Finance committee approves $55,000 transfer to hire entry-level development specialist

The Holyoke Finance Committee on Sept. 8 approved a $55,000 transfer to fund an entry-level development specialist position in the Office of Planning and Economic Development and forwarded the measure to the full City Council for final action.

Aaron Vega, a city staff member who addressed the committee, said recent staffing changes left the economic development side of OPED without an administrative support position and without the former senior project manager. Vega said the transfer moves funds from a project manager line to the development specialist line so the office can recruit an entry-level staffer they expect is more likely to fill the role given current salaries.

Vega said the department had hoped to retain funding for both a senior project manager and an entry-level position in the fiscal-year budget; because that did not happen “it just makes more sense for us to bring in the entry level position as the development specialist. We're more likely to get somebody, at that salary rate, with that job description.”

Councilors asked no substantive follow-up questions and made the committee motion to approve. The committee voted in favor to send the transfer to the full council for a full vote.

If approved by the council, OPED’s hiring process will proceed to fill the development specialist position and staff said they intend to seek funding for additional positions in future budgets.