WESTFIELD—A number of year-end bills and items from the Finance Committee highlight the City Council meeting this Thursday.
The City Council will meet Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m., with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. Among the items on the agenda are several prior year bills from Sullivan and a number of items expected to come from Finance Committee.
First, in “Communications from the Mayor,” Sullivan is expected to request immediate consideration of a grant from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association for the Treasurer and Collector’s Office in City Hall. The grant, totaling $5,000, is expected to be used to install cameras and locks, and will have no matching funds from the city, according to Sullivan.
Also in “Communications,” there are nine transfer requests expected from within various parts of the Department of Public Works for different bills, totaling over $5,000.
“They’re really just end of year, end of calendar year that came in after the close of the fiscal year,” Sullivan said.
City Council has to approve any FY 2018 money spent however, Sullivan said, for any FY 2017 bills with nine or more votes.
Sullivan is also expected to request funds from PEG Access for salary for a tentatively new position. Another personnel-related item is the submission of the reappointment of Joanne Tirrell to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.
Then, Sullivan is expected to request that the West Farmhouse Schoolhouse on Montgomery Road be transferred to the Historic Commission for control.
Following Sullivan, City Council is expected to address one item in “Petitions, Remonstrances and Other Papers.” This item is from the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) and is a submission for the FY 2019 appropriation of $10.45 million. According to At-Large Councilor and City Council President Brent Bean, this money is related to the city’s self-insuring status, with PERAC telling the city how much money it will need for insurance and to pay medical bills, Bean said. Employees and the city pay into the total and according to Bean, this total is being presented.
“At the end of the calendar year this is what we have,” he said.
Next, City Council is expected to look at “Reports of Committees.” This portion is largely related to items from the Finance Committee, who will be holding a meeting prior to the City Council meeting. Within the Finance Committee agenda items expected are previous transfer requests from Sullivan from the last meeting.
Also, the Finance Committee is expected to bring forth an item related to the raises going to City Councilors, as well as a new fee schedule proposed by the Building Department.
Then, from the Legislative and Ordinance and Zoning Planning and Development Committees are expected to bring forth the petition for the medical services district zoning. The petition may be withdrawn and the process may start over, according to Bean.
Then, from the License Committee, who is also meeting the day of the City Council meeting, the application for J. Dog Junk Removal for a Junk Collector’s license is expected to come before the Council.
And finally, in “Unfinished Business,” the City Council is expected to perform the second readings and final passages of two ordinance amendments—one to change the Fire Commission meetings location, and another for the lighting ordinance.
