WESTFIELD – A Special City Council meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5 at 6 p.m., with only two items on the agenda: the Mayor’s replacement budget, and CPA funding for Abner Gibbs playground.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said he requested the meeting, and put the budget item on the agenda, in order to bring the city back into compliance. He said that some of the items cut by the City Council during the 9-hour marathon budget review meeting on June 27 were not items they could cut.
Sullivan said the cut of $250,000 to the contributor retirement account is one that needs to be restored. He said the retirement account is set by the state Public Employment Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), and is required by state statute to be funded.
“We’re out of compliance if we don’t fully fund it,” he said.
Another item that the Mayor is seeking to restore is the $271,000 cut to health insurance benefits. Sullivan said the city contributes 77% of health insurance to 23% employee contribution, which he called a contractual obligation. He said that under his administration, the city contribution was lowered from the previous 80% of benefits.
Altogether, Sullivan is looking for $700,000 back of $1.02 million in cuts. He said the other cuts will stand. He was hoping to submit the agenda item for immediate consideration at Monday’s meeting, but has been told that at least one councilor will block that motion. It only takes one objection to block voting on an item for immediate consideration.
“This is me going back to restore line items the City Council cut that they had no ability to cut. We’re out of compliance, but as we’re going through the process, I’ve been assured that we’re okay right now,” Sullivan said on Friday. Sullivan said City Auditor Christopher Caputo will attend Monday’s meeting to answer questions.
Finance Committee Chairman Brent B. Bean, II said a finance sub-committee meeting has already been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, the date of the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
“The Mayor has submitted additional details and support of the reasons why he is asking for a supplemental budget. I think it is the job of the finance committee to review this additional information,” Bean said.
The second item on the agenda was put there by City Council President Ralph J. Figy, who was also tasked with finding a date for a special meeting during the City Council’s break. “It wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve done,” Figy said, adding that three councilors will not be able to attend. He said he expects to have the required quorum of 10 in attendance.
Figy said a representative of the Abner Gibbs Parent Teacher Organization called him to ask if the CPA-approved funding of $10,000 for playground equipment could go on an agenda as early as possible, in order to get the playground equipment in September or October. The PTO raised a matching $10,000 for the playground on their own over the past year.
Figy plans to ask for immediate consideration to approve the funding.
“It’s a very good possibility,” he said.
