[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6426729,"mediaKeyId","5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a","parentId",5880381,"title","Finance Committee approves sending $137,500 transfer request for Open Architects to full council; mayor to provide scope and DLS letter","audioSeconds",2563,"startMs",423000,"endMs",2986000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a&start=423&end=2986","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a/thumbnail_423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6426729/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-approves-sending-137500-transfer-request-for-Open-Architects-to-full-council-mayor-to-provide-scope-and-DLS-letter","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426729-b0b5b7a9cac5727571db91fda08a2e72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150193&Signature=PrHB4dEy1yCZYTYsqxmThe9U-xx-1~-3IVMCej5rl-lBFNrbuzkGLqRwFmpdhgygyPi1~rb7XNOsv~vfwyoBYNT~fHNw6bGw9jgtTGEK9Rnscmol8rjD9K1Q6m1husz0J0Ei209gYs6KF1xmtnclL0jdJqxhcFCQ7xh1MzSbvOje2al1fVXWsOpv6TqoRHxW9ujyyCwSOvIhpvkA6ZYA-9Zgfhzyd~zhscG0wf-VjzO8XFaBk4RVTBS1GaNto6FalaFiDysiVG~zI0Eoc8FiD7BMOhfIFJIuc3vxsFloHGWNn91sdhbGg2l0Jlmm5IN0bxVzXlH7dpKen36alf90VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke","date","2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Holyoke City Council Finance Committee voted to forward to the full City Council a request to appropriate $137,500 in fiscal-year 2026 funds by transfer from a CAFO salary line to the mayor’s contracted services line to expand an engagement with Open Architects and consultant TJ Plant.

The transfer request was introduced via a letter from Mayor Garcia read into the record. The mayor said Open Architects has been providing financial forecasting, capital planning and operational support under a $50,000 state grant and that the requested transfer is intended to secure continued technical assistance while the city and council consider broader Municipal Finance Modernization measures. The mayor said he would present a contract with a defined scope and provide regular progress updates to the council.

Committee members pressed for additional detail about the work completed under the existing $50,000, how the $137,500 figure was calculated, and whether the contracted-services line would be used solely for Open Architects’ work. Councilors asked that TJ Plant appear before finance to explain his work and deliverables. Several members said they wanted the Division of Local Services (DLS) letter the mayor referenced to be provided for committee review.

The mayor and committee discussed timing: the finance committee will meet Oct. 15 and the full council meets Oct. 7; committee members sought a commitment that the mayor and TJ Plant would appear before finance on Oct. 15 with the contract scope and DLS communication. The mayor said staff could invoice monthly and that it would be feasible to structure payments as installments under a defined scope and invoicing schedule.

After discussion, the committee voted to approve forwarding the transfer request to the full City Council for consideration at the Oct. 7 meeting. Committee members recorded their request that the mayor supply the contract scope, have TJ Plant appear at the Oct. 15 finance meeting to review work performed under the prior $50,000, and provide the DLS letter the mayor mentioned.

Votes at this meeting: Motion to forward appropriation by transfer of $137,500 to the Mayor’s contracted services for Open Architects — approved by voice vote (committee unanimous).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Finance Committee 9/29/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee voted to forward to the full City Council a request to appropriate $137,500 from a CAFO salary line to the mayor’s contracted services to expand work with Open Architects (consultant TJ Plant).","taxTitle","Holyoke City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",52807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6426741,"Finance Committee accepts $390,149.30 MassDOT bottleneck grant to upgrade Main Street signals",1370,336000,1706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a&start=336&end=1706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a/thumbnail_336000.jpg","/articles/6426741/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-accepts-39014930-MassDOT-bottleneck-grant-to-upgrade-Main-Street-signals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426741-26fd34e53fe8136438074d383d5071e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150193&Signature=c0E1bCiMBHtnyozV6xoSAvPpPDrP31nZh478h~VBgtqyydSoU-SdjcfiPCF1-N7IxIV~TnoN-WwREJcnL~a1j1Ymg4LR67FMRm3nFh3DfZkV4bZL7cpNqiMUDoWxFI7o8vMS1ljplXQK~G8KPhm4EWk-BiqiiYYeKmxFS67tUxuq4i8zCNpSRpHtCNKuV33x3MoIwwMiVXRWYbNJJcotclOizOLICi85UaBssBc-Pf1dZPpjp4odsXWVvrKfqsDUTuYMHX-xnlUhxTAWtDP3oTajkBAjcM4NI2MrNl~NM-KgX9AYcDbLjuRuvJFe12fUsp0CJExO9OwfMrCW8xUvlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Council Finance Committee voted unanimously to accept a $390,149.30 no-match Local Bottleneck Reduction Program grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to fund signal upgrades and related traffic-improvement work on Main Street and associated I‑391 ramps.

