Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
Governing Body: Finance Committee of the Central City Council Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Meeting Date: Tuesday, October 21st, 2025 Attendees:
- Jake Wilson, Councilor Large (Chair)
- Will Mbah, Councilor
- Willie Burnley, Councilor
- Jesse Clingan, Councilor
- J.T. Scott, Councilor
Executive Summary: The Finance Committee met to address a 10-item agenda, approving minutes from a previous meeting and considering several appropriations and contract extensions. Key decisions included allocating funds for the 2026 Warming Center, accepting a grant for electric vehicle charging stations, establishing new infrastructure stabilization funds for the Brick Bottom and Boynton Yards districts, and extending contracts for architectural and engineering design services. The committee also approved payments for prior invoices related to pool chemicals and a blue bike station installation.
1. ID #25-1570: Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of October 7, 2025
- Discussion: No discussion.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
2. ID #25-1543: Appropriation for the 2026 Warming Center
- Request: Mayor requests approval to appropriate $147,724.07 from the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund for the 2026 Warming Center.
- Presenter: Karen Carroll, Director of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Key Discussion Points:
- Total cost of running the warming center is $571,773.68, an increase due to additional beds, operational costs, inflation, external contracting, and personnel.
- HHS plans to use $424,049.61 from state grant funds to cover operational costs for 14 weeks (January 4th to April 12th, 2026).
- The requested $147,724.07 covers the first five weeks of operational costs (December 1st, 2025, to January 4th, 2026) plus the cost of an external security firm.
- Funds need to be allocated in October to meet the December 1st start date.
- The warming center is expected to operate from December 1st, 2025, to April 12th, 2026.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
4. ID #25-1520: Acceptance and Expenditure of Grant for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Request: Mayor requests approval to accept and expend a $500,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for six no-cost electric vehicle charging station installations. No new match is required.
- Presenter: Christine Blase, Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment.
- Key Discussion Points:
- The grant will fund six dual-port Level 2 publicly accessible charging stations, nearly doubling the city's public charging ports.
- The city utilized an electric vehicle siting strategy and public engagement to identify six high-impact sites.
- Construction is expected to commence in early spring, with stations operational by mid-next year.
- The stations will be similar to existing curbside models.
- Discussions are ongoing with Traffic and Parking regarding potential issues with vehicle parking direction for charging.
- Locations:
- One in Union Square
- One in Prospect Hill Park
- One in Ball Square
- A second at the Evergreen Ave/Winter Hill School site
- One on Hudson Street at Labyrinth
- One at Union Square on Stone Ave
- Councilor Mbah inquired about the memo detailing locations and city statistics on electric vehicles. Director Blase confirmed a memo was attached to the agenda item and that the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles tracks EV inventory, showing an increasing trend in EV adoption and public demand for charging stations.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
3. ID #25-1538: Appropriation for Blue Bike Station Installation
- Request: Mayor requests approval to appropriate $56,215.42 from the Bike Share Stabilization Fund for installation and startup costs of a Blue Bike station at the 495 Columbia Street development site.
- Presenter: Alan Inasio, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.
- Key Discussion Points:
- This is a privately funded bike station project.
- The station will have 19 docks and 11 bikes, with a solar-powered kiosk.
- A memo detailing costs and specifications was attached to the item.
- Councilor Mbah inquired about the tenancy status of the 495 Columbia Street building. Director Inasio stated the economic development team is working on commercial vacancy and tenancy issues but could not confirm current tenant status.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
5. ID #25-1504: Payment of Prior Invoices for Pool Chemicals (Parks and Recreation)
- Request: Mayor requests approval to pay prior invoices totaling $13,084.20 using available funds in the Parks and Recreation Department's "Mike Bruckner – Asian supplies" account for pool chemicals.
- Presenter: Linda Duong, Parks and Recreation Department.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Invoices are for chlorine used to maintain Dilboy Pool and the Jenny Smithers Pool.
- Orders were placed in June, but due to turnover in the pool manager position, invoices were not received until September, preventing payment in fiscal year 2012.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
6. ID #25-1508: Payment of Prior Invoices for Pool Chemicals (Parks and Recreation)
- Request: Mayor requests approval to pay prior invoices totaling $1,533.75 using available funds in the Parks and Recreation Department's "recreation supplies" account for pool chemicals.
