Holyoke, MA
Recent Holyoke City Council topics include resolutions & ordinances, planning & zoning, budget & taxes, public safety, development projects, roads & infrastructure.
Topics found in recent meetings
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Official website pages
HolyokeMA averageUS Census ACS
Typical home value $330,652 +4.3% yr/yr · +27.7% 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 (65 contests)
Official town-by-town returns — MA Secretary of the Commonwealth (PD43+). ✓ marks this town's plurality choice.
U.S. Senate 2026-09-01
John Deaton ✓ 677
U.S. Senate 2026-09-01
Edward J. Markey ✓ 3,092 · Seth W. Moulton 1,216
U.S. House — 1st Congressional 2026-09-01
Jeromie Whalen ✓ 2,402 · Richard E. Neal 1,949
Treasurer 2026-09-01
Deborah B. Goldberg ✓ 3,432
Treasurer 2026-09-01
Elizabeth Dionne ✓ 596
State Senate — Hampden and Hampshire 2026-09-01
John Christopher Velis ✓ 3,544
State Representative — 5th Hampden 2026-09-01
Patricia A. Duffy ✓ 3,259 · Dori Lynn Dean 853
Secretary of the Commonwealth 2026-09-01
William Francis Galvin ✓ 3,644
Secretary of the Commonwealth 2026-09-01
Anne R. Brensley ✓ 79
Register of Probate — Hampden County 2026-09-01
Rosemary A. Saccomani ✓ 3,377
Governor's Council — 8th 2026-09-01
Tara J. Jacobs ✓ 2,035 · Michael A. Fenton 1,909
Governor 2026-09-01
Maura Healey ✓ 3,648
🗳️ 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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Thu Nov 12, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Recent meetings
Tue Oct 20, 2026 · 18:30
City Council
City Council to consider ad-hoc committee for commercial data center impacts
The Holyoke City Council will discuss the creation of a temporary committee to study the impacts of commercial data centers. The body is also reviewing several special permits for cannabis and drive-thru businesses, as well as various budget transfers and grant acceptances.
- Special permit for Diablo Man, LLC marijuana manufacturing at 73 Sargeant Street
- Special permit for a drive-thru facility at 500 Easthampton Rd. Lot A
- Acceptance of grants including $75,000.98 from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
- Proposed $15,000 from Community Preservation Fund for 1935 Mack Fire Truck Restoration
- Special permit for dimensional variation at 69 Gates St.
zoningcannabisbudgetgrantseconomic-developmentpublic-safety
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 20, 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 October 6, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
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
5.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia, letter appointing Ms. Karen Betournay of 751 Hampden St.
to serve on the Library Board of Directors. Ms. Betournay will serve a three-year term
expiring February 229.
6.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia- letter a …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Oct 19, 2026 · 18:30
Public Safety Committee
Wed Oct 14, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Tue Oct 13, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Wed Oct 7, 2026 · 18:30
Public Service Committee
Tue Oct 6, 2026 · 18:30
City Council
Holyoke City Council to weigh Columbus Day name change, treasurer election, and zoning petitions
The Holyoke City Council meets on October 6, 2026, with a packed agenda covering a proposed ordinance to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, a pending order to elect a treasurer at the April 21, 2026 meeting, and several zoning and licensing petitions. The council will also receive communications on police license plate recognition policy, mayoral appointments, and city financial reports. Many items are committee recommendations or awaiting disposition, meaning no final action may be taken at this meeting.
- Order to replace 'Columbus Day' with 'Indigenous Peoples' Day' in ordinance sections 2-38 and 2-39 (Committee on Ordinance recommends adoption)
- Order to elect a treasurer at the April 21, 2026 city council meeting, combining the Treasurer/Collector positions (laid on the table)
- Petition from Roxanne Roman of 76 Elmwood Ave for a zone change from RA to R-2 to develop two duplexes on a vacant parcel
- Zone change application from BG to DR at 172 Sargeant Street (060-06-001) to allow second-floor residential use (Committee recommends granting)
- Order to increase parking fines to $75–$150 and set a $150 fine for parking ban violations (awaiting disposition)
zoningordinancescity-councilpublic-safetybudgetlicensingindigenous-peoples-daytreasurer
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 6, 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 September 15, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
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
5.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia-communication regarding the City Forestry Crew
6.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia- letter appointing Mr. Stephen Fay of 218 Pleasant St. to
serve as an alternate of the new Historical Commission. Mr. Fay's term …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Oct 5, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Thu Oct 1, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Tue Sep 29, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Mon Sep 28, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
Mon Sep 21, 2026 · 18:30
Public Safety Committee
Thu Sep 17, 2026 · 18:30
Ordinance Committee
Wed Sep 16, 2026 · 18:30
Charter & Rules Committee
Tue Sep 15, 2026 · 18:30
General
Council to vote on $750K transfer for Ezekiel's Plan 2.0
The Holyoke City Council will consider several financial orders, including a $750,000 transfer from cannabis stabilization funds to Ezekiel's Plan 2.0, acceptance of various grants, and a $462.55 appropriation for DPW. They will also discuss a potential treasurer election, review council rules, and consider a data center ban or moratorium. The agenda includes appointments to the Historical Commission and reports from committees.
- Transfer $750,000 from Cannabis Stabilization to Ezekiel's Plan 2.0
- Accept $352,020.27 FY2026 WRAP allocation from MassDOT
- Accept grants: $75,000 Mass Gaming Commission, $75,000.98 Mass Technology Collaborative, $8,550 MEMA, $3,260 MassDOT
- Order to elect treasurer at April 21, 2026 meeting
- Appointments to new Historical Commission
budgetgrantstreasurerhistorical-commissiondata-centerscouncil-ruleselections
📄 From the agenda
Extracted text of the official agenda document (automated extraction — may contain OCR/formatting errors).
AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 15, 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 September 2, 2026
LAID ON THE TABLE
4.
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
5.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia-letter appointing Ms. Susan Brouillette of 179 Morgan St. to
serve on the new Historical Commission. Term will expire on December 1, 2026.
6.
From Mayor Joshua Garcia-letter appointing Mr. Stephan Fay o …
Excerpt truncated on this listing page. Full text →
Mon Sep 14, 2026 · 18:30
Development & Governmental Relation Committee
Tue Sep 8, 2026 · 18:30
Finance Committee
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 →
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 · 18:00
City Council
Showing the 30 most recent meetings of 84 on record. See the yearly meeting archives below for the full history.
💰 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.