City engineer Matt (DPW engineer) described the project scope as focused on congestion mitigation and crash reduction at several intersections along Main Street: Main at the I‑391 South on‑ramp, Main at South/Water Street, Main at the I‑391 North off‑ramp, Main at Jackson Street and Main at Sargent Street. The work includes signal equipment updates, improved signage and pavement markings, clarified stop-bar locations and lane delineation.

Councilors and residents raised the long-standing safety concern at Main and Vernon streets, where a previously removed signal remains out of service after being damaged by a driver. Several councilors urged that the Vernon/Main intersection be added to the grant-funded scope, citing recent serious injuries and frequent crashes near Springdale Park. Engineer Matt said the MassDOT Local Bottleneck Reduction Program grant is specifically for congestion mitigation at the listed locations and cannot be expanded to include the Main/Vernon intersection under this award.

After discussion about the targeted locations and the project’s design readiness, a committee member moved to accept the grant in accordance with Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44, §53A and to establish appropriate accounting for the receipts. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Votes at this meeting: Motion to accept MassDOT Local Bottleneck Reduction Program grant, $390,149.30, and authorize fund accounting — approved by voice vote (5–0).","The Finance Committee voted unanimously to accept a $390,149.30 no-match Local Bottleneck Reduction Program grant from MassDOT to fund signal and signage improvements on Main Street and related I‑391 ramp intersections.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6426751,"Holyoke committee approves secondhand license for Reverend Bassett’s Saturday thrift shop",294,37000,331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a&start=37&end=331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880381-bc94c39510bd1482a6f94190d655ba6a/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6426751/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Holyoke-committee-approves-secondhand-license-for-Reverend-Bassetts-Saturday-thrift-shop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426751-44a0d99b74463e1fd95c3366ee17ae80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150193&Signature=nvE15~4wj1FSsLaZYsjx7nhoI-orgzD9ob5aHN4MaUlL2cfRedYsTkcgVkekvul3Y1RgDbBbzhUyiRdaJRsvB-Sz7xzqtV9tnf8fgiq5hjxxB0m6H0t3Pq8fEX~azupws3gc9VRHh~ZiU4rC41XLm3aSTX9gta1O10DnkUV4ySAhv4euCXKZWAMqWI4u2VqwcuSdItiqA9OOj9shEahtHHjABRCD-gJSkDhm-9yMOf-rT-o5-ogLHOwiHstoa15a5pOBlZMNGkG26L3i81xSCFSgVXltFQhZfQZZYrzJxp~e1lFrPIxAeTWehTRTL4QpTae7BjFPEA~Mc14Jl4x7Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Holyoke City Council Finance Committee voted to approve forwarding a secondhand (thrift) license application from Reverend Randall Bassett for a Saturday-only operation at the First Lutheran Church, with hours authorized at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The committee’s approval will go to the full City Council on Oct. 7 for final issuance of the license.

The request was introduced during the committee’s meeting Sept. 29. Reverend Randall Bassett said the church’s school had closed “after 42 years” and the congregation planned to open a thrift shop to raise funds for building repairs and to serve neighborhood needs. Bassett said the shop would take only donated goods from congregation members and family, and initially operate Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an eye to expanding hours if demand indicated a need.

Councilors asked about parking and practical operations. A committee member noted the church’s large parking lot and asked whether the clerk’s office would mail the license or require in-person pickup; committee staff advised the license would be prepared after the council’s Oct. 7 meeting and the petitioner should coordinate with the clerk’s office (Brenna) on pickup.

The committee added an hours window of 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturdays to give the operator flexibility while limiting regular operations to a single day; committee members said Bassett must return to the committee if he seeks additional weekly hours. A committee member moved approval with the hours condition; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The committee recorded no opposition during the discussion. The clerk’s office will prepare the license packet for the full council agenda on Oct. 7; Bassett was advised not to open prior to council approval because the permit will not be issued until after that meeting.

Votes at this meeting: Finance Committee motion to approve forwarding the secondhand license application with hours set at 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturdays — approved by voice vote (committee unanimous).","The Finance Committee approved forwarding a secondhand (thrift) license application from Reverend Randall Bassett for a Saturday-only operation at the First Lutheran Church; full City Council will finalize the license at its Oct. 7 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance Committee approves sending $137,500 transfer request for Open Architects to full council; mayor to provide scope and DLS letter

Finance Committee accepts $390,149.30 MassDOT bottleneck grant to upgrade Main Street signals

Holyoke committee approves secondhand license for Reverend Bassett’s Saturday thrift shop