The Finance and Public Safety & Transportation Committees met jointly on Tuesday, April 28. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appointment of Karen F. Munro as Chief Procurement Officer (#162-26) — Finance Approved 8-0. Ms. Munro previously worked for the city in the early 2000s, returned in 2019, and has been preparing for this role since. The CFO noted the Purchasing Department will benefit from being part of a larger organization as it pursues further digitization.
- Ordinance amendment to reorganize Purchasing under Financial Services (#151-26) — Finance Approved as Amended (effective July 1, 2026) 8-0. The CFO stated that the reorganization will provide the five-person Purchasing Department with greater resources and flexibility, particularly as it moves toward greater use of technology. The amendment was modified to take effect July 1, 2026, to avoid mid-year budget complications.
- Accept and expend $28,092.79 grant from Executive Office of Public Safety and Department of Fire Services (#142-26) — Finance Approved 8-0. The Fire Chief stated the grant is a reimbursement grant for the addition and replacement of rescue equipment.
- Accept and expend $14,000 grant from National Environmental Health Association (#143-26) — Finance Approved as Amended (adding “and expend”) 8-0. The Commissioner of Health & Human Services stated the grant will fund inspection equipment and food safety training to improve compliance with FDA voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
- Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and external audit reports (#144-26) — Finance Accepted the Report 8-0. Auditors from CLA presented findings, noting an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements. The general fund balance is $137 million, with $70 million unassigned, representing 12% of total revenues — up from 11.3% the prior year.
- Accept and expend $31,460 grant from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (#156-26) — Finance Approved 8-0. The grant will fund the installation of three dual-port EV charging stations at the Utilities building at 60 Elliot Street.
No Action Necessary
- Street sweeping compliance in Nonantum (#98-26) — Finance No Action Necessary 8-0. (Public Safety & Transportation had previously voted No Action Necessary 7-0 on April 8.) See discussion under #135-26 below.
Held
- Parking fine revision for street sweeping violations (#135-26) — Finance Held 8-0; Public Safety & Transportation Held 6-0. The committee discussed the pilot street-sweeping parking enforcement program covering 10–11 streets in Nonantum, which currently carries a $25 fine. Councilors debated tiered fines, citywide applicability, and enforcement logistics. The Law Department advised that fines should not exceed $100 for a street-sweeping violation. Nonantum is the only section of the City with no parking during street sweeping signs. Nonantum residents requested parking enforcement because the street sweepers have been unable to properly clear the roads. The number of fines issued in the area has been constant over the last few years.
Present (Finance): Councilors Grossman (Chair), Bixby, Charm, Greenberg, Malakie, Micley, and Silber.
Present (Public Safety & Transportation): Councilors Lucas (Chair), Greenberg, Wright, Irish, Roche, Golden, and Silber.
Absent: Councilors Krintzman and Block.
City staff: Steve Curley, Comptroller; Stela Zaloshnja, Deputy Comptroller; Maureen Lemieux, Chief Financial Officer; Doug Botelho, Manager of Financial Services; Trevor Goehring, Financial Analyst II; Endrit Poreci, Senior Analyst; Karen Munro, Acting Chief Procurement Officer; Sam Nighman, Co-Director of Sustainability; Shin-Yi Lao, Commissioner of Health & Human Services; Greg Gentile, Fire Chief; Drew Willison, City Clerk; Kelly Byrne.
