Holyoke, MA
Recent Holyoke City Council topics include resolutions & ordinances, public safety, planning & zoning, development projects, budget & taxes, roads & infrastructure.
Topics found in recent meetings
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HolyokeMA averageUS Census ACS
Typical home value $337,457 +4.1% yr/yr · +26.7% 5-yr
Home-value trend 2000–2026 (Zillow ZHVI)
Municipal budget
Total revenue$339.5M (FY2023)
Total spending$329.4M (FY2023)
Taxes$66.7M (FY2023)
Debt outstanding$74.8M (FY2023)
Spending per resident$8,685 (FY2023)
🗳️ How this town voted (48 contests)
Official town-by-town returns — MA Secretary of the Commonwealth (PD43+). ✓ marks this town's plurality choice.
U.S. Senate 2024-11-05
Elizabeth Ann Warren ✓ 9,550 · John Deaton 4,855
U.S. House — 1st Congressional 2024-11-05
Richard E. Neal ✓ 9,431 · Nadia Donya Milleron 4,414
State Senate — Hampden and Hampshire 2024-11-05
John C. Velis ✓ 11,718
State Representative — 5th Hampden 2024-11-05
Patricia A. Duffy ✓ 11,353
Register of Deeds — Hampden 2024-11-05
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera ✓ 8,870 · Bob Collamore 4,131
President 2024-11-05
Harris/ Walz ✓ 9,409 · Trump/ Vance 4,943 · De La Cruz/ Garcia 149 · Stein/ Caballero-Roca 144 · Ayyadurai/ Ellis 84 · Oliver/ Ter Maat 57
Governor's Council — 8th 2024-11-05
Tara J. Jacobs ✓ 10,804
Clerk of Courts — Hampden County 2024-11-05
Laura Gentile ✓ 10,990
U.S. Senate 2024-09-03
Elizabeth Ann Warren ✓ 2,231
U.S. Senate 2024-09-03
John Deaton ✓ 456 · Robert J. Antonellis 125 · Ian Cain 73
U.S. House — 1st Congressional 2024-09-03
Richard E. Neal ✓ 2,213
State Senate — Hampden and Hampshire 2024-09-03
John C. Velis ✓ 2,220
🗳️ Ballot measures (1)
Propositions decided directly by voters.
Q6: On May 7, 2024, the City Council voted, without taking a position, to place a question on the ballot which will…
2024-11-05 · Passed — 8,834 yes / 4,471 no
Upcoming
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Wed Sep 2, 2026 · 18:30
City Council
Council votes on $200,000 for school window/door design studies
The Holyoke City Council is deciding on several major financial and land-use items, including $200,000 in bond authorizations for schematic design studies at two elementary schools and the transfer of three Newton Street parcels to the Redevelopment Authority. The agenda also includes a public hearing on utility pole locations and a review of marijuana establishment petitions. Additionally, the council will vote on transferring $150,000 from police salary accounts to overtime and accepting a $1,500 arson watch grant.
- Public hearing on locating utility poles at 607 S Bridge St and between 67 & 69 Cleveland St
- Transfer of 31, 43, and 61 Newton Street to the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority for $1.00
- Authorization of $125,000 bond for schematic design study at Maurice A Donahue Elementary School
- Authorization of $75,000 bond for schematic design study at Lt. Elmer J. McMahon Elementary School
- Transfer of $150,000 from police pay accounts to police overtime account
budgeteducationzoningpublic-safetyland-use
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
1.
Petition for Pole and Wire Location
The GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT requests permission to locate a line of
wires, cables, poles and fixtures, including the necessary sustaining and protecting
fixtures, along
and across the following public way or ways:
▪ One (1) 40’ Class III pole in front of 607 S Bridge St, Holyoke MA
▪ One (1) 40’ Class II poles on between 67 & 69 Cleveland St, Holyoke MA
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
2.
June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
3.
December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
4.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos-
meeting minutes from August 4, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
5.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
6.
Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Sep 14, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Recent meetings
Wed Aug 26, 2026 · 18:30
Charter & Rules Committee
Mon Aug 24, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Thu Aug 13, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed Aug 12, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Mon Aug 10, 2026 · 18:30
Public Safety Committee
Tue Aug 4, 2026 · 18:30
City Council
Holyoke City Council to consider ad-hoc committee on commercial data centers
The City Council will discuss establishing a temporary committee to analyze the impacts of commercial data center development. The body is also reviewing several charter amendments and municipal board appointments.
- Proposed ad-hoc committee to study data center impacts on water, electricity, and zoning
- Zone change petitions for 12 Crescent St. and 120/0 Pine St.
- Transfer of 31, 43, and 61 Newton Street to Holyoke Redevelopment Authority for $1.00
- Proposed ordinance requiring municipal boards to submit meeting minutes within 31 days
- FY26 Firefighter Safety Equipment grant of $23,500
zoningdata-centerscharterappointmentspublic-safety
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 4, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
1. June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
2. December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
3. From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin Asst Jeffery Anderson-Burgos,
meeting minutes from June 16, 2026.
