Holyoke council sends $26.1 million in school roof projects to finance after MSBA approval

The Holyoke City Council on Sept. 2 voted to take up three school-roof projects and referred the appropriations to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The council voted to send to finance first-reading motions for: $8,691,405 to replace the roof at the Kelly School (item 65); $4,498,497 for McMahon Elementary School (item 66); and $12,945,697 for Holyoke High School (item 67). Councilors suspended the rules to take the three items up out of order and approved sending them to the Finance Committee for detailed review.

Sean Sheedy, representing the school department in public comment, told the council the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) at its most recent board meeting “voted yes on these 3 projects.” Sheedy said Holyoke’s projects will receive MSBA reimbursement of about 80% of eligible costs and that the authority is now reimbursing for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades such as bathroom work, door widths and railings in addition to roof replacements.

Council action at the meeting was procedural: the council passed the motions to refer the three appropriation orders to the Finance Committee for budgetary review and next steps. No final appropriation was adopted by the full council at the Sept. 2 meeting; the Finance Committee will examine the projects’ details and recommend whether to advance appropriations and bond authorization.

If the MSBA reimbursement percentage and the city’s share remain as discussed, the projects would represent a major capital investment in school infrastructure with a significant external funding share. The council clerk said the city would notify the School Department and the Finance Committee of the referal and schedule the items for committee consideration.