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Holyoke committee hears plan for 100 'dangerous' trees, tables $45K transfer pending larger funding decision
Summary
The Finance Committee reviewed a prioritized list of roughly 100 hazardous trees and debated a $45,000 transfer for contracted removals. Members asked for clearer cost estimates and pushed for a comprehensive bid process and possible use of $200,000 in ARPA funds; the committee tabled the transfer pending further action.
The Holyoke City Finance Committee reviewed a list of roughly 100 priority tree removals on May 27 and debated a requested transfer of approximately $45,000 to hire contractors for contracted forestry services; the committee ultimately tabled the transfer while pursuing a larger funding plan.
City forester John (first name used in the meeting) told the committee the top-priority trees had caused property damage or posed high risk and that the list was generated primarily from resident calls. John said the department had been “totally reactionary” for years and that in-house capacity was limited: he said the department has no full tree crew and has been out of contractor funds since January.
“We started Main Street, we took down 39, 40 dead trees there … we were never able to finish pruning that street,” John said, describing a mix of removals and pruning left incomplete because of staff and budget constraints.
Interim DPW leadership said a contractor could begin June 2 and that $45,000 would fund about five weeks of contractor work on the prioritized list; cost varies by tree and site because removals may require police details and disposal charges. Councilors pressed for a more accountable procurement approach: several urged a formal bid package that would give firms the full list and let bidders price the work, or at least provide time-and-materials estimates tied to a defined scope.
“This is public work,” Councillor McGrath Smith said. “You bid, you bid, you bid, and then we evaluate and open up a package that says we’re gonna do this and this and this and this is what it’s gonna cost taxpayers.”
Councillor Sullivan and others noted $200,000 in ARPA funds previously recommended for tree work remains available; Sullivan said the committee should seek that broader funding rather than rely solely on a small transfer that will not address the full list. Several councilors supported authorizing the contractor work now and using the $45,000 to gather real-world cost data; others urged tabling until the mayor and DPW confirm access to the $200,000 and present a multi-year plan.
The committee voted to table the transfer and requested: a procurement plan or bid package for the 100-tree list, an accounting of recent removals and costs (the DPW previously provided a 238-tree removal figure over the past two years), and a status update on the $200,000 ARPA allocation. Councilors also asked staff to coordinate on accessible sidewalk conflicts and lower-hanging branches identified by residents.
Why it matters: The city is balancing urgent public-safety tree removals with constrained department staffing and a backlog of maintenance. Councilors said they are prepared to fund a large removal effort if DPW presents a coherent procurement and budget plan that protects taxpayers and ensures accountability.
