City Council Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting

The Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole met May 23, 2024 to hear FY2025 budget presentations. Nicholas Cracknell, Director of Community and Economic Development, presented the OCED budget (including Planning Board and Conservation Commission) outlining staffing, primary focus areas (land use, economic development, housing, environment, energy), and line‑item changes such as a $40K CDBG funding allocation shift, COLA increases, a one‑time sick‑leave buyback tied to a retirement, and increases to operating and consulting budgets. Cracknell summarized planned consulting and project work (MBTA zoning, 40R districts, multiple redevelopment projects, open‑space planning and other studies) and listed OCED goals for FY25 including team building, grant writing, and capital project management.

DPW Director Joe Buckley presented the Department of Public Works FY25 budget and overview, noting the department’s responsibilities and that the total DPW budget is just over $11 million, with roughly 40% tax‑supported and 60% funded by enterprise water and sewer. Buckley detailed major contracted services (notably the municipal trash contract exceeding $2M), personnel and operating costs, and enterprise fund pressures in both water and sewer that have operated near deficit and will require future rate review; he also noted added consulting for Inflow & Infiltration work and planned stormwater enterprise work. Councilors engaged with both presenters, asking questions throughout; Councilor Stanganelli requested that meeting presentations be distributed to councilors after the meeting. No public comments or formal budget votes were recorded at this session. The meeting recessed briefly and later adjourned by unanimous vote of the seven members present.