City Council Committee on Ways and Means Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: October 14, 2025 Governing Body: City Council Committee on Ways and Means Type of Meeting: Committee Meeting
Attendees:
- Councilor Stephanie Smith
- Councilor Anthony DiPierro
- Councilor John Hanlon
- Councilor Peter Pietrantonio
Executive Summary
The City Council Committee on Ways and Means met to discuss three key financial matters. The committee approved a grant of $90,000 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Mental Health, to fund an outreach clinician position within the Police Department. A request to appropriate $185,000 from the capital stabilization account for three DPW one-ton pickup trucks was initially laid on the table due to a lack of information from the Department of Public Works (DPW) and was subsequently referred out with no recommendation. Finally, the committee approved the appropriation of $2,000,000 for street and sidewalk construction throughout the city.
Agenda Item 1: Order Requesting Approval to Accept and Expand a Grant for an Outreach Clinician Position
- Order: An order requesting approval to accept and expand a grant for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Mental Health, in the amount of $90,000 to support an outreach clinician position to help deliver services to the community in conjunction with police personnel.
- Discussion:
- Chief Strong provided a communication stating that the grant would fund an outreach clinician through Elliott Mental Health to work with Officer O'Donnell, the community outreach officer.
- Elliott Mental Health is currently having difficulty hiring for the position.
- The Police Department plans to transfer the hiring process to the City of Everett HR Department.
- Motion: Motion made and seconded for favorable action on the grant for $90,000 for a clinician position.
- Vote:
- Outcome: Approved
- Ayes: 4
- Nays: 0
- Abstentions: 0
Agenda Item 2: Order Requesting Approval to Appropriate $185,000 for Three DPW One-Ton Pickup Trucks
- Order: An order requesting approval to appropriate $185,000 from the capital stabilization account for three DPW one-ton pickup trucks.
- Discussion:
- Councilor Hanlon inquired about the department receiving the trucks and the disposition of the trucks being replaced.
- The CFO confirmed the trucks are for the DPW.
- The trucks being replaced are at least 10 years old and will be surplused.
- Councilor Hanlon requested maintenance information on the current trucks, which was not provided by the DPW.
- Due to the absence of DPW representatives and requested information, a motion was made to lay the item on the table.
- Motion to Lay on the Table: Motion made and seconded to lay the item on the table.
- Vote on Motion to Lay on the Table:
- Outcome: Approved
- Ayes: 4
- Nays: 0
- Abstentions: 0
- Subsequent Action: After discussion on Agenda Item 3, the committee revisited this item.
- Motion to Refer Out: Motion made and seconded to refer the item out with no recommendation.
- Vote on Motion to Refer Out:
- Outcome: Approved
- Ayes: 4
- Nays: 0
- Abstentions: 0
Agenda Item 3: Order Requesting Approval to Appropriate $2,000,000 for Streets and Sidewalk Construction
- Order: An order requesting approval to appropriate the amount of $2,000,000 by borrow for streets and sidewalk construction throughout the city.
- Discussion:
- The City Engineer, Mr. Swanson, was present to answer questions.
- A list of streets for construction was provided:
- Francis Street: Full depth and sidewalks - $500,000
- Paris Street and Lewis Street: Mill, full depth patches, and sidewalks - $350,000 (for both)
- Chatham Road, Edith Street, and Chute Street (from Ferry to Edith): Full depth and sidewalks - $1,000,000
- Total appropriation: $2,000,000.
- Work may involve drainage improvements and/or regrading to reduce ponding and localized flooding.
- Mr. Swanson confirmed that work has not yet started but is intended to begin this year (October/November 2025) and may roll into 2026.
- Francis Street is prioritized first. Paris and Lewis Streets will likely occur last due to prior subsurface drainage and sewer work.
- Motion: Motion made and seconded for favorable action.
- Vote:
- Outcome: Approved
- Ayes: 4
- Nays: 0
- Abstentions: 0
Adjournment
- Motion: Motion made and seconded to adjourn.
- Vote:
- Outcome: Approved
- Ayes: 4
- Nays: 0
- Abstentions: 0
- Time: Meeting adjourned.