The $33 million transfer from free cash to reserve funds will bolster the city’s financial stability and readiness for future needs. These funds are earmarked for several designated reserves, including the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEP) trust fund, compensated absence reserve fund, workers’ compensation claims reserve fund, and injured in the line of duty reserve fund. Additionally, allocations will be made to stabilization reserve undesignated, stabilization reserve for debt service, and stabilization reserve for litigation and judgments. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provided a breakdown of the expenditures during the pandemic, which totaled $23.9 million, and clarified that the transfer will also cover deficits from snow and ice expenditures and COVID-19 related costs.

Following the financial allocations, the council discussed a bond authorization loan order for $13.415 million dedicated to various water and sewer infrastructure projects. These projects include the repiping of the Route 114 Pump Station, Water Street rehabilitation, and the design of the raw water intake. The loan will also cover on-call emergency work and masonry repairs for the Tower Hill tank. The Water Commissioner, presenting these details, acknowledged the need for a corrected document regarding the projects, responding to council members’ requests for additional information and clarification on the financial implications and the urgency of these rehabilitation efforts.

Other financial decisions included the authorization of grants assurances with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for weather cameras and FAA network connection at the local airport. The grants, as explained, will cover the installation costs of the cameras. Additionally, the council discussed the improvement of security gates at the airport, with the aim of ensuring access for all customers, and forwarded both items with a favorable recommendation.

The city clerk presented the budget for the city clerk’s office, elections, and census, highlighting contractual increases for personnel due to changes in the clerical union’s contract and the necessity of postage increases caused by a growing population and the demand for census and ballot distributions. In response to queries about salary increases for assistant clerks, it was clarified that senior clerk positions were eliminated, and clerks were reclassified as principal clerks, allowing for cross-training, and received a pay raise due to union negotiations. The city clerk underlined the significant services provided by the office, including the processing of a high number of transactions each month.

The council then turned its attention to the Fire Department’s budget. The Chief discussed the need to fill vacancies and negotiate with the union. Additionally, the Chief shared his qualifications for the role of Emergency Manager and addressed the need for an assistant fire chief position. The council engaged in a discussion about the department’s staffing challenges, particularly the difficulty in hiring skilled mechanics and the costs associated with the hiring process. The age limit for joining the fire department and the impact of a recent retirement on the budget were also topics of conversation.

The Office of Planning and Community Development’s budget request was another focal point. The director outlined how the department leverages state and federal grants to fund positions and city projects. The council discussed staffing needs, the role of the department in managing external funding, and the necessity for additional staff to manage workload and services for residents.

Further discussions included the adjustments in accounting from previous years, with specific focus on the Community Development division. The council debated the increase in the number of positions versus the reduction in the budget and engaged in a conversation about the salaries for certain positions. A council member raised concerns about gender equity in salaries, comparing the pay range for a similar position in Boston. The Director of Community Development requested an additional $50,000 to assist small businesses and manage emergencies. The structure and staffing of the Office of Planning and Development were also scrutinized, with emphasis on the need for neighborhood planners and comprehensive planners to improve the quality of life in different neighborhoods. The potential long-term sustainability of grant-funded positions was questioned, and a proposal for a gender pay equality analysis was put forth to address the issue of underpaid female staff.

The decrease in salary for the asset officer sparked a discussion on gender equity and salary standards. Deliberations on the allocation of positions in different departments, the impact of grant funding on the budget, and the need for resources to support economic development were also central to the meeting. The council requested more information on professional services and how they would be supported by the budget.