Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holyoke City Council accepts $2,500 workplace safety grant for DPW training
Summary
The Holyoke City Council unanimously approved acceptance of a $2,500 workplace safety and education grant for the Department of Public Works to cover prior OSHA training costs and authorize establishment of a fund.
On Aug. 25, 2025, the Holyoke City Council voted unanimously to accept a $2,500 workplace safety and education grant for the Department of Public Works and to authorize establishment of a fund to receive the award.
The grant, filed by Councilor Devine, covers OSHA training the city contracted for in May. City staff said the funds were processed in a prior fiscal year but were not routed to the council for formal acceptance until this meeting.
Councilor Devine said the award had been granted to the DPW and noted it provides Massachusetts companies with financial assistance "for the prevention of occupational injury, illness, and death in the workplace." Mary Monahan, interim director of the Department of Public Works, told the council, "the funds were already processed through the finance operations and everything back in November, December," and that the city contracted with a consultant in May to provide the OSHA training.
Councilors packaged items 1 and 2 — the grant acceptance and an authorizing appropriation of $2,500 from the DPW education and training line for services rendered in fiscal 2025 — and voted to pass both readings. Councilor Bartley said accepting the award "makes a lot of sense" and urged the council to move forward.
During the discussion Monahan also said the state is holding up the award of a subsequent grant for this year's OSHA training until the council approves the earlier grant. The council's action establishes the fund and clears the invoice payment for the contractor that had been submitted against the prior fiscal year balance.
The motion to accept the grant and appropriate the $2,500 passed on a roll-call vote with all present voting yes; one councilor was recorded absent for the roll call.
The mayor and DPW staff were present for the meeting. Councilors asked no further amendments and directed staff to proceed with the contract payment and to continue the application process for the next OSHA training grant.
