Finance Committee Meeting August 30, 2023

Posted August 17, 2023, 11:45 AM

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Finance

Wednesday, August 30 2023
6:30 PM

Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Joseph McGiverin
Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87560380797?pwd=YUhwZ0cyeldrZzRmdHdGaW04cUUxUT09
Meeting ID: 875 6038 0797 Meeting Passcode: 753235 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 6-6-23 (referred back 8-1-23) VACON — The undersigned seek a meeting of the City council and have the question to vote for a CPA rate of 1% or 1.5% placed on the November 2023 ballot as voted by a majority of the City council on April 4, 2023. This is the first opportunity we have to vote on the tax surcharge since was approved 5 years ago. We object to any delay in our ability to vote on this tax surcharge, whether we support a reduction or support the current rate.

Item 2: 8-1-23 From Brenna Murphy McGee, MMC communication regarding ballot question deadlines.

Item 3: 6-6-23 Communication From Councilor Jourdain, Regarding State Statute MGL CH 44B CPA

Item 4: 4-18-23 JOURDAIN — Ordered, that the law dept. provide the City Council with legal opinion and related documentation ensuring that the CPA committee and City of Holyoke are not violating anti-aid amendment (Mass. Const. Amend. Article 46, § 2, as amended by Article 103) by providing various CPA dollars to private parties including but not limited copies of all historic preservation restrictions placed on all property deeds, copies of public access agreements for all recipients, copies of mandatory re-payment requirements if property is sold, and related.  Please confirm compliance with the state law for all recipients including by for-profit entities and inform us if recipients are advised that such safeguards are required.   The City Council will want to review to all paperwork to ensure all legal safeguards are in place to ensure compliance with the law.

Item 5: 5-16-23 From Kathleen E. Degnan, Assistant City Solicitor, letter re: Community Preservation Funds relation to Anti-Aid Amendment.

Item 6: 8-1-23 MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE AND 00/100 Dollars ($121,879) as follows:
FROM:
12101-51510 SICK LEAVE BUYBACK $121,879
TOTAL: $121,879
TO:
12101-51103 CAPTAIN $121,879
TOTAL: $121,879

Item 7: 8-1-23 MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, NINETEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY AND 00/100 Dollars ($19,450) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $19,450
TOTAL: $19,450
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES $19,450
TOTAL: $19,450

Item 8: 8-1-23 MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND FORTY FIVE AND 00/100 Dollars ($48,045) as follows:
FROM:
8811-10400 CAPITAL STABILIZATION $48,045
TOTAL: $48,045
TO:
14302-52410 REFUSE-R&M VEHICLES $48,045
TOTAL: $48,045

Item 9: 8-1-23 BARTLEY — The Mayor provide an update on funding pedestrian safety signals at Hitchcock and Martin Sts. The City Engineer provide an update on any necessary plans.

Item 10: 6-6-23 MCGIVERIN — that the sum of $10,500,000 is appropriated to pay costs of the Holyoke River Terrace Sewer Separation Project, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto and, without limitation, all costs thereof as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 29C of the General Laws, as amended (“Chapter 29C”); that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow said amount and to issue bonds or notes of the City therefor under any enabling authority, including Chapter 44, Sections 7(1) or 8(14) of the General Laws and/or Chapter 29C; that such bonds or notes shall be general obligations of the City unless the Treasurer with approval of the Mayor determines that they should be issued as limited obligations and may be secured by local system revenues as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 29C; that the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow all or a portion of such amount from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (the “Trust”); and in connection therewith to enter into one or more loan agreements and/or security agreements with the Trust and otherwise to contract with the Trust and the Department of Environmental Protection, to expend all funds available for the project and to take any other action necessary to carry out the project.
*Tabled 6-14-23

Item 11: 4-4-23 JOURDAIN — Ordered, That the Board of Public Works, DPW Director, City Engineer, City Auditor, and Treasurer update the City Council Finance Committee regarding recent sewer breaks and the sewer enterprise account.
*Tabled 6-7-23

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos
The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Also one or two items may require the committee to enter into executive session at this meeting. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.