Westerly holds public hearing on FY2025-26 budget as nonprofits describe service needs

Westerly9s town council opened a public hearing April 16 on the proposed fiscal 2025926 budget and heard from local nonprofit representatives who described how town subsidies support services that are otherwise unfunded.

The hearing drew remarks from four speakers who described client volumes, staffing needs and recent organizational changes. Lee Eastbourne, executive director of the Johnnycake Center of Westerly, told the council the center served 2,547 individuals during 8,063 client visits in its last full operating year and that 82 percent of clients were Westerly residents. "The town of Westerly subsidy affords the center the opportunity to provide financial assistance to Westerly residents through that community resources office and also ensures that [it] continues to run effectively," Eastbourne said.

Ruth J. Turkova, who identified herself with the Olin Center, thanked the council and staff and said a part-time nurse on staff performs significant "unbillable" work helping new clients access services. "This subsidy will help to cover the many, many, many hours that we can't bill," Turkova said, describing the position as "vital, vital." Paula Brulette, a member of the town finance board, urged the council to continue a capital-planning approach that the board has developed, noting the board has set a floor of 4 percent of the annual budget for capital items and that a Studio Jade survey will refine five- to 10-year maintenance needs.

Lisa Kenecki, president of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, announced the chamber had finalized terms to purchase a building at 170 Main Street in downtown Westerly and said the purchase would support Main Street revitalization. Kenecki told the council the chamber would withdraw a previously pledged request for $75,000 in ARPA funds that had been intended for expansion at 1 Chamber Way and instead is seeking level operational funding of $50,000 for the chamber's work running the tourist welcome center and producing free community events. "We are withdrawing our request for the $75,000 so that the town can decide to do with those whatever it deems your next priority on your list," Kenecki said.

Kenecki said the chamber submitted receipts last year for more than $56,000 in hard expenses and that the $6,000 difference plus roughly 150 hours of staff time are absorbed by the chamber. She also said donors contacted about the change overwhelmingly opted to direct contributions to the new property rather than request refunds. The chamber invited council members to the Johnnycake Center's 50th anniversary gala on May 31 at the Westerly Armory.

The council voted to open and later to close the public hearing; those procedural motions were made and seconded from the dais and were approved during the meeting. No formal vote on the overall budget occurred in the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript. After closing the hearing, the council moved to a municipal courtroom for a scheduled workshop.

Why it matters: Town subsidies and ARPA allocations affect services for residents who rely on food assistance, financial support and employment services. Speakers' data and requests give councilors specific figures to consider as they finalize the budget.

The council convened the public hearing as part of the FY2025926 budget process; speakers limited their remarks to the budget during the hearing and thanked the council for prior support and asked that funding levels be maintained or redirected based on new developments, such as the chamber9s downtown purchase.