Finance Committee 4/17/2024
En español
Agenda
Item 1: Minutes of April 3, 2024 meeting
Item 2: 4-2-24 Devine-Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($150,000) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51103 CAPTAINS $40,000
12101-51117 DISPATCHERS 80,000
12101-51920 QUINN BILL 30,000
TOTAL: $150,000
TO:
19412-57630 CLAIMS & DAMAGES $150,000
TOTAL: $150,000
Item 3: 4-16-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, THIRTY TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE AND 00/100 Dollars ($32,975.00) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $32,975
TOTAL: $32,975.00
TO:
16303-58001 RECREATION CAPITAL OUTLAY-VEHICLES $32,975
TOTAL: $32,975.00
Item 4: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, EIGHT THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($8,000) as follows:
FROM:
16101-51103 REFERENCE LIBRARIAN $8,000
TOTAL: $8,000
TO:
16101-51112 FINANCIAL MANAGER $8,000
TOTAL: $8,000
Item 5: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($20,000) as follows:
FROM:
8815-10400 CANNABIS STABILIZATION $20,000
TOTAL: $20,000
TO:
19442-53005 CANNABIS – OPED LEGAL SERVICES $20,000
TOTAL: $20,000
Item 6: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “PLYMOUTH PAPER DONATION, 12 PALLETS – ASSORTED PAPER GOODS, ESTIMATED VALUE $23,882, ” 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 donation.
Item 7: 4-16-24 Devine- Ordered, that the amount of ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 Dollars ($1,950) be authorized from the COMPUTER Department’s SOFTWARE LICENSE/USAGE FEES (11552-53100) appropriation in fiscal year 2024 for services rendered in fiscal year 2023 which were unencumbered at the 2023 fiscal year end.
Item 8: 4-16-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, EIGHTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY AND 00/100 Dollars ($80,160) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $80,160
TOTAL: $80,160
TO:
12203-58000 FIRE DEPT. – CAPITAL OUTLAY VEHICLES $80,160
TOTAL: $80,160
Item 9: 3-6-24 JOURDAIN — Ordered, That the Water Commission and Manager come to the finance committee for an annual financial update to discuss the status of their finances, projects and rates.
Item 10: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that the amount of ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED TWENTY SIX AND 29/100 Dollars ($1,126.29) be authorized from the TREASURER Department’s R&M OFFICE EQUIPMENT (11452-52400) appropriation in fiscal year 2024 for services rendered in fiscal year 2023 which were unencumbered at the 2023 fiscal year end.
Item 11: 4-16-24 Devine- Financial Order: That the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated for the purpose of financing the demolition, remodeling, reconstruction, engineering, construction, and equipping or re-equipping of various city parking facilities, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto. To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7 or any other enabling authority.
FURTHER ORDERED: That the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any state aid available for the project; and that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary or convenient to carry out these projects.
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 12: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FORTY FIVE AND 96/100 Dollars ($7,145.96) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $7,145.96
TOTAL: $7,145.96
TO:
14222-52502 R&M CITY HALL $7,145.96
TOTAL: $7,145.96
Item 13: 4-2-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($20,000) as follows:
FROM:
14251-51106 PROP MAINTENANCE & DEMO WORKER $5,000
14301-51103 REFUSE LABORER 10,000
16501-51106 PARKS HMEO 5,000
TOTAL: $20,000
TO:
14262-52410 R&M VEHICLES $20,000
TOTAL: $20,000
Item 14: 4-16-24 Devine- Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “MASSDEP FY24 SEWAGE NOTIFICATION ASSISTANCE GRANT, $50,000, 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 15: 4-16-24 Devine- Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($25,000) as follows:
FROM:
15101-51103 SANITARIAN II $11,000
15101-51107 SANITARIAN III 6,000
15101-51109 SANITARIAN I 5,000
15101-51111 FLOATING CLERK 3,000
TOTAL: $25,000
TO:
11512-53010 SPECIAL COUNSEL $20,000
11512-53006 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES -OTHER 5,000
TOTAL: $25,000
LAID ON THE TABLE
Discussion is not expected to take place
Item 16: 10-3-23 (referred back 10-17-23, referred back 3-6-24) VACON, JOURDAIN, PUELLO — Order: that the ballot question approved by the City Council be placed on the ballot on November 4, 2024 as referenced in the 9/26/23 decision by Judge Mulqueen.
