1. The Development & Government Relations Committee (Complete meeting above) had two elected officials on hand to hear concerns about the city.

State Rep. Patricia Duffy and State Sen. Jhn Velis were on hand at the meeting.

POLICE IN THE SCHOOLS
From Public comment:

“Holyoke continues to struggle with issues of systemically and inequality, racial injustice, and youth safety. Now, more than ever, our schools need to prioritize the well-being of students in ways that foster belonging, trust, and support the counselors over cops bill represents a critical step toward a more compassionate, effective, and safe educational environment for all students. Policing. Law enforcement officers.

Known as School Resource Officers, SROs in schools, has been shown to disproportionately harm students of color, especially Black and Latino youth, which is majority of the population of the Holyoke. Numerous studies indicate that the presence of police in schools, increase the likelihood of students arrest for minor infractions contributing to the school to prison pipeline where, where youth from communities that need more support and face harsher disciplinary actions and long term negative consequences instead of being a place, instead of being a place of learning.

Schools with increased police presence often become environments where students feel criminalized and excluded. Schools have a responsibility to protect their students, protect their students. Counselors and mental health professionals are equipped with the skills to foster a nurturing and safe environment for all students. They provide essential services that addresses a student’s emotional and psychological needs, promoting overall well-being and academic success.

Annabelle Reeves
Pa’Lante Student Group Leader

State Sen. John Velis, in response:

“I just think it’s really important what you just did coming here, coming to a council, coming up with a statement weighing in, you would be surprised. And I’m convinced that the rep will agree with this statement, as well as my colleagues in government across the board, that these types of conversations good, bad or indifferent, agreeing with them or not.It is such a critical and vital part of what’s missing today in our  discourse. So I give you all the credit in the world, for just coming forward. Right. This this takes a lot of courage. What you just did today and I think is really, really important with respect to the bill. I mean, I, I have a, a policy myself where I like to read it before I see it.

PILOT PROGRAM
Councilor David Bartley, speaking of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program that will kick off in July, said the Green Computing Center, which employs less than 10 people, has been paying taxes, but, he said, given what billions of dollars invested in the center, and the approximate $100,000 it pays in taxes,” That doesn’t cut it.”

“They represent massive universities with billions of dollars in endowment funds, including my my alma mater, but also BU, BC, Harvard and Yale and beyond. These are mass of institutions. They’re running the computing the computing power that funds all the research. I don’t know what it does for Holyoke.”

Said Councilor Michael Sullivan: “Let’s not kid ourselves here either. They’re not a great customer. They’re here because we have the lowest electric rate in the state. So on top of not paying us any money in the form of a pilot, right, a pittance, an absolute pittance, all right. Whether it’s 80,000 now or if it if they increased it to 100,000, that’s $120 million facility.”

The agenda and documents for this meeting can be viewed here.

2. The Ordinance Committee also met and voted to table the creation of a new position, the Chief Financial Officer. In January, voters overwhelmingly chose to abolish the Treasurer position and instead appoint it.

Proposed function of chief financial officer and their office

Item 1 regarding how the finances of the city are managed reads: “that the City of Holyoke accept and adopt the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 43C, Section 12, entitled “Optional Forms of Municipal Administration”, for the purpose of creating a Finance Department as outlined in the statute. Said acceptance shall be subject to implementation by city ordinance and any necessary amendments to the City Charter. This order shall be referred concurrently to Charter and Rules and Ordinance to be considered jointly, with recommendations regarding implementation to be reported back to the City Council jointly. See attached: Municipal Modernization Act of 2025.”

In the end, this proposal was tabled without comment.

Agenda and documents for this meetings are here.