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Date: 1/17/2023
HOLYOKE – The Finance Committee met on Jan. 11 for their first meeting of the new year and discussions on the Wistariahurst museum restoration project.
The first item discussed was an order that the city council approve an increased funding request in the amount of $3,000 to the Wistariahurst museum for their painting restoration project. Originally, Wistariahurst applied for and was granted $125,000 via Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to complete the project, but due to rising costs in building and materials across the nation they now need another $3,000.
The item was tabled during their last meeting in December before being tabled again in the most recent meeting as the committee awaits an opinion from legal on the proper uses in restoration projects of historical sites. The item was also tabled as they await feedback from the CPA committee.
Wistariahurst Director Megan Seiler joined the Finance Committee to explain where the project is at and potential deficits of note. Seiler said while they already secured sources of funding, they need the additional $3,000 to meet the bid number in order to finalize an agreement and start work on the painting restoration.
“Our hope is that we can get under contract, we can’t do that until we are fully funded,” Seiler said. “Once we enter contract with the winning bidder, we can make the schedule. I hope we can start soon – even if it’s still cold – on restoration work on rot that has occurred due to missing paint.”
Seiler added the current terms of the contract they are nearing completion of would have the painting restoration completed by May 31 of this year. She also anticipates a late winter or early spring start date.
Chair of the Finance Committee and At-Large City Councilor Joseph McGiverin said he hopes the project starts sooner rather than later as there is rotting woodwork needed to be done before the painting. He also noted two points in his closing statement in support of getting the funding needed to take this project to the next step.
“One, I’m confident this is historical and should be allowed by CPA and two, with all due respect to the law department, we don’t have to listen to them,” McGiverin said.
His reference to not listening to the law department’s opinions comes as the committee referred different funding requests for this project to legal to see if the funding for this project qualified as the proper use of CPA dollars toward historical preservation projects. There are guidelines permitting what is allowed and what is not with CPA dollars.
At-Large Councilor Kevin Jourdain, who was one of the most vocal councilors in making sure this funding met the proper requirements, said he was looking for conversation surrounding the project as to avoid making a mistake and giving out CPA funding where it should not be.
“At least there’s the evaluation going on. Now we are looking to see if it meets statutory rules. As long as it is, I’m good,” Jourdain said. “I just don’t want someone to come back later and say, ‘what are you doing?”
The item was tabled but once opinions are provided to the Finance Committee, it is expected to be approved soon after.
The other item related to the planning of Wistariahurst restoration projects was focused on the repair plan for the wall of the grounds and how it will be funded.
Garcia called this specific project “probably the most frustrating” of his ongoing work as the fixing of the wall has ended up being a much more complex issue than at surface level. He added that this specific fix has been on the museum’s radar for a decade now as turnover of previous administrations in both the mayor’s office and the Wistariahurst leadership board has led to a cycle of this project getting looked into but not acted on.
“It’s just since I’ve been here, it’s almost like we are running around in circles chasing tails,” Garcia said. “There is a plan, it’s just a very slow, and frustrating process.”
When asked for an estimate of the project, Seiler said the estimate was around $300,000. She noted this number was estimated for inflation from a 2012 estimate of around $150,000. Seiler noted one issue they have to pay attention to is if the work extends beyond Pine Street it could extrapolate expenses.
This may be a potential outcome for the project as there is a drainage issue that is pushing the wall situation.
“Historic preservation restrictions are incredibly challenging, and you have to go through all these different channels. The price is anyone’s guess at this point,” Seiler said with the drainage issue factored in.
Jourdain questioned when this project was ever brought before the council in the last 10 years as he could not recall if it ever was and said “I can’t imagine any scenario where we would vote down fixing something like that.” He also said regardless of the past and the bid they await on, this project needed to move forward and completed.
Ward 5 Councilor Linda Vacon said she doesn’t remember all the details but said what the mayor was describing sounded correct in that there were discussions and things in motion for the project before it was essentially forgotten about through turnover.
“We got into the weeds of how will we pay for it and it never got brought through to the end. Things change, people turnover, it gets lost in the shuffle.” Vacon said. “You [Garcia] get the prize if you get this done.”