LAID ON THE TABLE
4. From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
5. Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally establish the Treasurer position & for practical purposes
combines the positions, while waiting for further charter changes that will be sent to the
state legislature in a home rule petition. Transition changes can happen in coordination
with other ordinance changes.
6. The Committee on Public Safety to whom was referred an order Invite Tapestry Health
to an upcoming Public Safety meeting for a conversation high …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Tue Jun 30, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed Jun 24, 2026 · 18:30
Public Service Committee
Tue Jun 23, 2026 · 18:00
City Council
Tue Jun 16, 2026 · 19:00
City Council
Council to discuss proposed FY2027 budget; vote on data center zoning ban and CFO salary increase
The Holyoke City Council will consider the proposed FY2027 city budget, which was laid on the table. Council will vote on an order to increase the salary range for the Chief Financial Administrative Officer from $115,000–$160,000 to $165,000–$210,000 to aid recruitment. Committees recommend granting a special permit for a cannabis cultivation facility at 1 Cabot Street and amending the zoning ordinance to prohibit data centers citywide. The agenda also includes several budget transfers and appointments.
- Proposed FY2027 City Budget (laid on table)
- Order to increase CFO salary range to $165,000–$210,000
- Special permit for Riverside Cannabis cultivation at 1 Cabot Street
- Zoning amendment to ban data centers citywide
- Appointment of Ryan Allen to Parks and Recreation Commission
budgetzoningcannabisdata-centerappointmentsfinancesalaries
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 16, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
1.
June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
2.
December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
3.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Jeffery Anderson-Burgos-meeting minutes
from June 2, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
-- Proposed FY2027 City Budget
5.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
6.
Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally establish the Treasurer position & for practical purposes
combines the positions, while waiting for further charter changes that will be sent to the
state legislature in a home rule petition. Transition changes can happen in coordination
with other ordinance changes.
7.
Sullivan- Order to Increase Schedule A, Grade 17 from a minimum of $115,000, mid of
$137,500, maximum of $160,000 t …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Jun 15, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Thu Jun 11, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed Jun 10, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Wed Jun 10, 2026 · 18:00
City Council
Mon Jun 8, 2026 · 18:30
Public Safety Committee
Thu Jun 4, 2026 · 18:30
Charter & Rules Committee
Tue Jun 2, 2026 · 19:00
City Council
Holyoke City Council to consider banning data centers and adjusting sewer rates
The City Council will review recommendations to set the sewer rate at $8.76 and ban data centers citywide. The meeting also includes several proposed traffic safety changes, including speed limit reductions and new signage. Various budget transfers and a $13,300 grant for 'SAFE AND SENIOR SAFE' are also on the agenda.
- Proposed amendment to Zoning Ordinance to ban data centers in all city districts
- Recommendation to adopt a sewer rate of $8.76
- Proposed speed limit reduction from 30 mph to 25 mph on St. Jerome from Dwight to Sargeant
- Acceptance of a $13,300 'FY26 SAFE AND SENIOR SAFE' grant
- Proposed budget transfers totaling $68,600 for postage and $31,500 for energy and utility costs
zoningutilitiestraffic-safetybudgetordinances
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 2, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
1.
June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
2.
December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
3.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos-
meeting minutes from May 19, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
-- Proposed FY2027 City Budget
5.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
6.
Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally establish the Treasurer position & for practical purposes
combines the positions, while waiting for further charter changes that will be sent to the
state legislature in a home rule petition. Transition changes can happen in coordination
with other ordinance changes.
COMMUNICATIONS
7.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia-letter reappointing Mr. Jeremy Smith of 485 Hillsdie Ave t …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Jun 1, 2026 · 18:00
City Council
Wed May 27, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Tue May 26, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed May 20, 2026 · 18:00
City Council
Tue May 19, 2026 · 18:30
City Council
Mayor Garcia to deliver State of the City address and propose FY2027 budget
The City Council will hear the State of the City address and the proposed FY2027 budget. The body is also considering several police department fund transfers and a new fund to help low-income elderly and disabled residents pay real estate taxes.
- Proposed FY2027 City Budget
- Recommendation to establish a fund for voluntary donations to help low-income elderly and disabled persons with real estate taxes
- Proposed fund transfers for police ammunition ($40,000), overtime ($150,000), and personnel equipment/supplies ($210,000)
- Home Rule Petition to locally prevent the sale and use of S-GARs
- Proposed salary increase for Chief Financial Administrative Officer (Grade 17) up to a maximum of $210,000
budgetpublic-safetyhousingzoningcity-charter
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
MAY 19, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1.
-- Mayor Garcia’s State of the City address
2.
-- Proposed FY2027 City Budget
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
3.
June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
4.
December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
5.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos-
meeting minutes from May 5, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
6.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
7.
Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally establish the Treasurer position & for practical purposes
combines the positions, while waiting for further charter changes that will be sent to the
state legislature in a home rule petition. Transition changes can happen in coordination
with other ordinance changes.
COMMUNICATIONS
8.
