Finance committee approves police IT transfer, accepts two public-safety grants
Summary
The Holyoke Finance Committee approved a $10,500 intra-department transfer to cover police technology expenses and accepted two state grants totaling about $636,446 to fund gang suppression, walking beats and joint crime-suppression work.
The Holyoke City Council Finance Committee on Jan. 14 voted to transfer $10,500 within the police budget to cover pending technology invoices and accepted two state public-safety grants that together contribute roughly $636,446 to local crime-suppression programs.
Committee chair Councilor Carmen Devine moved the transfer, which shifts $10,500 from patrolmen to map/data maintenance to cover invoices tied to the department’s new records-management system. Chief Brian Keenan and Sergeant Zurheide told the committee that a recent payment to the Mark43 record-management system consumed a substantial portion of the department’s IT budget and the transfer was needed to cover outstanding bills.
The committee also accepted the Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant, a federal/state program the department typically receives annually. Sergeant Zurheide told the committee the city’s award this year increased to $606,446.54 and runs through Dec. 31, 2025. The grant carries a 25 percent in-kind match provided by partner organizations; the city and police department do not pay cash toward the match. Holyoke Police Department staff were allocated roughly $200,000 from the award for gang-suppression activities, hot-spot patrols and “walking beats” in targeted housing complexes. Sergeant Zurheide said walking-beat activities this year will focus on Tefford Apartments, Churchill Apartments, Bowdoin Village and Lyman Terrace Apartments and will include community meetings and one-on-one engagement.
The committee also accepted a Project Safe Neighborhoods award of $30,000, to be used in coordination with the Massachusetts State Police for “crime suppression items, gangs, drugs, prostitution, [and] quality-of-life” enforcement; the department must expend those funds by June 28, 2025, the presenting officer said.
Committee members asked for additional budget detail. Councilor Sullivan requested a line-item breakdown of partner allocations, specifically how much the Boys & Girls Club would receive; Sergeant Zurheide offered to provide a full budget breakdown to the committee’s administrative assistant. Councillors also asked how much of partner awards are retained for administration; Sergeant Zurheide said the grant allows up to 10 percent administrative funds but the department caps its administrative draw at $4,000 so partners can maximize program spending for youth and community activities.
All three items — the $10,500 transfer, the Shannon grant and the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant — were moved and approved by voice vote in committee.
The committee chair said the measures will proceed to the full council for final action at the council’s next meeting.