Ballot Question
Shall the City of Holyoke amend the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge, as established in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and which amendment of such surcharge is permissible pursuant to Section 16 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and approved by its legislative body, from 1.5% to 1.0%, a summary of which appears below?
(with revised dates)
8
Community Preservation Act Ballot Question and Draft Summary
Ballot Question
Shall the City of Holyoke amend the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge, as established in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter 44B of
the Massachusetts General Laws, and which amendment of such surcharge is permissible pursuant to Section 16 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and approved by its legislative body, from 1.5% to 1.0%, a summary of which appears below?
Summary of Question
On October 3, 2023, the City Council voted, without taking a position, to place a question on the ballot which will allow voters to reduce the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge from 1.5% to 1.0%.. The question will be approved, and the real estate surcharge shall be so reduced, if a majority of the voters voting on the ballot question
vote “yes”. The question will not be approved, and the real estate surcharge shall remain the same, if a majority of the voters voting on the ballot question vote “no”
On November 8, 2016, the voters of the City of Holyoke voted to accept Sections 3 to 7 of Chapter 44B, known as the Community Preservation Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Act’*). By accepting the Act, a funding source was established to enable the City of Holyoke to: (1) acquire, create and preserve open space, which includes land for parks, playgrounds and athletic fields; (2) acquire, preserve and rehabilitate historic resources such as historic community buildings and artifacts; and (3) acquire, create, and preserve
and support community housing to help local families meet their housing needs. By accepting the Act, a surcharge of 1.5% was assessed on real estate on an annual basis beginning in Fiscal Year 2018. Exempted from the surcharge are: (1) property owned and occupied as a domicile by any person who would qualify for low income housing or low or moderate income senior housing in the City of Holyoke, as defined in Section 2 of the Act; (2) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property; and (3) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of class three, commercial property, and class four, industrial property as defined in section 2A of said chapter 59. A taxpayer receiving a regular property tax abatement or exemption will also receive a pro rata reduction in the surcharge. Any taxpayer seeking a low income or senior exemption shall apply for said exemption annually to the City of Holyoke.
Item 17: 6-21-22 JOURDAIN — Acting DPW Superintendent please provide the City Council & Parking committee the following report: for the prior 5 years (need to consider pre/post pandemic usage changes), amount of meter revenue and amount of parking garage revenue. Please provide total usage % (used spaces divided total spaces) at both parking garages annually. Please also provide any analysis of cost to get all meters fully operational. Please provide the expected life cycle of the new meters if purchased. Please also provide us the current amortization schedule for the Mayor Taupier Suffolk Street Parking Garage
*Tabled 6-7-23, 1-31-24
Item 18: 8-1-23 (copy) JOURDAIN — Ordered, That Cook and Company be invited to a future finance subcommittee meeting to review their recent health insurance analysis for the city.
*Tabled 1-17-24
Item 19: 8-2-22 JOURDAIN, ANDERSON-BURGOS, RIVERA_I — That the City Council conduct a comprehensive study of employee safety for the benefit of our Holyoke municipal employees and our taxpayers. The City Council should invite in the Personnel Director, our Workers’ Comp representatives, Mayor, law department, department heads, union leadership, and others as needed to gather all of the information we need to study the root causes of employee injuries, how they are handled, how are they mitigated, how are we handling risk management to avoid future losses. Our goal should be to keep employees safe, reduce lost hours, productivity and overall cost to the city. We need to collect all relevant data including a prior 3 year report tracking injury claims, workers’ comp claims, injured on duty claims, and related. Ideally, the City Council will produce a report within 6 months on its findings in conjunction with all key stakeholders.
*Tabled 9-12-22
Item 20: 3-1-22 (copy) JOURDAIN, PUELLO — The Mayor’s office please provide the City Council with a list of all current host community agreements from marijuana companies in our city. Please also provide us a list of how much revenue we are generating annually from each of these agreements.
*Tabled 1-17-24
Item 21: 2-6-24 Rivera. I.- Order that the honorable city council ask the police department to provide us with an itemized budget breakdown of dollars received and expended over the last 5 years from the criminal seizure and forfeiture account.
*Tabled 3-4-24
