Holyoke finance committee hears Commission on Disabilities request to use handicap-parking fines under M.G.L. ch. 40, §22G; committee tables proposal for more财政

Holyoke Finance Committee members on June 23 heard a multi-hour presentation from the Holyoke Commission on Disabilities, the Massachusetts Office on Disability and city staff about Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40, §22G, a statute that authorizes cities and towns that have accepted §8J to allocate funds collected from fines for handicap parking violations to a local Commission on Disabilities.

The Commission on Disabilities, represented by chair Lynn Horan and commission member Marlene Connor, asked the committee to adopt §22G so the commission can hold a separate account for fines and use that money for disability-related projects the commission identifies. Jeffrey Dugan, assistant director for community services at the Massachusetts Office on Disability, told the committee that municipalities that adopt §22G have used the funds for projects including accessible transportation, playgrounds, beach mats, library assistive devices and awareness campaigns.

Why it matters: the commission and commissioners said an independent account would let disabled residents benefit directly from fines tied to misuse of accessible parking. Commissioners noted that Holyoke has not previously established…