The Public Facilities Committee met on Wednesday, April 29. See the video. Budget materials can be found on the City’s website.
Department of Public Works (report)
Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan presented the DPW budget. The FY27 General Fund request is $37,294,127, with additional Water Fund ($29,960,348), Sewer Fund ($36,594,717), Stormwater ($8,039,009), and MWRA assessments for water ($16,426,808) and sewer ($25,833,981). Sullivan said most non-salary increases are driven by regulatory requirements for stormwater and capital needs. She outlined department-wide priorities, including enhancing the 311 system, standardizing community engagement, improving operational efficiency, strengthening workforce training and leadership development, increasing preventative maintenance, and improving project delivery timelines.
Councilors covered a wide range of topics. On staffing: Sullivan noted relatively high turnover, frequent internal transfers, and a tendency to promote from within, which leaves lower-level positions vacant. On old gas street lights: new solar heads have arrived and will be installed over the summer, after which gas service will be turned off. On traffic calming with rapid-flashing beacons (RFB): the average cost per RFB is about $30,000; the overall traffic calming budget has increased from $300,000 to $400,000, with most of the work done by contractors. On trash: various special permits still require City removal; the new five-year waste management contract is in its second year. On street and sidewalk repair: Sullivan acknowledged that the $9.5 million transportation budget was supplemented by other City funds in prior years and hopes to find additional sources in FY27; COO Morse said the administration is seeking additional funds, given that streets and sidewalks are a key resident priority. On snow and ice: a reserve in the Comptroller’s office covers larger snowfall years; one councilor expressed disappointment that a previous goal of adding $250,000 per year to the base budget was not continued. On stormwater: increases are largely due to enhanced regulatory requirements for phosphorus and stream and culvert maintenance. On composting: the five-year contract would need to be reopened to reduce bin sizes; a report on the switch is due at year-end. On reducing the high level of recycling contamination, which costs the city, a public education push is planned for the summer. On-street mapping: done every two years; Sullivan agreed to cover the incremental cost of more frequent mapping. Regarding revolving funds, COO Morse noted a goal of providing greater transparency in the next fiscal cycle.
Crystal Like is being treated for algae, but no longer uses an aerator. The city’s rain barrels for residents program has been discontinued.
“Councilor Grossman made a motion for a straw vote to accept the Department of Public Works’ Budget of $111,888,201, the supplemental CIP, and the CIP, which passed unanimously.”
Present: Councilors Kalis (Chair), Albright, Dahmubed, Getz, Gordon, Grossman, and Kelley. Absent: Councilor Leary.
City staff: Shawna Sullivan, Commissioner of Public Works; Bernie McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works; Kelley Cadman, DPW Director of Finance and Administration; Josh Morse, COO; Doug Botelho, Manager of Financial Services; Endrit Poreci, Senior Financial Analyst; Trevor Goehring, Financial Analyst II.