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Date: 7/27/2022
HOLYOKE – Mayor Joshua Garcia is urging property owners to take more responsibility for their trash.
Through a press release sent out on July 19, Garcia called on property owners to recognize “a shared responsibility to keep our city clean, not only because it’s required by our city laws but because it’s the right thing to do for each other and for our environment.”
The mayor asked property owners to take responsibility for trash, debris and vegetation overgrowth. He also addressed the many alleys that crisscross Holyoke.
“Alleys are not owned or maintained by the city. Alleyways are the responsibility of property owners who abut them. Please be sure to work together with your neighbors to keep alleyways clean,” said Garcia. “Also, if you occupy and/or own space next to a sewer grate, make sure it’s free and clear from trash and debris so storm water can flow properly and avoid floods.”
The statements from Garcia come just over a week after discussion came up on a Facebook community forum called Happy Holyoke. A poster identifying himself as Luis Class posted on the forum on July 9 with photos illustrating showing the trash pile up in the alley of the apartment complex on Maple Street as well as live and deceased rodents and other apparent health and safety issues. The official address of the property in question is 1
In the post, Class said all Holyoke agencies had been notified of the situation but that it was still getting worse as the trash piled up. He added that the building is currently lacking an emergency system, smoke detectors are not working, no emergency signs within the building, rotting stairs, and other maintenance issues with the building’s water.
“ … Today we wake up like every day surrounded by garbage we live among rats and filth,” Class wrote. “ … We do not deserve to live like this and we need the help of the community and all the relevant agencies already … “
Building Commissioner Damian Cote said responsibility for trash pile up and many of these specific claims of maintenance issues falls on the owner of the building.
Signage pictured in Class’ post indicates the property is owned by Holyoke Apartments LLC. The Hampden County Register of Deeds confirmed the corporation filed the deed in 2013. According to records from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office, Holyoke Apartments LLC, headquartered in East Longmeadow, was subject to an involuntary disolution on June 30, 2021. An involuntary disolution occurs when a corporation fails to file its annual report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office for a period of at least three years. A representative of Secretary William Galvin’s Office confirmed that Holyoke Apartments LLC had not filed an annual report since 2017. Reminder Publishing attempted to reach Holyoke Apartments LLC but discovered a listed phone number had been disconnected.
According to the same signage, the property is managed locally by GMC Property Management of Springfield. Sal Cangailosi, the posted manager of the property for GMC Property Management, did not respond to Reminder Publishing’s request for comment when contacted.
Cote said the Building Department received a complaint from the Fire Department last week. The Fire Department had received the complaint from a tenant of the Maple Street property. He added the Fire Department also shared the complaint with the Board of Health. Reminder Publishing reached out to the Board of Health but did not receive a response as of press time.
When it comes to the lack of fire detectors and extinguishers for the property, Cote said responsibility still falls on the building’s owner.
“It’s the owner’s responsibility across the board, all structures whether it’s a single family or a 50-unit apartment complex. The owner’s solely responsible for maintenance of the building and the upkeep and complying with all maintenance related codes,” Cote said.
Cote said with the complaints coming in, the Building Department will send notices to the property owner with reminders of the laws and requirements related to keeping the property clean.
Garcia stated in the press release that on the city side they are working on strategies to keep up with their own obligation to keep the city clean, including building up staff capacity, improving enforcement of city ordinances and working with a consultant to assess the city’s trash and recycling management practices to learn what they do well and where they can improve.
He also included in his message to residents, landlords and businesses the city ordinances that require property owners to keep their areas clean.
“There is only so much the city can handle on its own,” Garcia said. “Please know, we are building up our departments to get ready for proper enforcement which will include fines for anyone not maintaining their areas.”
Managing Editor Chris Maza contributed to this report.