From Mayor Jos …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon May 18, 2026 · 18:30
Public Service Committee
Wed May 13, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Mon May 11, 2026 · 18:30
Public Safety Committee
Thu May 7, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed May 6, 2026 · 18:30
Charter & Rules Committee
Tue May 5, 2026 · 19:00
City Council
Council to vote on rezoning at 172 Sargeant St and tax deal for 103 Lyman St
The Holyoke City Council will consider a zone change at 172 Sargeant Street from BG to DR, a tax increment exemption agreement for a downtown market-rate housing development at 103 Lyman Street, and several budget transfers including $210,000 from police patrol pay to other police expenses. The council will also act on a proposed ordinance to prohibit second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on city-owned properties, and accept a parcel of land for recreation and conservation under Article 97.
- Petition for zone change at 172 Sargeant St from BG to DR
- Tax increment exemption (TIE) agreement with 103 Lyman LLC for downtown housing
- $210,000 budget transfer from police patrol pay to personnel equipment, energy, and supplies
- Proposed ordinance prohibiting SGARs on city-owned properties
- Acceptance of land for recreation/conservation under Article 97
zoningbudgetpolicehousingconservationtaxesrodenticidesland-use
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
MAY 5, 2026
[IGNORE_INDENT]
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULAR AND PENDING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
1.
June 11, 2024, September 4, 2024, and April 15, 2025 Executive Session Minutes -
Reviewed and ready for partial release as of September 17, 2025
2.
December 9, 2024 Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes - Reviewed and
withheld in entirety as of September 17, 2025
3.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos-
meeting minutes from April 21, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
From City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary and Admin. Assistant Jeffery Anderson-Burgos -
October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
5.
From Lauren Niles, Holyoke Planning Board, recommendation for creation of an RC
district.
6.
The Committee on Ordinance to whom was referred an order that the city adopt an
ordinance that would prohibit the use of SGARs on City-owned properties.
Recommended that the order be adopted, and that the Board of Health be requested for
a written plan on transitioning to alternatives.
7.
Vacon- Greaney- ORDER: that city council go to the first ballot to elect a treasurer at
the April 21, 2026 city council meeting in accordance with our current charter. Our city
council appointed Collector has indicated interest in the Treasurer/Collector position. A
majority of the city council has had the opportunity to interview our Collector. This
appointment would legally establish the Treasure …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Wed Apr 29, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Tue Apr 28, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Showing the 30 most recent meetings of 32 on record.
💰 Federal awards (top 10 by amount)
Largest recent federal contract/grant awards to recipients in this city (2023–present), via USAspending.gov.
| $8.4M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010124/4400002078/4100029995/C |
| $8.1M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010570/4400002078/4100031525/C |
| $8.0M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010177/4400002078/4100030365/C |
| $7.7M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010391/4400002078/4100031077/C |
| $7.4M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011140/4400002364/4100033561/C |
| $7.0M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011409/4400002604/4100034545/C |
| $7.0M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010818/4400002364/4100032258/C |
| $5.2M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011072/4400002364/4100033186/C |
| $4.6M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000010866/4400002364/4100032458/C |
| $3.7M | EAST BAKING COMPANY, INC. Department of Agriculture · COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011364/4400002604/4100034357/C |
Source: USAspending.gov (U.S. Treasury) — federal awards only, not city budgets.
🌐 County-level context (Hampden County)
County-level context — from BLS, IRS, FEMA, HUD, Census. These figures cover the whole county this city sits in, not just the city itself.
Net migration-1,112 people (-$141.7M net AGI · 2023)
Federal disasters (10 yr)3 ({"Hurricane": 7, "Snowstorm": 6, "Severe Storm": 6, "Biologi · last Fri Sep 15, 2023)
Traffic fatalities2 (2 pedestrian · 2024)
Business establishments9,339 (168,744 employees · 2023)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,496/mo (3,324 assisted households · 2025)
Adults with low literacy25.8% (low numeracy 36% · 2017)
Sources: BLS LAUS, IRS SOI, FEMA, NHTSA FARS, Census CBP, HUD, NCES PIAAC
City profile
Everything below is drawn from this city’s own public record and primary-source government data. AI-written summaries are a finding aid, not a citable quote.
$339.5M
Annual budget
$74.8M
Debt outstanding
102
Permitted housing units
The money — in
source: Census gov-finance & state comptrollerBudget
Revenue$339.5M
Spending$329.4M
Revenue ran ahead of operating spending this year.
Debt load MODERATE
Outstanding debt$74.8M
Debt-to-revenue0.22×
Debt-load index57 / 100
A debt-load indicator (national percentile of debt, deficit & aid-reliance) — not a solvency verdict. Cross-checked against official state fiscal-stress scores where they exist.
Outcomes — economic mobility
source: Opportunity Atlas (Harvard) · research useFor kids who grew up here in low-income households, their adult household-income rank (0–1). The average hides a gap by race:
Research-only layer, shown here for context — not included in the CC BY 4.0 bulk download.
Where it’s happening
geocoded land-use decisions🗺 Interactive map
Every rezoning, development approval, and permit — explore the geocoded records in the research explorer.