The City Council voted unanimously to ask the Department of Public Works to place speed humps on Laurel Street, a street that is often confused by dangerous drivers as a speedway.

Residents at the City Council meeting two weeks ago gave vivid descriptions of how drivers do not obey the speed limit of 35 mph, putting in danger other drivers, property and pedestrians.

Also, an item presented by the Finance Committee for the City Council to review for approval the FY24 projects recommended for funding by the Holyoke Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) was debated.

City Councilor and Finance Committee Chair Patti Devine listed the projects:

• Library Commons phase two housing project $400,000. And the CPA committee voted 6 to 2.
• The next one is the Jones Point Phase one rehabilitation for $350,000, and the committee voted 8 to 0.
• The next one is Wisteriahurst retaining wall, and that’s for $264,000. And that was voted 8 to 0.
• Number five,  City Hall granite stairs, a $30,000 feasibility study, that was voted 7 to 1.
• The Korean War Memorial Restoration Project, $2,000. An 8 to 0 vote.
• The Holyoke Veterans Graves Restoration Project, that was $6,000, and that was 8 to 0 vote.
• And the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, replacement of the stirrups, the horses 8 to 0. And that was 16,875.

City Councilor and chair of the Community Preservation Act Committee Meg McGrath-Smith said that all the projects had support and those that did not receive unanimous support was because of wanting to split the budget.

“Both (Appleton Mills and Library Common) projects requested more than what we recommended, libraries coming to ask for $250,000. and we recommended 100,000. and Appleton Mill requested 300,000, and we recommended 200,000 as the committee,” said McGrath-Smith.

The City Council voted to endorse the projects, with debate focusing on what does a private, for profit developer constructing a $55M project want from Holyoke’s CPAC funds for.

Regarding the Appleton Mills projects, City Councilor and Finance Committee member Michael Sullivan said taxpayers should not have their money go into the pockets of investors.

“To put it very bluntly and briefly for everyone on the council and everyone in the public to understand this, $200,000 goes directly into the pockets of the investors, the principals into Winn Development. They knew what they were getting into when they took on this project. it’s a 55, $60 million project. They’re looking for $200,000 from us. They claim in their presentation that if they don’t get this 200,000, they’ll have to cut back on some of the amenities for the for the for the units. That’s $200,000 in a $55 million, $60 million project.”

City Councilor Kocayne Givner agreed with Sullivan, but said the city needs to put its stamp on something that is a good project.

City Councilor Kevin Jourdain said, “Well, I have a lot of concerns about this. Number one is, unfortunately, our stamp on the project will actually literally be stamps on the envelopes of the dividend checks that are being sent out to wind development shareholders.”

“It’s going to be mailing very wealthy people more money. And the irony of that from just a basic social justice perspective, think about it. That we are sold on CPA, that we pass the hat to the poorest residents in the Commonwealth, and we ask them all to throw $30, $40, $50 a year in a hat so that it can go towards affordable housing and other noble projects. And the seven of the eight that we just approved are noble projects. This is a noble project, but this is a the business development project.”

City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos said the $200,000 allocation would benefit the city.

“I am listening to the concerns of my colleagues and I do not particularly like giving people who have money, more money, a lot of money. But when I’m looking at it from a, financial standpoint, I’m looking at amenities. So when I look at that, that means the assessed value. Value goes up for any property, that means more taxes. Ultimately, the city will make that over and over a year after year after year after year. So let’s let’s get this project done. Let’s help them make this project happen because it’s going to bring back the money two-fold, three-fold.”

City Councilor Linda Vacon said she sees an irony in how the council was divided on the $200,000 vote for Winn Development.

“I just have to comment on the irony of councilors who are speaking in favor of giving $200,000 of hard earned taxpayers money to this huge,” she said. “And I don’t begrudge them making money that good for them. But I do find it highly ironic that the same councilors who won’t vote to give a break to our overburdened taxpayers are saying they’re going to vote to give their money to this wealthy, huge company.”

The City Council voted 7-6 in favor of sending $200,000 to the developers who applied for the money. This item received unanimous support from CPAC members.

To watch complete City Council meeting, click here.

To review the documents City Councilors received prior to the meeting, called a packet, click here.