0:00The meeting’s primary focus centered on the proposal to create an Economic Development Finance Manager position within the Community Development and Planning Department. The director of the department recommended merging the existing positions of Economic Development Coordinator and Budget Project Manager to improve operational efficiency. The merger would result in a consolidated role with a new job description.

The financial implications were discussed, with current funding for the existing roles cited as coming from both the general fund and community development block grants. The proposed new position would similarly be funded through a combination of these sources. The consolidation was seen as a means to enhance departmental efficiency without losing any existing duties or roles, as some clerical tasks would be reassigned to other staff members. The committee emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive salaries to attract qualified candidates, particularly given the reliance on grant funding for some of the roles.

Following this, the committee examined an ordinance to amend the city code regarding personnel and non-union compensation to include the new position. The mayor highlighted the importance of this vote for the upcoming fiscal year, stressing the need to ensure the proposed role’s funding is sustainable. Some committee members expressed concerns about over-reliance on grants for staff compensation, but there was general agreement on the necessity of competitive compensation packages to attract and retain talent.

15:53In a related discussion, the committee considered the salary proposal for the newly suggested position, comparing it to similar roles in other communities. The assistant director’s salary was noted at $75,000, which raised questions about potential salary adjustments and their impact on the budget. It was acknowledged that a disparity existed between departmental requests and projected revenue, with the administration working to address these issues in the budget draft.

The committee also evaluated the city’s health insurance payments and the current status of the health trust fund, which was reported to be in a stable condition at approximately $1.47 million. This brief discussion provided reassurance about the city’s financial health concerning employee benefits.

Another topic was the Safe Routes to School project, which involved discussions about property easements on Elm Street. The city solicitor provided updates on necessary edits to the orders of taking, addressing previous formatting issues between software platforms. Corrections were made to ensure accurate property designations, and the committee was informed of a particular property undergoing a partition action in court.

Councillors sought clarification regarding the inclusion of the school as one of the properties involved, which was consistent with prior council decisions. The meeting packet included two donations designated for the project, one from the school department and another from a local resident. Funding for the takings was confirmed to be adequate to cover awarded damages, and the timeline for approval and submission to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was outlined.

Finally, the committee moved to advance the easements item to the full council for approval, which was passed without further objections. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, ending with unanimous consent.