Finance Committee

FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes of the Meeting May 5, 2025 1. Chairman LaFauci called the meeting to order at 8:10pm in the City Council Chamber. 2. Chairman LaFauci requested that a roll call be taken to record the attendance for the meeting. The Clerk called the roll – Committee members LaCava, LeBlanc, McMenimen, and LaFauci were all present in-person. Councillor Vidal was absent. 3. VP LaCava moved to accept the minutes of the meeting held on April 22 2025. The motion was adopted on a voice vote and the minutes of the meeting on April 22, 2025 were accepted. 4. A request was received from the Mayor to approve an appropriation in the amount of $6,602 from Unreserved Fund Balance to the City Council operating expense account. The additional funding need is for higher than anticipated costs related to advertising costs and various other expenses during FY2025. FROM: Unreserved Fund Balance #001-000-3590-3590 $6,602 TO: City Council – General Expenses #001-111-5200-5000 $6,602 VP LaCava explained the reason for the additional funding need, specifically higher than expected advertising expenses. A motion by Councillor McMenimen to approve the appropriation of $6,602 was adopted on a voice vote. 5. A request was received from the Mayor to approve an appropriation in the amount of $18,500 from Unreserved Fund Balance to the City Clerk operating expense account. The additional funding need is for higher than anticipated costs related to the Malone Archive Center, advertising costs and various other expenses during FY2025. FROM: Unreserved Fund Balance #001-000-3590-3590 $18,500 TO: City Clerk – General Expenses #001-161-5200-5000 $18,500 A motion to hear from City Clerk Joe Vizard was adopted on a voice vote. Mr. Vizard explained the reasons for the additional funding need, mostly due to expenses for the Malone Archive Center. A motion by VP LaCava to approve the appropriation of $18,500 was adopted on a voice vote. 6. A request was received from the Mayor to approve an appropriation in the amount of $38,500 to fund the increase in utility costs for the Veterans’ Memorial Rink this past season. FROM: Retained Earnings – Veterans’ Rink #640-630-3590-3590 $38,500 TO: Veterans’ Rink - General Expenses #640-630-5200-5000 $38,500 A motion to hear from Recreation Director Kim Hebert was adopted on a voice vote. Upon questions from VP LaCava and Councillor LeBlanc, Ms. Hebert explained the higher than anticipated utility costs. VP LaCava and Councillor LeBlanc both had other questions about the status of the rink lease and its future operations, but stated it was not a topic for this matter, but would address it during the Recreation budget review meeting. A motion by VP LaCava to approve the appropriation of $38,500 was adopted on a voice vote. 7. A request was received from the Mayor to approve an appropriation in the total amount of $29,675 from Unreserved Fund Balance to the Building Department to engage the services of a commercial painter for the Arrigo Farm building on Warren Street ($21,900) and the Waltham Common Gazebo ($7,775). FROM: Unreserved Fund Balance #001-000-3590-3590 $29,675 TO: Building – Painting Services #001-192-5800-6291 $29,675 A motion to hear from the Director of Building Maintenance, Jon Millian was adopted on a voice vote. Upon questions from Councillor LeBlanc, Mr. Millian explained the scope of work at each site and the expected use of the Arrigo Farm building was to have two rental units, one HP accessible. A motion by Councillor McMenimen to approve the appropriation of $29,675 was adopted on a voice vote. 8. Chairman LaFauci asked to schedule the upcoming FinCom meetings for the FY2026 Budget review with Departments. After a brief discussion, the following dates/times were approved for the special meetings. FinCom Budget review Wed May 28 9:30am – all day FinCom Budget review Wed June 4 9:30am – all day FinCom Budget cutting session Mon June 9 6:00pm – 7:00pm City Council Budget approval Mon June 9 7:00pm – 7:30pm 9. A motion by Councillor McMenimen to adjourn was adopted on a voice vote and Chairman LaFauci declared the meeting adjourned at 8:55pm. Paul G. Centofanti – Clerk to the Finance Committee