- Presenter: Linda Duong, Parks and Recreation Department.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Invoices are for pool chemicals, primarily chlorine, used to maintain Dilboy Pool and the Jenny Smithers Pool.
- Orders were placed in June, but due to turnover in the pool manager position, invoices were not received until September, preventing payment in fiscal year 2012.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
7. ID #25-1557: Creation of Brick Bottom Infrastructure Stabilization Fund
- Request: Mayor requests approval to create the Brick Bottom Infrastructure Stabilization Fund and accept a payment of $763,814.81 from offsite infrastructure and other contributions outlined in the Brick Bottom District project development covenants. The fund's purpose is to fund public infrastructure projects that mitigate the impact of large-scale development in the Brick Bottom District.
- Presenter: Alan Inasio, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.
- Key Discussion Points:
- These are new funds generated directly from specific development projects, triggered by covenant agreements as projects reach certain construction or completion stages.
- The funds are not repurposed from existing stabilization funds.
- They are intended for infrastructure projects (engineering, mobility, open space) primarily within the adjacent development area.
- Councilor Mbah sought clarification on the nature of these funds, expressing support for the concept of consolidating and repurposing funds. Director Inasio clarified that these are "net new funds" specifically tied to development project covenants.
- Councilor Scott, as the ward councilor, expressed appreciation for the procedural handling of these funds and looked forward to their use for neighborhood improvement.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
8. ID #25-1559: Creation of Boynton Yards Infrastructure Stabilization Fund
- Request: Mayor requests approval to create the Boynton Yards Infrastructure Stabilization Fund and accept a payment of $384,025 from offsite infrastructure and other contributions outlined in the Boynton Yards District project development covenants. The fund's purpose is to fund public infrastructure projects that mitigate the impact of large-scale development in the Boynton Yards District.
- Presenter: Alan Inasio, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.
- Key Discussion Points:
- These are new funds generated directly from specific development projects, triggered by covenant agreements as projects reach certain construction or completion stages.
- The funds are not repurposed from existing stabilization funds.
- They are intended for infrastructure projects (engineering, mobility, open space) primarily within the adjacent development area.
- Councilor Mbah sought clarification on the nature of these funds, expressing support for the concept of consolidating and repurposing funds. Director Inasio clarified that these are "net new funds" specifically tied to development project covenants.
- Councilor Scott, as the ward councilor, expressed appreciation for the procedural handling of these funds and looked forward to their use for neighborhood improvement.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
9. ID #25-1545: Time-Only Extension for Building Master Plan Design Services Contract
- Request: Mayor requests approval of a time-only extension until December 31st, 2028, for the contract with Buyer Blender Bell Architects and Planners (BBB) for Design Services on the Building Master Plan.
- Presenter: Richard Raish, Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management.
- Key Discussion Points:
- BBB authored the Building Master Plan and has worked on several smaller projects related to buildings investigated in the plan, including Winter Hill at Edgerly, City Hall roof and clock tower, and 1895 asset preservation.
- The extension is requested to retain the ability to quickly engage BBB for future projects, leveraging their understanding of city buildings and their "outstanding" work.
- No specific project is currently lined up, but the extension allows for rapid response to future needs.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
10. ID #25-1546: Time-Only Extension for Morrison Avenue Linear Storage Sewer Project Design Services Contract
- Request: Mayor requests approval of a time-only extension until December 31st, 2028, for the contract with Kleinfelder Northeast Incorporated for design services on the Morrison Avenue Linear Storage Sewer Project.
- Presenter: Richard Raish, Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management.
- Key Discussion Points:
- The City Council recently approved funding for the next phase (final design and bidding) of the Morrison Avenue Linear Storage Sewer Project, which is a flood mitigation and infrastructure renewal project.
- The project will also allow for the retirement of a damaged pipe on the community path.
- Kleinfelder performed the preliminary design for the project, and the city is satisfied with their performance.
- A scope and fee for their continued work on the final design have been successfully negotiated.
- The contract extension allows the city to continue its relationship with Kleinfelder for this work, for which money has already been allocated.
- Decision: Laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of the meeting.
Vote on All Items and Adjournment:
- Motion: Councilor Clingan moved to recommend approval of all items on the table and to adjourn.
- Roll Call Vote:
- Councilor Mbah: Yes
- Councilor Burnley: Aye
- Councilor Clingan: Yes
- Councilor Scott: Yes
- Chair Wilson: Yes
- Outcome: All votes in favor.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.