The Holyoke Commission on Disability on Sept. 25 said it had confirmed Massachusetts open‑meeting guidance after consulting the city solicitor and the state office on disability, and clarified that the commission’s ADA city employee is an advisory, non‑voting member.

Chair Lynn told colleagues she had spoken with the city solicitor (Degnan) and staff at the Massachusetts Office on Disability and read guidance that a simple majority for a quorum requires voting members only. "Our ADA city employee officer is not a voting member," Lynn said, adding the commission needs four votes of six voting members to establish a quorum.

The commission also reviewed the city fiscal‑year schedule for its allocation — July 2, 2025, through June 2026 — and discussed how its four previously adopted priorities map to the two line items the mayor's office included in the budget. Lynn said the fiscal‑year account is not revolving and funds "must be used in the way they were designated" by the council, but noted a separate 22G revolving account could offer more flexibility.

Members debated timing for pursuing the 22G option. Some urged pausing because the mayoral and council finance calendar and the upcoming municipal election limit staff and council availability; others said it would be advantageous to press forward. Lynn said the commission had sought legal opinions from city attorneys and planned to follow up with the finance committee's counsel before advancing the 22G application.

Why it matters: The clarification affects how the commission reaches decisions and how quickly it can spend its allocation, because the non‑revolving fiscal account obligates the commission to spend available funds within the fiscal year. The 22G option could let the commission carry funds forward between years but requires additional city process and legal review.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the 22G application at the meeting; members agreed to wait for further legal guidance and to coordinate with councilors and finance staff on next steps.