Holyoke Council Unanimously Bonds Over $12.5 Million for Three School Roofs

HOLYOKE -- January 20, 2026, Holyoke City Council unanimously approved more than $12.5 million in school roof bonds and confirmed six municipal reappointments at its January 20 regular session. The council passed corrected and new appropriations for roof replacements at the Morris A. Dunu Elementary School ($5,753,418), Claire Sullivan Middle School ($6,739,962), and McMahon Elementary School ($636,812 additional, on top of $4,498,497 previously approved), with Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursements expected at up to 80 percent of eligible costs. Finance Committee Chair Deborah Divine credited facilities director Sean Sheidy as "the wizard" for guiding the technical MSBA process, while Councilor Kimberly McGrath Smith noted that seven of roughly twelve school buildings now carry new or recently replaced roofs, the product of 1990s-era deferred maintenance that will come due again in about 25 years. The council also accepted two no-match state 911 grants totaling $49,410, approved an $8,900 transfer to settle back pay for a police sergeant on military leave, and adopted emergency orders directing Catalo Ambulance and the Holyoke Fire Department to report whether vehicles can safely access a property at 170 Mountain View Drive surrounded by roughly 80 parked cars.