request our legal department send a letter to Republic Commercial Disposal company to comply with our ordinance limiting hours for emptying dumpsters.
I have received complaints re: emptying of dumpsters at 2am near Whitney Ave- (Pediatrics building) & Westfield Rd ( Times range from 5:14 am to this morning’s 4:09 am)
(Valley Springs)

60. DEVINE – Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2026, TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($25,000.00) as follows:
FROM
19161-51999 F.I.C.A.-MEDICARE $25,000.00
TOTAL $25,000.00
TO:
11452-53050 LAND COURT FILINGS $20,000.00
11452-53055 REGISTER OF DEEDS FILINGS 5,000.00
TOTAL $25,000.00