Finance Committee Meeting - August 17, 2026
Finance Committee Meeting - Monday, August 17, 2026
The Finance Committee met to discuss multiple budget transfer orders, a motion regarding the MBTA settlement funds for pedestrian bridge maintenance, and an order for layout and taking of Hillman Street. Several items were tabled due to early fiscal year timing, and one item was referred to the full City Council.
Hillman Street Layout and Taking (Item 7)
- The committee considered an order to layout and take Hillman Street to realign it for a new signalized intersection. Councillor Baptiste expressed support, noting the improvement for safety. The item was referred to the full City Council for its August 20, 2026 meeting.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – MBTA Settlement ($3.5 million): City Solicitor Eric Jakes explained that the majority of the settlement was allocated to other entities, leaving approximately $460,000 for the city, which was already expended in a prior fiscal year and cannot be placed in a revolving fund. Councillor Pereira requested a breakdown of where the $460,000 was spent. The item was tabled.
- Item 2 – Mayor's Transfer ($37,154): Transfer from Mayor Purchase of Services to Other Charges due to coding errors. Auditor Quillan Lowney confirmed no immediate bill delays. Tabled.
- Item 3 – Assessors Transfer ($2,000): Similar coding error; auditor noted the assessors' account is negative but no charges planned. Tabled on a 7–1 roll call vote (Councillor Roy opposed).
- Item 4 – Labor Relations Transfer ($650): Auditor confirmed no negative impact. Tabled on a 6–2 roll call vote (Councillors Carney and Roy opposed).
- Item 5 – School Transfer ($157,791): Assistant Superintendent David Flynn stated the transfer is for accounting purposes to match net school spending minimum, but the school department faces a $2 million shortfall in transportation. He committed to managing without affecting classroom instruction. The item was referred to the full City Council on a 7–1 vote (Councillor Roy opposed).
- Item 6 – Zeiterion Theatre Transfer ($395,000): Transfer from Supplies to Purchase of Services to correct account coding. Auditor stated payments could proceed even if tabled. Motion to table passed 6–2 (Councillors Lopes and Roy opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Referred to full City Council: Hillman Street layout (Item 7) and School transfer (Item 5).
- Tabled: MBTA settlement discussion (Item 1), Mayor's transfer (Item 2), Assessors transfer (Item 3), Labor Relations transfer (Item 4), and Zeiterion Theatre transfer (Item 6).
- Votes as recorded above.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM.
No public comments were made.
Meeting Transcript
City Council committee can be viewed on the city touring. Under Quickly, then meeting in attendance. We have Council Derek Baptiste, Council J. Burger, Council John Oliver, Council Andre Carney. I've got Mike John. Sorry, I will start this over again. In attendance, we have Councillor Derek Baptiste, Council Shane Burgo, Councillor Sean Oliver, Council Naomi R. A. Carney, Councillor James Royce, City Council President, Ryan Pereira, and Councillor Scott Pemberton and myself, Council of Ward 5, Joseph P. Lopes, Chairman of Finance. We do have two letters to be read into the record. I have a letter from uh Councillor Abreu. I'm writing this letter to inform you that I'm unable to attend the Committee on Finance meeting on Monday, August 17th, 2026, 7 p.m. due to attending an out of town work commitment. I ask that you read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and those in attendance and the public aware of the reason for my absence. And I also received a communication from actually a call from Councillor Gomes. He's ill and will not be here this evening as well. Motion to receive and place a file the communication from Councillor Abrew. Made by Council Burgos, second by Council Pepperton. All those in favor, opposed the ayes have it. We're going to get a motion to take item number seven out of order. Motion to take item number seven. Opposed the ayes have it. Item number seven is a communication. Ryan A. Paveo, first assistant city solicitor submitting orders for the layout and taking of the Hillman Street variable width from STA 72 plus 32.80 at the terminus of Pleasant Street 41.74 feet easterly to terminus at STA 72 plus 74.52 at Purchase Street for the purpose of realigning Hillman Street to the west so that a new signalized intersection can be built. The matter was referred here on July 16th, 2026. 7A is registration of land and 7B is the recorded land. Motion to receive in place on file. Second um Pereira, second by Council Burgle. All those in favor, opposed, the ayes have it. Councillor uh Mr. Chairman. Uh just to inform the public and and my colleagues, uh, in the in our mayor's papers re this week for uh our August twentieth City Council agenda. We have received the appropriation order pursuing uh in conjunction with this taking of the land. Uh I uh that is what was requested of this council of this uh council in setting it to committee. Uh I don't know if my colleagues have any questions regarding this, but it all is in order uh in discussions with attorney Garatowski. He uh agrees the up uh order uh appropriation order is in uh pursuance of this item, so the c this council would make a motion to refer if none of my colleagues have any uh questions. Councilor, before we get anybody have any questions for anyone in attendance tonight on seven, seven A or seven B. Seeing none, Councilor Pereira. Motion to refer out to the uh full city council on August 20th. Motion to refer out to the full city council on Thursday, August 20th, 2027, made by Councillor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Baptiste, all anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor. Oh, Councilor Baptiste on the question. Well, I'm not really on a question. I just wanted to speak. Uh um, I spoke to Jamie today about um the changes that they had to make and make sure that they made the proper changes. And I think this is a good um I I think this is a good project making Hillman Street go all the way down. I think it's a safer, you know, it should have been done years and years and years ago. I don't even know why we get to the bottom of Hillman and have to take our right and then and then hook a U-turn just to get back on the street.
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