The meeting of the ordinance intergovernmental relations committee commenced with a discussion regarding the extension of a contract with the resource development team. A city employee outlined that the team, which includes members responsible for grant writing services, had been under a three-year contract that had recently expired. The committee considered a proposal to extend this contract for an additional year. The discussion centered on the team’s successful track record of securing $14.6 million in grant funding for the city. However, the chairperson sought further clarification on how effectively these funds had been utilized, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the city was meeting grant obligations and not returning unspent funds. The need for a timely contract extension was underscored by the revelation that the current contract had expired on October 31, leading to questions about the oversight of contract timelines. A counselor voiced frustration over the recurring issue of contracts being extended at the last minute, and the city’s processes were scrutinized to prevent such situations in the future. A motion was passed to send the contract extension to the full council for review, contingent upon receiving detailed information on the effectiveness of the grant funds.

In another development, the meeting addressed proposals related to parking regulations for school teachers. The council reviewed requests from the school department to formalize parking arrangements on Chestnut Street and Havil Street, to be used exclusively by teachers during school hours from September to June. A sticker system was proposed to identify authorized vehicles, with fines imposed on violators. Concerns were raised about whether the police department and the Department of Public Works (DPW) had reviewed the proposal. A council member insisted on written confirmation of support from both departments to avoid future disputes. The proposal was tabled until such documentation could be secured to ensure thorough vetting of the plan.

The council also tackled matters concerning utility infrastructure, notably the installation of a new utility pole on East Haveril Street by National Grid, aimed at enhancing energy service reliability. The discussion revealed ongoing frustration with scheduling issues related to double poles, exacerbated by recent weather disruptions. A follow-up meeting was suggested to address these unresolved matters, with the items tabled until further notice.

For instance, the council unanimously approved a motion to send a proposal for childcare parking on Plat Street to the police department for evaluation. Similarly, a request to remove handicap parking on West Street, prompted by a former resident’s letter, was forwarded for a public hearing.