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Finance committee approves vehicle-related transfers; fire chief warns of parts shortages tied to industry consolidation
Summary
The Holyoke City Finance Committee approved transfers totaling $50,000 to cover fire department vehicle repairs and supplies, and approved a police capital vehicle purchase; the fire chief warned that parts shortages and higher costs tied to industry consolidation (named as REV) are driving higher maintenance costs.
The Holyoke City Finance Committee approved several budget transfers Dec. 8 to cover public-safety vehicle needs and other routine obligations.
The committee approved an internal FY2026 transfer of $50,000 from the firefighter totals—$25,000 to repair and maintenance of vehicles and $25,000 to supplies for motor vehicles—to replenish accounts the department uses to buy parts and supplies. Chief Katilevich told the committee current balances were low (repair: $10,801.94; supplies: $9,541) and that parts prices have “doubled and tripled.” He said national industry consolidation—identified in the discussion as REV (referred to in the meeting as “rev group”)—has reduced the number of producers and delayed availability for some specialized parts. “They own all the different companies that are making these,” Katilevich said, and the department has sometimes turned to a local fabricator to get needed components quickly.
Separately, the committee approved a transfer to Capital Outlay Motor Vehicles to cover a lightly used police vehicle purchased at a favorable price. Sergeant Sir Hyde said the purchase required a transfer to cover a temporary deficit and that the account will be back up to date once the transfer is posted.
The meeting also addressed a TNC rideshare fund transfer to OPED (about $7,712) tied to Holyoke’s obligation to a bike-share program administered by the city of Northampton; that transfer was discussed and approved once committee members confirmed it met the city’s commitment. Item 6, a $100,000 raise from the tax levy for a special article on crisis relief, was returned to the auditor at the mayor’s request.
Motions on the transfers and the bike-share payment were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The chief’s description of supply-chain effects and the department’s use of local fabrication were presented as operational context; no further formal action on procurement policy was taken at the meeting.
