The Holyoke City Council spent an extended portion of its Dec. 16 meeting debating a proposed update to the city’s Schedule A salary table, a long‑running item that supporters say aligns pay with neighboring municipalities and that opponents say increases fixed costs for taxpayers.

Councilor Rivera introduced the ordinance committee report and explained the goal of implementing the 2014 salary study to make municipal salaries competitive and allow the city to post for a treasurer. Councilors split on whether to proceed before the new council takes office. Councilor McGrath Smith quantified the immediate impact: “the difference... is $20,453.72 across 6 positions,” she said, describing line‑by‑line shifts in affected grades (including library director and HR administrative assistant adjustments).

Councilor Bacon argued the city has an “ever escalating spending problem that is beyond the capacity of the taxpayers to continue to afford” and cautioned against approving changes that would take effect under the incoming council. Others said updating pay is necessary to retain and recruit staff for critical municipal functions such as DPW and public safety oversight.

A roll‑call on passage produced 6 yeas, 5 nays and 1 abstention. Immediately following that vote, councilors moved to reconsider and table the item; that motion passed without further discussion. As a result, Schedule A changes were not finalized and the treasurer hiring process remains subject to administrative follow up and clarification on whether the absence of a Schedule A listing prevents posting.

Next steps: the item is tabled so the council and relevant staff (HR, treasurer’s office and law department) can reconcile whether the treasurer posting may proceed administratively and to clarify fiscal impacts before the council takes a final vote.