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Fitchburg City Council approves $2.3 million in free cash

FITCHBURG — The City Council on Tuesday night approved several free cash appropriations totaling $2.3 million that will fund school expenses, budget corrections, and upgrades around the city.

“The city did very well with its free cash certification this year, in fact, much better than expected,” wrote City Auditor Calvin Brooks in a letter to the Council. “It will allow the city to embark on capital and other long-term projects that in many cases have been delayed because of past fiscal constraints.”

Brooks noted in his letter the city had $300,000 in unspent free cash from last year, $800,000 in state aid and assessments, and $1.2 million in the collection of past due taxes.

Despite the good news he cautioned the Council, “we can’t count on these occurrences happening year after year.”

He said next year’s free cash certification should be less because the city anticipated revenue increases when the fiscal 2020 budget was set.

“We must spend wisely, carefully, and prudently,” said Brooks. “It will take time to do what we want, but if we work hard and tight, we can get there.”

After this recent bit of spending, the city is left with $5.4 million in free cash.

The councilors approved $13,885 to replace the fencing at Laurel Hill Cemetery. According to Cemetery Commission Chairwoman Judy Perla, the replacement project is currently in its second phase.

There was also the appropriation of $879,709 to the School Department for capital, risk management, and technology upgrades.

Brooks said the fiscal year 2019 budget did meet the net school spending requirements when it was approved, but the actual expenses by the city were less. Therefore, the funds need to be given to the School Department for direct spending.

According to School Director of Finance and Operations Craig Chalifoux, there are many projects on the department’s to-do list, but they have not yet selected which projects to fund.

“We’ve got a number of projects now slated to move forward for school building facilities, we’re looking a risk management, looking at security cameras, and infrastructure,” he said.

In another appropriation related to schools, councilors approved $41,143 for technology needs.

Councilors also approved $350,000 to be added to the city’s stabilization fund and $250,000 to be credited to the other post employment benefits trust fund.

There was an appropriation of $84,000 to reduce the Fitchburg Municipal Airport’s deficit fund balance.

In a letter addressed to Mayor Stephen DiNatale, Brooks noted that the airport is in the midst of several projects, the major one being the overhaul of its runways.

“As a consequence, airport revenues are off, and the airport fund has been running a deficit for the past three years,” said Brooks. “Once the work is complete, the airport is expected to again be self-sufficient.”

The Council, during the Finance Committee meeting on Nov. 12, noted that the appropriation was less than in prior years, but it was also expected. About $55,000 in revenue shortfall was acceptable, they said, but the $28,000 in overspending was not.

Councilors put the airport on notice that future overspending of the budget will not be tolerated.

The Department of Public Works will be getting a $300,000 funding boost for improving the city’s drainage system and to obtain engineering services for requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit.

“Drainage improvements will consist of rebuilding and rehabilitating existing drainage structures throughout the City, including collapsing catch basins and culverts,” said Nicolas Bosonetto, DPW commissioner, in a letter to the council.

Councilors approved a $23,564 appropriation to the Fire Department to match a FEMA grant for new turnout gear.

Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin D. Roy said turnout gear being provided to the department includes every piece of protective equipment that a firefighter might need.

In another Fire Department related article, the council approved $23,800 to be spent on paying the natural gas bill for the department’s headquarters building.

According to Roy, the department’s gas supplier, Direct Energy, did not bill the city for over a year. Roy said they talked with the company to ensure the mistake doesn’t happen again.

There was also an appropriation of $28,000 for an Employee Assistance Program, and $18,000 for installing security cameras and signage for the two city parking garages.

Several items approved Tuesday were made to tie up loose ends from the prior fiscal year, including an appropriation of $262,000 for the construction of a new female locker room and to replace a rooftop air conditioning unit and control valves.

Another item was a $20,000 appropriation for purchasing and installing security cameras for the two city parking garages — which is in addition to the other appropriation.

There was also a $241,000 appropriations for a utility truck and for the engineering and design of SCADA system upgrades.