[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6181640,"mediaKeyId","5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9","parentId",5112551,"title","Council tables Bellevue Cemetery revolving‑fund reauthorization after questions about overtime charges","audioSeconds",447,"startMs",5697000,"endMs",6144000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9&start=5697&end=6144","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9/thumbnail_5697000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181640/Lawrence-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-tables-Bellevue-Cemetery-revolvingfund-reauthorization-after-questions-about-overtime-charges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181640-ebefd52a4b882d93896df20bd831b63a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773646579&Signature=mwHJHZ3r6Y9GVyn70YpLRXkMqYfa5rtyA-n5w9No7QerA4cr828wVZLCSew7g9QPEbDcfRLfGEWqtMKrG1m-6C21Jpy5s5n2waH3xx3b9BDOUUve-PnRi5QTlmNUxpnq1h0F918YKXlLxvddW03YyZxEO9all4MnsqE5JnM4hevYea3cZM-4un3q84xfhDyhl6gvWqGYY2~82X5-uxnoVb-DjoyLe2q7y5TLXz-LOqMzWlg-22FTnZ~PFiRKtNcOtvwQeFiMhg4ONFW5GJeg0Di0GDjtygHgLhETXacoWxi1FETAYjVJhp0aNqkHc3luxCYAz6yC8NON63yehevCeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawrence City, MA","date","2025-07-01T22:09:00.457Z","article","The Lawrence City Council voted to table the reauthorization of the Bellevue Cemetery revolving fund on June 30 after councilors asked for detailed payroll and overtime accounting.

Council members noted the packet showed roughly $29,738 in overtime charged to the cemetery account and raised whether the revolving fund properly covered wages without also paying fringe benefits (health insurance, Medicare) as required by state law. A staff reading of Mass. Gen. Laws, ch.44 §53E1 was repeated during the meeting: the statute permits revolving funds but places conditions and reporting requirements on their use.

An administration official explained that cemetery staff respond to burials and other time‑sensitive events outside regular hours and that overtime is sometimes necessary; the director said seasonal and after‑hours work (snow removal, weekend burials) can drive overtime. Councilors asked staff to return with a payroll and benefit breakdown and to show how overtime and any associated fringe charges were charged to the revolving account.

The motion to table carried after roll call. Councilors and staff agreed to follow up with the requested documentation so the council can decide on the reauthorization in a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence City Council | June 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors tabled reauthorization of the Bellevue Cemetery revolving fund after questioning overtime charges and whether fringe benefits had been included when wages are paid from the fund.","taxTitle","Lawrence City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",5815,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181645,"Council reauthorizes recreation revolving fund, approves Veterans Stadium account; several other revolving accounts tabled",0,6327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9&start=6327&end=6327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9/thumbnail_6327000.jpg","/articles/6181645/Lawrence-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-reauthorizes-recreation-revolving-fund-approves-Veterans-Stadium-account-several-other-revolving-accounts-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181645-ae2a6bc0f70e3f5cf70a0a1a30ecf96e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773646579&Signature=Y9jGOlS1bHo~nyorM0IYLW9kjs7e6MXzoLN-oqPZLcQXhM35sh4Zrb0kijLgsVs~i4Jj8pa-FT3q-eI6kysMDdNpt1vA8xQauvqZF0vtM8FfHgxL-yZZb7vGJnQIrT3A8qb73t2WwdbdAWwg7xpq9gA-uPHlRPdjVSIfeJFyoiSDTAXVAhGdixp6kLL1wfsx97fAm2y4GF7u8no1NRIGfQ5rb4ifdvdSIdxyQr591FWnOLOBFyxO06tTqjFKOBnZecu8U5r4V1OlfHrx0906EgKoZZHqWSLUMZ-afAhKZUA7Xh0jwkhh0uJfndOjdmt0XliIr5RQ-4WpZPxN3fD-QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence City Council reauthorized the Recreation Department’s revolving account and approved a spending limit for the Veterans Memorial Stadium account at its June 30 special meeting, while tabling several other revolving‑fund reauthorizations pending further review.

