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City Council

December 16, 2025 Final
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Agenda — 6 items

  1. Bartley, Vacon- The city council accept the attached e-mail from DLS with an update on the process to contract with a vendor to correct the catastrophic condition of the City’s finances. Refer to Finance.
  2. Devine: ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Six Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve ($636,812) Dollars, which is in addition to the $4,498,497 previously appropriated, for the purpose of paying costs of a replacement of the Lt. Elmer J. McMahon Elementary School Roof, located at 75 Kane Rd, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing EPDM roof and installing 35,000 SF of PVC membrane during the summer of 2026, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
  3. DEVINE - ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Six Million Seven Hundred Thirty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred Sixty Two Dollars and No Cents ($6,739,962) Dollars for the purpose of paying costs of partial roof replacement and code-required upgrades at the Lt. Clayre Sullivan Middle School, located at 400 Jarvis Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing PVC roof and installing 50,000 SF of PVC membrane, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
  4. Devine- ORDERED: That the City appropriate the amount of Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty Three Thousand Four Hundred Eighteen Dollars and No Cents ($5,753,418) Dollars for the purpose of paying costs of partial roof replacement and code-required upgrades at the Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School, located at 200 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. This replacement consists of the removal of existing PVC roof and installing 43,000 SF of PVC membrane, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the City may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of Mayor Joshua Garcia.To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The City acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the City incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the City; provided that any grant that the City may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) eighty percent (80%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the City and the MSBA.FURTHER ORDERED: That the Treasurer is authorized to file an application to qualify under Chapter 44A of the General Laws any and all of the bonds or notes authorized to be issued pursuant to this Order, and to provide such information and execute such documents as may be required for such purposes.FURTHER ORDERED: That there shall be no change in the purpose of this bond authorization without prior vote of approval by the Holyoke City Council.
  5. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred a Special permit amendment of F&M Hideway, Inc / Schermerhorn’s Restaurant at 224 Westfield Road (157-00-072) to reduce the number and total square footage of signage from the previously issued special permit.<br>Recommended that the special permit amendment be granted.
  6. The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred a Special permit application of Lyman Group LCC at 40 Lyman Street (038-02-001.1) to replace the existing retail marijuana special permit issued to Leaf Lux on December 1, 2020, including a request to waive certain submission requirements.<br>Recommended that the special permit amendment be granted with the following conditions:<br>1. Prior to the permit being issued by the Building Department, there shall be a written and signed approval from the Chief of Police of the site security plan.2. In the event of any changes to the approved plan or transfer of ownership, the applicant will be required to come back to the City Council for review and approval prior to implementation and file an amendment to the special permit. Additionally, all prior conditions placed on the previous special permit, including:3. That the owner of the building always pay the commercial property tax rate to the extent allowed by federal, state, and local laws for the duration of the Special Permit.4. That the business retains a minimum 30% Holyoke residents for non-security jobs.5. That the hiring preference be given to security personnel that are retired Holyoke police or are a retired member of another police department that now lives in the city of Holyoke.6. There shall be no marijuana consumption allowed on site.7. There shall be no deliveries of retail or medical marijuana from the site to individual homes, residences, or people, 8. That the hours of operation be set according to City ordinances.9. That the applicant shall follow recommendations of the OPED letter, dated November 15, 2020, and the letter from the City Engineer.

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