The Public Service Committee backed the proposed appointment of Callie Niezgoda Flanagan to the Holyoke Economic and Industrial Corporation. Mayor Joshua García nominated her to serve on the board that has the authority to buy and sell property, manage projects, approve financing and assist private developers. Councilor Jim McGiverin chair the HEIC.

More about HEIC here.

“If I can put my skills in benefit to the city, I’m happy,” said Niezgoda Flanagan, a native of the city. Niezgoda Flanagan works in the non-profit economic revitalization organization Common Capital. which provides loans to businesses and community projects with ongoing support services included such as consults and trainings.

“You bring a wealth of knowledge,” said Committee Chair Peter Tallman.

Her appointment will be on the City Council meeting of Feb. 7.

The committee also  heard from Bruce Buckley, CEO  Soldier On, to discuss support services for veterans who do not  meet the requirements of Soldier On programs. Also participating was Matt Buckley, son of the CEO, and Jesús Pereira, director of Veterans Services for the city. The organization received a state grant to expand services.

“It fills a void that needs to get filled,” said Piñeiro. The order was filed in 2019 by then-City Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi.

More about Solider On here.

Councilor at Large Israel Rivera proposed that the city’s Department of Public Works create welcoming signs in the city in seven different languages.

“it’s hard to do that because you can’t put signs in different languages on state roads,” said Councilor Tallman, paraphrasing the DPW director. All roads that lead to Holyoke are state roads.

Mayor García said that the welcoming signs that spotlight the city as the birthplace of volleyball can be updated, but is not sure it can be done in seven languages. Councilor Rivera was not present to present which languages would be featured. “We can explore that,” said the mayor.

The Holyoke City Council also met this week, starting the meeting with a moment of silence for the passing of Sue Ellen Panitch, a longtime community participant. “Just a phenomenal person,” said Council President Todd McGee. Also moments of silence were held for the father of the Parks and Recreation director; and Justin Chávez, a local rapper also known as Extraordinaire.

Gary Rome received accolades from the council for the work he does to improve the city and for being named Time magazine’s Dealer of the Year. “You run a phenomenal business in the city. If you look at all the posts on social media, it’s a family up there. All the employees are taken care of,” said Councilor McGee in reference to the dealership on on Whiting Road. Rome is also a leader in boosting the city and serving to raise money for charities.

Councilor Rivera, chair of the Public Safety Committee, advocated for the establishment of an Office of Tenant Protection, as proposed by Councilor at Large José Maldonado Vélez. More discussions are needed to figure out where best to house that office in terms of city departments. At the same time, the city’s Board of Health is the first point o contact for tenants living in unhealthy homes and apartments for lack of optimal maintenance by property owners. He also raised the question on how to best support the Law Department to enforce violations of housing codes, referring to property owners who do not abide by the regulations as  “slum lords,” as these businesspeople are popularly called.

The Agenda for the Public Service Committee:

Public Service Committee 1/18/2023

Agenda Item 1: 12-20-22 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Callie Niezgoda Flanagan, 38 Jefferson St. to serve as a member of the Holyoke Economic and Industrial Corporation (HEDIC): This seat on the Board of Directors represents the Finance Sector. This is a three year term; said term will expire on June 30, 2025.

Item 2: 5-7-19 LISI — Ordered, that the City Council invite a representative from Soldier On as well as out Veterans Services Director to discuss support services for Veterans who fail to meet the requirements of Soldier On programs.

Item 3: 2-15-22 RIVERA_I — order that the dpw work on putting up signs welcoming people to Holyoke at every highway entrance in 7 different languages.

Item 4: 12-1-20 BARTLEY, MURPHY — The Holyoke City Council encourages all city department heads to provide correspondence to Spanish-speaking persons in Spanish to the extent feasible. The Holyoke City Council particularly encourages that technical letters from the Mayor’s office, School Dept., Law Dept., Building Commissioner, Planning Board, City Clerk, License Board, and City Council, by translated into Spanish, upon request. (This is a refiled order from 12/3/2019).

The Agenda for the City Council here.