The Finance Committee met on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the City Council Chambers. Chaired by Alderman Huntley, the committee approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes, then considered a supplemental appropriation for a federal grant, three collective bargaining agreements, two fee waiver resolutions, and two fine schedule updates. A finance department update was also presented. The meeting adjourned after approximately two hours.
Emergency Manager Kevin Simmons and Grant Coordinator Kyle Lepkowski presented the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant award of $899,985.40, an increase of $219,985.40 over the budgeted $680,000. Due to federal litigation and delays, the grant arrived a year late and could no longer be used for three OEM salaries (which were already funded in the general fund). Instead, funds were allocated for a bomb squad robot ($235,300), vehicle barriers ($100,000), police PPE ($64,051), OEM logistics vehicle ($65,000), sustainment for bomb squad, hazmat, technical rescue, and mobile command, canine support ($5,600), and contractor-supported emergency operations plan updates ($299,000). Alderman O’Neill expressed concern that the new vehicle barriers might increase city costs for special events, as deployment staff (police vs. public works) could be more expensive. Director Simmons and Interim Police Chief assured the committee that the barriers are easier to deploy, as effective as concrete barriers, and likely to reduce long‑term costs, though a guarantee of lower fees was not provided. Alderman Thorpe and others emphasized trust in the professionals and the narrow use of grant funds. A motion for favorable recommendation passed unanimously (3-0).
Deputy City Manager Buckland presented the three contracts covering FY2027–2028. The committee discussed the comprehensive staff reports and noted differences in costs. A single motion to give favorable recommendations to all three was made and seconded, passing unanimously.
This resolution waives city fees for the parade scheduled for December 28, 2026. Discussion centered on the lack of a citywide policy for fee waivers. Alderman O’Neill and Alderman Huntley advocated for establishing criteria (e.g., public benefit, additionality) to guide future decisions. Alderman Thorpe noted that a separate amendment by Alderman Savage to rename the title would be considered at full council. A motion for favorable recommendation passed unanimously (3-0).
The resolution would set a $1,000 fine per violation for mobile food vendors in the historic district during special events. The committee questioned the basis for the $1,000 amount. Without a representative from Planning and Zoning present, a motion to postpone the item until the next meeting was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
This resolution proposed increasing fines for unlicensed short‑term rentals to “up to $5,000.” Alderman Savage offered an amendment to set the first offense at $2,000; Alderman Thorpe offered a second amendment adding a whereas clause stating the intent is to minimize unlicensed rentals. Both amendments passed. The main motion for a favorable recommendation of the amended resolution then failed (2 aye, 0 no, 1 abstention), resulting in no committee recommendation. (The committee concluded the legislation would move forward without a recommendation.)
Finance Director Ajayi reported that a hard close had been completed, allowing financial statement preparation to begin. The audit fieldwork is on track, with 283 document requests being handled. The budget manager position is in final stages of hiring; other key positions (AP supervisor, senior accountant) are being posted. Director Ajayi noted ongoing staff training and restructuring to strengthen the department.
September 24th, 2026. Thanks everybody for being here with us today. We will get started with a roll call. All over woman O'Neill. President. Alderman Thorpe. And I'm also here. Now this time I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. Sorry, I was gonna jump in for you if need be. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All right. Agenda is approved. And can we get a motion for approval of the minutes from our last meeting on September 2nd? Motion. Second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. All right. Uh you know, I always say that I like it when we have supplemental appropriations that are our grant money. But this is a very exciting one to have before us today. And really glad to see this come through. Uh Director Simmons, you want to come up and tell us a little bit about SA 327. Yep. Kevin Simmons, I'm the emergency manager for the city of Annapolis. I'm here with Kyle Lepkowski. He's the emergency management grant coordinator. And we're going to talk to you about the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant. Now this serves as a critical resource for Annapolis public safety operations, providing essential support and staff funding. While the program is has historically been reliable source of uh backing for our public safety teams, this year award arrives approximately one year behind schedule due to existing delays, federal holes, and ongoing litigation. And that played a part on how we really wanted to use the grant. So I'm gonna turn it over to uh Mr. Lepkowski to talk a little bit about the grants and how the funding funding is gonna assist the police department, the fire department, and the Office of Emergency Management. Good morning, Kyle Lopkowski Grants Coordinator for OEM. Um so the total award of the grant is about 800,000 or 899,984 85.40 cents. Um how we're gonna use that money is it goes towards uh all of public safety. So for the Annapolis bomb squad, they are gonna be getting about 60,000 in sustainment. We are putting we got approved for a new bomb squad robot at the price of 235,000 300. Uh the hazmat unit will be getting uh 21,000 in sustainment. The fire department's technical rescue crew, uh they will be getting 10,000 in sustainment. Can I can I interrupt you real quick just to ask what is sustainment? Uh so that's anything that wasn't budgeted for that they need. Uh there could be equipment, um, training, anything that they would need to keep moving forward with what they their goals are for that year. Uh just sort of general money. Yeah, okay. Got it. Thank you.