Holyoke council approves police spending after councilors describe years of neglected maintenance

The Holyoke City Council on May 6 approved multiple finance transfers and purchases to address police department equipment and facility needs after councilors described years of deferred maintenance at police headquarters.

Councilors voted to authorize four items related to the police department: a $145,000 transfer for four used SUVs, a $30,000 transfer for personal protective equipment and defensive tools, a $52,000 transfer for building repairs and cleaning equipment, and a $20,000 transfer to cover ammunition for mandatory training. The items passed on voice and roll-call votes during the meeting.

Councilor Jourdain raised the tone of the discussion, saying the conditions at the department reflected deeper management issues. “At some point, when does a conversation happen so that we have to come in with power washers to do what we're paying people to do?” Jourdain said, citing images shown to…