Ways and Means approves transfers to police behavioral health, school grants and $175,000 MSBA study authorization for Sisson School

The Lynn Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 25 approved several transfers to support public‑safety and school programs and voted to authorize $175,000 from free cash for a feasibility/schematic study for window and door replacement at Edward A. Sisson Elementary School.

Committee members approved roll‑call transfers that included $633,985.48 to the police department for a Mass Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program, $290,000 to support a behavioral health intervention program, $100,000 to support a behavioral health unit, $75,000 to the School Department from United Way’s CEMA Project RISE program, and $10,000 for an IEP students diploma grant program. The committee approved the transfers by roll call; no dissent was recorded in the meeting record.

The committee also approved an order to appropriate $175,000 from free cash to pay the cost of a feasibility and schematic design study for replacement of windows and doors at Edward A. Sisson Elementary School (58 Konomo Ave.). The order authorizes the mayor to execute a project funding agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and notes that any grant from the MSBA is discretionary and that the city bears the cost of work that exceeds any MSBA grant.

Why it matters: The transfers channel funds into public‑safety staffing and behavioral health supports for the police department and provide initial local funding to advance a MSBA‑eligible school repair project into schematic design. The MSBA agreement language commits the city to pursuing a project under MSBA rules and clarifies local financial responsibility if a future grant does not cover total costs.

Actions recorded in the meeting (selected): - Transfer: $20,000 from reserve to police expense to fund operational needs — approved by roll call. - Certified funds: $633,985.48 to the Police Department for the Mass Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program — approved by roll call. - Transfer: $290,000 to Police Department to support the behavioral health intervention program — approved by roll call. - Transfer: $100,000 to Police Department to support the behavioral health unit — approved by roll call. - Transfer: $75,000 to School Department via United Way Project RISE — approved by roll call. - Transfer: $10,000 to School Department for IEP students diploma grant program — approved by roll call. - Order: $175,000 from free cash to fund feasibility/schematic design for window/door replacement at Edward A. Sisson Elementary School; mayor authorized to execute MSBA project funding agreement — approved by roll call. The item notes the MSBA process and that any grant award would reduce borrowing; the city retains responsibility for costs exceeding any MSBA grant.

Committee members recorded no emergency appropriation for the Sisson order and no roll‑call opposition to the transfers as read in the committee record. The transfers and the order will proceed according to standard appropriation and MSBA processes.

The committee adjourned after votes.