WESTFIELD – Finance Subcommittee Chair Ralph J. Figy has released the schedule of meetings for the review of city department budgets, in advance of the June 24 Westfield City Council vote to approve or reject the fiscal year 2022 budget.
The meetings have been scheduled as finance committee meetings of the whole in order to allow all councilors to participate in the discussion. Figy said any and all budget reductions will be proposed and voted on after each department presents its budget. The city council may make cuts to the mayor’s proposed budget, but may not increase it.
While each budget review meeting will be hosted via zoom and broadcast on Channel 15 or on the city’s Youtube channel, there will be no public participation during the review meetings. However, there is a public hearing scheduled for June 10 at 6 p.m., at which residents may offer their comments and guidance to councilors.
Immediately following the public hearing on June 10, members of the law department, assessors, treasurer/collector and school department will present their budgets. Each meeting is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.
The remaining schedule begins on June 14, when information technology, personnel and payroll, emergency dispatch and the enterprise funds of sewage and wastewater, sewer and water will be reviewed.
On June 15, the budgets for the city council, city clerk, mayor’s office, auditor, flood control, engineering and fire/ambulance will be reviewed.
On June 16, presenters will include planning, the council on aging, veterans, community development, purchasing and health and sanitary landfill. On June 17, the entire meeting will be for the Department of Public Works.
The final department review meeting will be held on June 21 and cover emergency management, the conservation commission and the police department.
On June 24 at 6 p.m. will be a Special City Council meeting for budget reconciliation, followed at 7 p.m. by a Special CIty Council meeting to approve or reject the FY22 city budget.
