City Council approves a package of appropriations for vehicle repairs, police training, radios and safety gear

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee City Council voted March 18 to approve a series of mayor’s orders appropriating funds from the city’s undesignated free cash to cover vehicle repairs, police training and equipment, and several staff sick-buyback payments.

The actions, presented by the mayor and discussed during the council’s regular meeting, included a $120,000 appropriation to the Department of Public Works central maintenance account to cover extensive repairs to sanitation and other city vehicles; $47,100 for police education, training and travel tied to recruits and Fort Devens training; $46,150.65 for the purchase of 28 mobile radios; $14,300 to purchase bulletproof vests (with staff noting federal and state grants will be sought to reimburse much of the cost); and smaller appropriations for indemnification of police and fire ($8,978.37), claims and accounts for the city council ($5,000) and personnel sick-buyback amounts for DPW sewer ($19,213.32) and health ($3,805.76). The council also accepted $5,304 in donations for the Chicopee Senior Center for senior meals for February 2025 under Massachusetts law.

Why it matters: City staff told the council the DPW has…