City Council Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
Budget Hearing #2: City Council reviewed proposed FY26 budgets for the Assessor, Collector/Treasurer, Information Technologies, Mayor/Legal Services, Human Resources, City Clerk/Elections, and Administration & Finance.
The Ad Hoc Budget Committee of the Whole (Budget Hearing #2) met to review proposed FY26 departmental budgets. Presentations were given by Chief Financial Officer Marissa Batista (Assessor and Administration & Finance items), Assistant Assessor Bruce Collins (available to answer questions), Treasurer Donna Cornoni (Collector/Treasurer), IT Director Steve Hare (Information Technologies), Chief of Staff Ann Marie Casey (Mayor’s/Legal Services), Human Resources Director Christine Caminero (Human Resources), and City Clerk Jennifer Smith (Clerk/Elections/City Council). Councilors asked questions after each presentation and engaged with staff on staffing, training, and operational concerns.
Substantive discussion items included: an update that a first round of interviews for the Chief Assessor position has been completed; that some required assessor trainings are not available through the Division of Local Services; that other Collector/Treasurer staff typically do not attend trainings; IT’s assessment that the upcoming City Hall move to 5 Market Street will not present a major Verizon-access challenge; HR concern that a $1,000 advertising line may be insufficient for current and upcoming recruitments; and thanks to the City Clerk for support during recent elections. Chief Financial Officer Batista also presented the Administration & Finance and related budget lines (liability insurance, municipal buildings, benefits, debt service, etc.), and councilors engaged in discussion. The minutes record no public comments beyond council questions, and no substantive votes or ordinance actions were taken during this hearing.