City Council Budget & Finance Subcommittee Meeting
The Budget & Finance Committee advanced several fiscal orders to the full City Council: 2024-052 (transfer $30,000 from Water Retained Earnings to Water Other Expenses), 2024-053 (accept a $19,760 grant/donation for the Council on Aging), 2024-054 (accept a $19,000 firefighter safety equipment grant), and 2024-056 (transfer $50,000 within the Police budget). Order 2024-055 (increase Retirement Board stipends and create a City Treasurer stipend) was referred to the Ordinance & Administration subcommittee.
The Budget & Finance Committee met April 16, 2024, to consider several fiscal and personnel-related orders. Committee members heard presentations from department heads and staff: DPW Director Joe Buckley explained the need to appropriate $30,000 from Water Retained Earnings for water department expenses (2024-052); the Council on Aging outlined a $19,760 donation to fund a part‑time receptionist for seniors (2024-053); the fire department described a $19,000 state Firefighter Safety Equipment reimbursement grant (2024-054); and the police chief requested a $50,000 intra-department transfer from salaries to other expenses to cover unforeseen costs such as vehicle repairs (2024-056). Each of those orders was advanced to the full City Council with a positive recommendation, unanimously (2-0).
The committee also considered Order 2024-055 to increase the monthly stipend for Retirement Board members to $375 and to establish a $250 stipend for the City Treasurer; Police Chief Craig Bailey supported the change, addressed a charter-related compensation exception, and noted the fiscal impact is small (about 0.0175% of the retirement account). That order was referred to the Ordinance and Administration subcommittee with a positive recommendation (passed unanimously 2-0). No public comment or communications were offered, and the meeting adjourned at 6:48 PM.