Holyoke City advisory committee recommends funding for six preservation and community projects, approves $772,960 in awards

The Holyoke City Community Preservation Advisory Committee voted to recommend funding for six preservation and community projects and to forward those recommendations to the City Council.

At the meeting the committee recommended full funding for Scott Tower repairs at Anniversary Hill Park ($200,000), a City Hall granite-stairs study ($100,000), exterior work at the Holyoke Health Center children's building ($225,000), restoration of four hand-painted merry-go-round horses ($31,960), a Wisteria Hurst butler's pantry project ($65,000) and neighborhood infrastructure at the Neighbor-to-Neighbor community garden ($50,000). The committee said it will transmit the funding recommendations to City Council this week for final action.

Why it matters: The Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds historic preservation, open-space and recreational projects in Holyoke City. Committee members voiced that the projects are highly visible downtown priorities for safety, historic preservation and neighborhood benefit and that CPA funds can leverage other outside resources.

The budget picture and required set-aside

Staff explained the account balances and required set-asides under state law. Committee members were told the cycle began with a combined balance and carryover of approximately $919,112; by statute the committee must withhold 10% of that total for affordable-housing allocations (reported as about $81,035). After set-asides and prior carryovers the committee said it had roughly $762,946 available to allocate this cycle.

Scott Tower and City Hall stairs

The committee's top-ranked project was Scott Tower (Anniversary Hill Park), for which members recommended a $200,000 award to support masonry, interior steps replacement and capping the tower base. Sarah said it was an "excellent project" long awaited by residents; the motion to fully fund passed by roll call, 7-0.

Committee members next approved $100,000 to fund a detailed conditions assessment, permitting and bid drawings for the City Hall granite stairs (study funds only; not construction). Members repeatedly framed the stairs as both a safety liability and a civic symbol. The motion to fund the study passed 7-0.

Merry-go-round, Wisteria Hurst and Holyoke Health Center

The advisory group recommended $31,960 to restore four hand-painted, roughly 96-year-old horses on the Holyoke merry-go-round; members described the carousel as an "iconic" community asset and approved that award (vote recorded as 6-0 for that item when one member had stepped out).

The committee also approved a $65,000 award to Wisteria Hurst for butler's pantry repairs and exhibit work; Chris recused from that vote and the motion carried (6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain).

On the Holyoke Health Center children's building on High Street, the committee recommended the full $225,000 request to replace plywood-covered windows. Several members noted the center's broader investment in downtown rehabilitation and the economic activity nonprofits generate; members also discussed whether the nonprofit had a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) arrangement with the city. The motion to fund the full $225,000 passed by roll call, 7-0.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor garden: salary and contract language debate

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor community garden request ($50,000) prompted the meeting's most sustained debate. The project description asked for infrastructure improvements (fruit trees, raised beds, fence relocation, alleyway improvements, a kiosk and a new electrical outlet). Committee members expressed broad support for the garden work but differed on whether CPA funds may be used to cover salary or ongoing program costs.

Michael Falsetti voted against the award as presented, saying he was "dead set against" paying salaries from CPA funds and that allowing such payments could set a problematic precedent. Jay (the chair) and other members said they shared the concern and proposed that the committee move forward provided the contract language restricts funding to direct project costs and project-management tasks tied to delivering the physical work. Mary and Sarah asked staff to consult the city solicitor and to include explicit contract language limiting payments to direct project-related costs. With that caveat, the motion to recommend $50,000 for the garden passed 6-1 (Falsetti opposed).

Process items and next steps

The committee discussed a joint meeting with the Historic Commission to align eligibility review and noted the Nick's Nest project remains ineligible until the Historic Commission makes a determination. Staff also previewed a proposed migration of the committee's web content to the city website to address accessibility and compliance concerns; a fact sheet and timeline will be shared with members ahead of the next meeting.

The committee chair said staff would forward the committee's recommendations and supporting materials to City Council this week for consideration. The board scheduled contract discussions for the next meeting and said it would work with the city solicitor to ensure agreement language matches committee intent.

Votes at a glance

- Scott Tower (Anniversary Hill Park) ' $200,000 (approved 7-0) - City Hall granite stairs study ' $100,000 (approved 7-0) - Holyoke merry-go-round horses restoration ' $31,960 (approved 6-0; one member absent) - Wisteria Hurst butler's pantry ' $65,000 (approved 6-0-1, Chris abstained) - Holyoke Health Center (children's building windows) ' $225,000 (approved 7-0) - Neighbor-to-Neighbor community garden ' $50,000 (approved 6-1; Michael Falsetti opposed pending solicitor review on salary language)

What happens next

The committee will send its recommendations to City Council for final action. Staff and the chair will consult the city solicitor to draft contract language that clearly limits payments to direct project costs and project management tasks where applicable.