Finance Committee Meeting March 1, 2023
6:00 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
Agenda posted February 24, 2023, 2;33 PM
City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the committee on
Finance
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
6:00 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/82156154746?pwd=aTQyaExQWlRjR056blhablVNaVFIZz09
Meeting ID: 821 5615 4746 Meeting Passcode: 137780 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.
Agenda
Item 1: 1-17-23 MCGEE, MURPHY-ROMBOLETTI — Order that we invite in the CPA board members to give an update on the program.
Item 2: 12-20-22 VACON, PUELLO — that our City Solicitor draft a ballot question for the next eligible election for voters to decide if the CPA tax should be reduced from 1.5% to 0.5% in light of the current financial hardship of our taxpayers.
Taxes will increase by over $200.00 per year for a house valued at $236,262 due to repeated inability to achieve 7 votes of the City Council for lower taxes for homeowners. This increase is taking place along with significant increases in sewer, gas, electricity, food & heating prices. Voters should have the right to decide the rate. City Council initiated the CPA tax here originally, so needs to vote to place it on the ballot again for voters to decide.
*Tabled 12-28-22
Item 3: 11-1-22 MCGEE — Order Holyoke media come into finance to give an update and discuss appointments.
Item 4: 2-21-23 MCGIVERIN — that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY2023 STATE 911 DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH GRANT PROGRAM, $18,375, 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.
Item 5: 4-19-22 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia list of Historic Preservation related repairs needed on city buildings as requested by Councilor Jourdain, Councilor Bartley, Councilor I. Rivera and Councilor Vacon on order filed April 5, 2022
*Tabled 5-2-22
Item 6: 12-20-22 BARTLEY — The Auditor provide an update on PILOT agreements. Please provide the names of the parties with whom the City has a PILOT agreement, the amounts to be paid and the status of payments for the past one-year period (re: whether payments are current.). Please submit to City Council by the second meeting in January 2023. Send to Finance Cte. For a review.
*Tabled 1-11-23, 2-1-23
Item 7: 2-21-23 MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, TWO HUNDRED AND 00/100 Dollars ($200.00) as follows:
FROM:
12941-51830 CLOTHING ALLOWANCE $200.00
TOTAL: $200.00
TO:
12942-53190 EDUCATION & TRAINING $200.00
TOTAL: $200.00
Item 8: 2-21-23 MCGIVERIN — that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2023, FIFTEEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars ($15,000.00) as follows:
FROM:
12441-51101 PAY-SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES $15,000.00
TOTAL: $15,000.00
TO:
12442-57100 IN STATE TRAVEL $500.00
12442-58501 EQUIPMENT 12,750.00
12442-54200 OFFICE SUPPLIES 1,750.00
TOTAL: $15,000.00
Item 9: 10-4-22 JOURDAIN, MCGIVERIN — Ordered, that the Treasurer and Flynn Financial please appear before the Finance Committee to discuss how our Stabilization Funds are being invested. The City Council would also like to receive quarterly financial statements on these investments going forward. In advance of the meeting, please provide us the financial statements for the period July 1, 2019-June 30, 2022 so we can be prepared for the meeting and our discussion. Please also provide us any applicable regulations or rules from the state related to how Stabilization funds may be invested.
*Tabled 10-17-22
Item 10: 10-18-22 From Flynn Financial, City of Holyoke Stabilization
Item 11: 2-7-23 MCGEE — Ordered, that the City Treasurer be invited into a Finance meeting to update on his cleanup efforts within the department.
Item 12: 12-20-22 From Rory Casey, City Treasurer, Moody’s Credit rating for Holyoke.
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.