The Holyoke City Council finance committee approved advancing a $33,000 transfer to the Department of Public Works’ professional engineering services account, with a request for the DPW to confirm the need for funds before full council consideration.

The transfer was described in the motion as $17,000 from city engineer and $16,000 from hoisting equipment operators, for a total of $33,000 to fund professional engineering services. Committee members noted the item had been on the agenda several months and that the funds relate to work by an outgoing city engineer. Because no DPW representative was present, the committee voted to move the item forward for approval with the caveat that DPW (Carl) notify the clerk by the committee’s next meeting on Feb. 18 if the $33,000 is still required; if not, the item could be denied or returned to the auditor.

Councilors moved to approve the transfer tonight to avoid delaying payroll or services for an employee who might otherwise be affected, while reserving the right for the full council to take final action if the DPW subsequently indicates the funding is not needed.