City rethinks chamber funding

    Holyoke City Council voted Tuesday, Feb. 19, to support Holyoke Chamber of Commerce with a $250 monthly contribution, which will go toward paying wages for a new executive director.
    The 4-2 vote to release the funds came after the City denied the chamber’s request for financial support in January. Among the concerns voiced by council members in January were the amount of the request — $500 per month, the same level as 2018 — the chamber’s status as a nonprofit and the inability of council members to attend meetings due to scheduling conflicts.
    At the Feb. 19 meeting, chamber board president and acting director Elizabeth Hutches and vice president Tiffany Watson stressed the importance of hiring a director, whose wages would be supported by City dollars.
    Hutches said her current job as Melissa Memorial Hospital’s public affairs specialist keeps her from doing everything required of a director.
    “I love doing the job; I just have another full-time job, so I would like to find someone who would feel as passionate about this as me,” she said. “We’ve done three or four interviews at this point, and the sticking point is always that it’s not enough hours and it’s not enough money.”
    She and Watson also cited community surveys in which a majority of respondents said they see value in the chamber.
    “We really feel strongly about still providing these services to businesses, and also those who visit and community members,” Watson said.
    Hutches also claimed that Holyoke is, at this time, the only municipality in the region that does not support its chamber of commerce financially. The City started funding the chamber in April 2018.
    Council member John Schneider spoke up in the chamber’s defense, saying the funding is a critical investment at a time when local business is flagging.
    “I’ve never seen as many empty businesses as there are today in Holyoke, and I’ve been here over 40 years now,” he said. “[The chamber is] working hard to promote Holyoke and the community, and if they’re willing to work that hard, I guess I’d like to see us give them some financial support.”
    “I think it probably behooves us to help support the thing to an extent,” Mayor Orville Tonsing said.
    He added that he is reluctant to continue supporting the chamber at the previous levels and suggested contributing $100-$150 per month. Council member Kevin Scott proposed $200, and Scott Murray $250.
    Murray’s figure was ultimately voted on and approved, with Tonsing, Murray, Schneider and Scott voting in favor, and council members Brian Akey and Gene Bittner voting against. Council member Steve Moore was not present at the meeting.
    Explaining his opposition to the proposal, Akey said he wanted to see a more concrete plan for applying the funds and finding other sources of money.
    Bittner said he thought the organization should be responsible for handling its own funding issues.
    “I understand how the money situation is, and everyone is having trouble,” he said. “I think it needs to be worked out within the organization.”
    He also said that supporting the chamber, which is registered as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, could lead to an influx of nonprofit organizations seeking funds from the City.
    The City was directed to give the funds to the chamber immediately following the vote.
    
Brown, Bergstrom report
    City Superintendent Mark Brown said repairs are underway after a boiler malfunction at Holyoke Swimming Pool, where crews are also in the process of repainting locker rooms and decks and performing other maintenance.
    Tree trimming and removal were reported to be underway at Holyoke Cemetery, and the lights at Holyoke Municipal Airport have been fixed.
    Holyoke Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that his department, including code enforcement, handled or generated 271 calls for service from Jan. 31-Feb. 13. They made two arrests, wrote 16 citations and three reports, and gave out 11 warnings. Code enforcement handled two animal complaints, two dogs at large and five ordinance violations.
    
Other business
    In other business Feb. 19, the council:
    — Heard a year-end presentation from recreation director Victoria Dunker.
    — Agreed to sponsor Holyoke School District’s 10th annual Emerald Awards program.
    — Approved a March 22 special events permit for Phillips County Pheasants Forever.
    — Renewed the liquor license for Holyoke Hotel LLC, Cobblestone Inn & Suites.