Lynn Food Policy Council authorizes transfer of remaining funds to The Food Project, approves livestream budget and backs vehicle idea for state food‑system gra

The Lynn Food Policy Council on April 15 approved transferring its remaining grant balance to The Food Project, authorized obtaining quotes for livestream equipment and approved an initial budget cap of $1,500 for video and accessibility equipment, and asked a partner organization to include a vehicle in a statewide food‑system infrastructure grant proposal.

Council members reviewed a spend‑down accounting the group has tracked: roughly $11,000 was the original fund balance, with $2,000 allocated to an anti‑hunger conference and $2,000 set aside for two years of administrative fees, leaving approximately $7,000 available. Members agreed the Food Project can hold the funds under an MOU that specifies metrics and reporting. The council approved a motion to transfer the remaining balance (minus earlier allocations) to The Food Project; the Chair called the motion passed after roll call.

Separately, the council discussed immediate expenditures that would support access and transparency: members prioritized live‑streaming council meetings and discussed equipment needs (laptop, microphones, internet access). The council voted to seek quotes from a technical consultant and authorized spending up to $1,500 for livestream technology; members agreed the council must return for approval if costs exceed that cap. “If it goes above $1,500, you'd have to come back to the policy for the rest for approval,” the Chair said when the cap was discussed.

The meeting also covered the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG). Council members suggested collaborative proposals that could include refrigerated trucks, a mobile farmers‑market vehicle, or other infrastructure to address transportation barriers. The council voted to ask Bliss (the current grant applicant/partner organization that previously held funds) to include a vehicle for the Food Policy Council in its application and to offer the council’s support in a combined proposal. Members noted FSIG requires a 20% cash match and that costs such as insurance, fuel and storage would need to be resolved if a vehicle is obtained.

The council recorded two separate roll‑call votes: one approving transfer of remaining funds to The Food Project and one authorizing the livestream quote and up to $1,500 in spending. A separate roll‑call vote also approved requesting inclusion of a vehicle in the GLIS/Bliss FSIG application. The council asked staff to obtain an itemized quote for livestream setup and to prepare an itemized MOU if The Food Project will hold the funds.