Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grant Applications Eligibility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holyoke CPA committee delays eligibility votes, extends full-application deadline
Summary
Committee members reviewed 16 CPA applications for historic and open-space projects, objected to staff-only eligibility screening, and voted unanimously to extend the full-application deadline until the committee can review eligibility in full.
The Holyoke City Community Preservation Committee reviewed a slate of 16 applications seeking funding for historic restorations and open-space improvements and chose to postpone eligibility decisions so members can read full applications and provide feedback.
Chair Jay summarized the applications, which included historic projects (stained-glass window restorations, the Butler Pantry at Wisteriahurst Museum, carousel-horse restoration at the Holyoke Merry-go-round, and window restoration at the Russell Osborne Building), civic repairs (veterans memorial foundation work, granite-stair studies and repairs), and multiple park and recreation projects (pool cover/storage, bleachers at Anniversary Field, Springdale Park gazebos and restrooms, Bonin Field security and fencing, Anniversary Hill Park Phase 2 including Scott's Tower restoration, and a community garden expansion on Dwight and Walnut streets). The committee had no community housing applications this year.
Michael objected to the process of having the chair and staff determine eligibility without committee members reading full applications. “I would prefer that everybody get to read the original applications,” he said, noting the committee’s past practice of reviewing full submissions.
Chair Jay said the staff (Chair and Naomi) had previously taken responsibility for initial eligibility screening and offered to circulate a spreadsheet with links and a written recommendation. He proposed either a special meeting to finalize eligibility before the Oct. 3 full-application deadline or extending the deadline to give members time to review; committee members chose to extend the deadline. The committee voted to extend the full-application due date indefinitely and to establish a new deadline once eligibility is agreed.
Motion to extend the full-application deadline: Michael (moved); second not specified. Roll call: Helene Yes; Mary Yes; Meg (stepped out); Michael Yes; Sarah Yes; Lauren Yes; Jay Yes; Maribel Yes. Tally: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstain, 1 Absent. Outcome: approved.
The committee also discussed eligibility details: staff found one application (Saint Paul’s Church stained-glass project) ineligible. Members asked staff to circulate all full applications and the staff recommendations; the chair agreed to do so and to schedule a special meeting or raise the item at the next regular meeting to take a formal vote on eligibility.
Separately, the committee voted to table a discussion of officer term limits until the October meeting so more members—particularly a longtime chair absent from this meeting—could participate. Motion to table term-limits discussion: moved by Jay; seconded by Mary. Roll call: Helene Yes; Mary Yes; Michael Yes; Sarah Yes; Lauren Yes; Jay Yes; Maribel Yes. Tally: 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstain. Outcome: approved.
Committee staff also reported that they plan to send eligibility letters to applicants once the committee finalizes the schedule and that applicants will be given adequate time to prepare full submissions.
