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Holyoke council approves $45,525 transfer to contracted forestry; mayor previously pledged $150,000 from ARPA interest
Summary
The council approved a $45,525.58 transfer to contracted forestry services and councilors said the mayor committed an additional $150,000 from ARPA interest, bringing the city's tree‑removal program close to the $200,000 target to remove dangerous trees.
The Holyoke City Council at its June 3 meeting approved a transfer of $45,525.58 to contracted forestry services, a step councilors said advances a broader effort to remove hazardous trees across the city.
Councilor Sullivan, speaking in finance committee and at the council meeting, said the mayor agreed to commit $150,000 from ARPA interest funds toward tree removal, and the transfer approved at the meeting would push the city closer to the previously recommended $200,000 target. Councilors described the combined funding as an effort to address a backlog of hazardous trees identified on a city list.
Councilor Sullivan said the action represented collaboration between the council and the mayor’s office. “I think it's a fantastic example of the collaboration we can achieve here between the mayor's office and the committee and the council. This is a win for the whole city,” Sullivan said.
Councilor Jourdain urged the city to put the identified trees out to bid as a package to increase accountability and secure better prices. “We need to have it like, here's the list… somebody gives us a bid that says, we will take down these hundred trees and it's gonna cost you x,” Jourdain said, urging competitive procurement and clear deliverables tied to the list of most dangerous trees.
Action taken: The council voted to pass the transfer request (first and second readings were approved and the clerk called the roll); the transfer was adopted that evening. Councilors said they expect administration staff to use the funds against a prioritized list of hazardous trees and to pursue competitive procurement that will maximize the number of trees removed for the available funds.
Context and next steps: Councilors noted the problem has been raised in prior meetings and that residents have repeatedly requested tree removal in many neighborhoods. Members requested clearer procurement planning and greater transparency about which trees will be removed and the expected schedule. Councilors said they will follow up with the administration and that a detailed bid process could recover greater value from the combined funds.