Martha Velez, director of Health and Human Services and Recreation, explained that the recreation revolving account funds summer programs, field trips and park rental revenues. “When we collect these monies, they come in,” Velez said, and she read expenditures such as group field trip tickets and operational supplies. The council voted to authorize the recreation account and set its annual limit; the clerk recorded the ayes.

The council also approved reauthorization of the Veterans Memorial Stadium revolving account with an expenditure limit the motion set (discussion included overtime charged to the account and DPW staffing requirements). The director said stadium rental income is currently $100 per hour plus any DPW overtime required by union rules; the administration said it will provide clearer scheduling and staffing charge calculations going forward.

Several other revolving accounts were discussed and tabled to allow councilors more time to review the detailed reports provided on the day of the meeting. Those included city cemetery accounts (questions about overtime charged to the fund), the library’s revolving account and a recycling/revolving fund tied to DPW operations; staff and the comptroller emphasized that free cash and revolving‑fund deadlines mean some actions must be taken quickly. Comptroller Marlon Checo told the council, “Free cash expires June 30… We cannot discuss this after today for the revolving accounts, or the free cash transfers.”

Recycling coordinator Nelson Silver had warned in public comment that if the DPW recycling revolving fund was not reauthorized, the city could be forced to suspend mattress pickups, stop purchasing replacement trash barrels and curtail household hazardous‑waste events — actions, he said, that would produce “swift, visible, and deeply felt” sanitation problems.

Councilors and department directors agreed to provide additional documentation (charge‑code explanations, payroll coding clarification and itemized expense descriptions) to the full council and to continue some reauthorization votes at the next regular meeting or at a scheduled special meeting before related statutory deadlines.","The council reauthorized the recreation department’s revolving account and approved Veterans Memorial Stadium’s spending limit but tabled other revolving fund reauthorizations after councilors asked for more detail; staff warned some actions must be completed by June 30/July 1 under state law.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181650,"Council approves $492,770 transfer for police cruisers, AEDs and Tasers",716,3751000,4467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9&start=3751&end=4467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9/thumbnail_3751000.jpg","/articles/6181650/Lawrence-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-492770-transfer-for-police-cruisers-AEDs-and-Tasers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181650-959a200bba9b851ec427af3844d165e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773646579&Signature=DBcUb1~05JGOeUwlnrm5S~tKvHceigmYGQmM-N-N9-KpqFoltGUtzfj37ttB9sijMx1ZTE8~olHMfpyng6r1hoBTuxdkd8i9iFpvZDgKjJLuTb2WYtRs5O53uI1i-3iFea8~1-G2be9keJ2pVda1qf4sICpa5pyiBpQJEl6LQXu8fPfJ9tR2LtldSFP47AKWb3OpxDbIcGEV2kTeEdApPHl7gzK4CLrhDIUraqqbQFO~bV7Y1NzghBq8FLU47Qq4TWQbOFDEjjMcn7EDLpjvkqZnU3BfwUzuvmt17-vDyz4jpRkg0lp7oo8hz~ryrxFgTM-S3TxUg87tjFD5RJdSZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence City Council voted to authorize a $492,770.34 transfer from free cash to the police department for capital equipment, including automatic external defibrillators, medical kits, cruisers and Tasers.

Chief Aguilar summarized a May 28 memorandum listing the requested purchases: 26 medical kits ($9,750), 26 automatic external defibrillators ($65,000), three Ford Explorer marked cruisers ($201,640.60), Tasers ($169,677) and one unmarked Explorer ($46,702). “That is my understanding of what the necessity of it was as far as the needs for for this particular transfer,” the chief said.

Councilors asked for details about vehicle usage and who would be assigned to which units. The chief said a fleet list could be supplied and that the four vehicles would replace units at end of life; auction proceeds would be returned to the line item where possible.

After discussion, the council voted in favor of the transfer; the motion passed and the clerk recorded the ayes.

