Holyoke City Council pushes for greater accountability related to grants
Updated Jan 13, 2021;
On Tuesday, the City Auditor introduced proposed accounting and tracking procedures, especially with problem grant funds.
The order, filed by Councilors David Bartley and Linda Vacon, called for drafting “internal controls on how city grants are to be administered, so that future governments (city taxpayers) are not faced with paying for administrative shortfalls.”
Councilor Joseph McGiverin, who chairs the Finance Committee, has pushed for better accountability from city departments, particularly when seeking reimbursements after a grant expires.
The unpaid reimbursements cause temporary or long-term deficits in the city’s annual budgets. The deficiencies caught the attention of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Local Services Division.
Holyoke City Council boosts hourly rate for Reserve Police Officers
Updated Jan 07, 2021;
Reserve officers perform similar duties as full-time cops and attend the police academy in Springfield for training.
Ordinance Committee Chair Rebecca Lisi said her councilors looked at the hourly rates for reserve police officers in nearby communities. The committee arrived at the $18 hour for the current fiscal years, with the hope of raising the rate to $20 in Fiscal 2022.
Lisi said the council would need to review union contracts for future raises to avoid conflicts.
The hourly increase was supported by Councilors Todd McGee, Peter Tallman, Joseph McGiverin and Terence Murphy.