Finance Committee Meeting October 11, 2023

Posted October 6, 2023, 2:00 PM

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, October 11, 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/85077632103?pwd=WUJSYXRRVUhNb2tCZkYrSjJ0T201dz09
Meeting ID: 850 7763 2103 Meeting Passcode: 563134 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with
the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 10-3-23 MCGIVERIN — that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY2024 STATE 911 DEPARTMENT TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM, $25,013.16, 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 2: 10-3-23 MCGIVERIN — that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY2024 JAIL/ARREST DIVERSION PROGRAM GRANT, $45,000, 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 3: 10-3-23 MCGIVERIN — that in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44 Sec. 53A, the City Council hereby accepts the provisions of the “FY24 EEA MUNICIPAL VULNERABILITY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM-ACTION GRANT, $141,680, 25% IN KIND 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 4: 10-3-23 MCGIVERIN — Ordered, that there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, THIRTY THOUSAND 00/100 Dollars ($30,000) as follows:
FROM:
14251-51105 PAY-POWER SHOVEL OPERATOR $10,000
14301-51106 PAY-WASTE RECYCLE COORDINATOR 10,000
14101-51105 PAY-SR CIVIL ENGINEER 10,000
TOTAL: $30,000
TO:
14102-53010 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES $30,000
TOTAL: $30,000

Item 5: 10-3-23 VACON — that Veolia provides the estimated cost for street sweeping for the next fiscal year for the purpose of decreasing the sewer rate required for the sewer enterprise fund.  This is a citywide service that is properly paid from the general fund.  A written response is acceptable.

Item 6: 9-20-23 MCGIVERIN — Ordered, That there be and is hereby appropriated by transfer in the fiscal year 2024, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($250,000) as follows:
FROM:
8810-10400 CITY STABILIZATION $250,000
TOTAL: $250,000
TO:
11212-53009 MAYOR’S CONTRACTED SERVICES
TOTAL: $250,000

Item 7: 10-3-23 Communication from Meg McGrath-Smith CPA Project List in response for a request from Finance committee.

Item 8: 4-18-23 (copy) 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 sewerArticle 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.
*Tabled 8-30-23

Item 9: 10-3-23 From Mayor Joshua A. Garcia letter of Veto for the CPA ballot question to be placed on the November 2023 local election.

Item 10: 10-3-23 VACON, JOURDAIN, PUELLO — Order:  that the ballot question approved by the City Council be placed on the ballot on November 4, 2024 as referenced in the 9/26/23 decision by Judge Mulqueen.
Ballot Question
Shall the City of Holyoke amend the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge, as established in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and which amendment of such surcharge is permissible pursuant to Section 16 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and approved by its legislative body, from 1.5% to 1.0%, a summary of which appears below?
(with revised dates)
8
Community Preservation Act Ballot Question and Draft Summary
Ballot Question
Shall the City of Holyoke amend the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge, as established in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter 44B of
the Massachusetts General Laws, and which amendment of such surcharge is permissible pursuant to Section 16 of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws, and approved by its legislative body, from 1.5% to 1.0%, a summary of which appears below?
Summary of Question
On October 3, 2023, the City Council voted, without taking a position, to place a question on the ballot which will allow voters to reduce the current Community Preservation Act real estate surcharge from 1.5% to 1.0%.. The question will be approved, and the real estate surcharge shall be so reduced, if a majority of the voters voting on the ballot question
vote “yes”. The question will not be approved, and the real estate surcharge shall remain the same, if a majority of the voters voting on the ballot question vote “no”
On November 8, 2016, the voters of the City of Holyoke voted to accept Sections 3 to 7 of Chapter 44B, known as the Community Preservation Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Act’*). By accepting the Act, a funding source was established to enable the City of Holyoke to: (1) acquire, create and preserve open space, which includes land for parks, playgrounds and athletic fields; (2) acquire, preserve and rehabilitate historic resources such as historic community buildings and artifacts; and (3) acquire, create, and preserve
and support community housing to help local families meet their housing needs. By accepting the Act, a surcharge of 1.5% was assessed on real estate on an annual basis beginning in Fiscal Year 2018. Exempted from the surcharge are: (1) property owned and occupied as a domicile by any person who would qualify for low income housing or low or moderate income senior housing in the City of Holyoke, as defined in Section 2 of the Act; (2) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property; and (3) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of class three, commercial property, and class four, industrial property as defined in section 2A of said chapter 59. A taxpayer receiving a regular property tax abatement or exemption will also receive a pro rata reduction in the surcharge. Any taxpayer seeking a low income or senior exemption shall apply for said exemption annually to the City of 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.