Holyoke finance committee forwards multiple grants and agreements including Scott Tower restoration funding

Holyoke’s Finance Committee on Monday recommended the City Council accept several state grants and move forward on a large MassDOT construction agreement.

City staff presented a Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for $425,000 to fund the restoration of Scott Tower and surrounding landscaping at Anniversary Hill Park. “We got $425,000 towards the full restoration of Scott Tower,” Yoni said, adding that $100,000 in Community Preservation Act funds is already secured and that the project’s total revitalization cost is listed in the order as $700,550. The committee voted to send the resolution authorizing the mayor to accept the grant to the full City Council by voice vote.

The committee also approved accepting a $285,631.88 Complete Streets grant to fund construction improvements on Ray Street between Sargent and Cabot. Mike Gallagher of the Department of Public Works said the award will be part of multi-phase funding that ties into the broader Center City project, and noted additional local funds (including cannabis fund allocations) will be used for portions of the work.

A separate order to accept a Mass Preservation Project grant of $65,000 to complete restoration of the stained-glass windows in City Hall’s ballroom was approved; the DPW described this as the final phase of a long-running restoration.

The most substantial item discussed was the MassDOT Center City Connector agreement, listed in committee materials as $5,341,978.91. Victoria, the city planner assigned to the project, told the committee that DOT has bid and selected a low bidder and that the agreement obligates the city to bear any construction costs exceeding 110% of the low bid and any design-change costs that arise during construction. To address committee confusion (some members read the order as a “no match” grant), Victoria said she would prepare a one-page addendum clarifying cost breakdowns, the 110% contingency, and the role and likely costs for Holyoke Water Works’ separate utility work. Mayor (unnamed) confirmed the city has placed a $100,000 Chapter 90 hold as a contingency option if additional funds are needed. Committee members voted to forward the order with a requested clarifying addendum for the full council.

All votes recorded in committee were by voice; where committee minutes recorded only the voice vote they are reported here as approved by the committee and sent to the full City Council for final action.

What happens next: The committee forwarded the orders to the full City Council, with staff asked to provide the promised addendum and corrected front-page language before that meeting. The Center City agreement will return with clarified language and attachments showing the contingency and cost breakdowns.