Budget and Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Subcommittee recommended forwarding multiple mayoral orders to the full City Council with positive recommendations, including revolving fund spending limits (2025-048), a multi-item equipment lease (2025-049), an IT grant (2025-050), SAFE and Senior SAFE grants (2025-051), transfer of Amesbury Elementary School property (2025-052), and firefighter safety equipment grant (2025-044). It returned the Free Cash appropriation for FY26 capital expenditures (2025-047) to the Council with no recommendation (2-1).
The Budget & Finance Subcommittee met to review several mayoral orders and grant acceptances related to FY26 operations and capital needs. Members heard presentations from department staff — including the CFO, IT Director, and Deputy Fire Chief — on routine annual orders (revolving fund spending limits), equipment leases and purchases (cardiac monitors, police camera systems), multiple grant acceptances (CCC IT grant; SAFE and Senior SAFE grants; DFS firefighter safety equipment grant), and the transfer of Amesbury Elementary School property for municipal purposes. For each of those items the subcommittee voted to return the respective orders to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
The subcommittee also considered an Order to appropriate Free Cash for FY26 capital expenditures (2025-047). After discussion, the subcommittee voted to return that order to the full City Council with no recommendation; the motion passed 2-1 with Councilor Stanganelli recorded in opposition. There were no public comments. Department representatives clarified funding sources and intended uses for grants and equipment during the brief substantive discussions.