The transfer was presented to the council as a free‑cash appropriation and was discussed alongside other year‑end transfers and revolving‑fund reauthorizations during the special meeting.","The council voted to transfer $492,770.34 from free cash to police capital improvements to buy medical kits, AEDs, three marked cruisers, Tasers and one unmarked vehicle.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181655,"Lawrence councilors fault process after FY26 budget passed with 45‑day timing issue",2334,1665000,3999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9&start=1665&end=3999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112551-177af6c5c2c5a04591e709a95527b7a9/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6181655/Lawrence-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Lawrence-councilors-fault-process-after-FY26-budget-passed-with-45day-timing-issue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181655-86ed549d8281c91f37b300cbad23ded2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773646579&Signature=byDTKYz9y9lMatHM19XPaDqVyDzffdyYYA2kTK1TVULJRdcMncQZk0P1hJrbXZgIxGy9JNJTfXrTgP6FVrYolbtPKrBnLDGuP~jJOGi5iJeXOcMTbVoP3HlU3Nc1t9u9ghksitNUiTJUoHNWCSmaQGHqE0VbHCWK7MY7~SfdtUFD5~QSXCztG8tdcV6wM7eQf~JuifUW4ruE1eyt6Nfd4I6eBHxJeIHpexpW1Zlu8EEJDjJkHYqCDQsXrt~AeSGRG1AJIfLtKCN4~7sPrunUrZIwGrgMysOZXb7sqU1JpSBJhxGjw6COVT4S-nIBqneX0RFrle2CflO1LfJuKUJutw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawrence City Council members sharply criticized the timing and handling of the fiscal 2026 budget at a special meeting Monday, June 30, saying the council missed a 45‑day review window and that the lapse could increase local tax burdens.

Councilor Mark LaPlante, 29 Durso Ave., urged colleagues to restore “courtesy” in deliberations and to debate proposals in the chamber. “Let’s stop voting on issues based on perceived alliances,” he said. Several other councilors echoed frustration about missing documents and confusing timing.

The discussion centered on when the council and staff received the budget book and supporting materials. The city clerk told the council she received a cover memo from the CAFO dated May 1 and that the paper budget books were delivered May 2 but were not date‑stamped; she said that was an error on her part. Councilors said receiving documents on or just before meeting days impaired their ability to review line items.

Councilor comments repeatedly referenced the council’s 45‑day review period and the effect of the timing on deliberation. One councilor said the proposed FY26 budget included a levy increase to the tax levy capacity, “which means 2.5%,” and referenced built‑in new growth of about $1,200,000 for an estimated 3.58% increase in property taxes as presented in the budget packet. Multiple councilors said salary increases in the budget had not been adequately justified in materials provided.

Comptroller Marlon Checo clarified a related deadline: free cash must be appropriated by June 30 and revolving fund authorizations must be voted on or before July 1 under state law. City staff repeatedly told the council that some transfers and reauthorizations would need final action before those statutory deadlines.

Councilors said they had to rely on committee work and requested that committees leave documentation at the committee level so that when an item reaches the full council, members not on the committee still have the supporting materials. Several motions and friendly amendments on budget‑related transfers and reauthorizations were debated and, in some cases, tabled so councilors could review details.

The meeting produced no new, single‑line policy change to the budget itself during the exchanges recorded; rather, the session underscored procedural strain and a push from multiple councilors for clearer, earlier distribution of full supporting documents so members can meet their duty to review and vote on fiscal items.

Councilors said they will continue to press administration and clerks to improve the timing and availability of material, and some said they expect the discussions to continue at the council’s regular meeting and committee sessions in early July.","Councilors spent much of a special meeting debating process failures after the FY26 budget moved past a 45‑day review window, with several members saying delays and missing documentation hurt review and could raise taxes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council tables Bellevue Cemetery revolving‑fund reauthorization after questions about overtime charges

Council reauthorizes recreation revolving fund, approves Veterans Stadium account; several other revolving accounts tabled

Council approves $492,770 transfer for police cruisers, AEDs and Tasers

Lawrence councilors fault process after FY26 budget passed with 45‑day timing issue