Brockton City Council approves multiple grants, budget transfers and ordinances

BROCKTON, Mass. — The Brockton City Council on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, approved a series of grants, budget transfers and ordinances affecting public safety, water and general fund accounts and referred other matters to committee.

Council members voted by voice and roll call on multiple items that the mayor and city departments had forwarded for action before the start of the fiscal year. The actions included adoption of a revised towing ordinance, acceptance of several grant awards for the police and fire departments, and transfers that reallocate retained earnings and certified free cash into capital or operating accounts.

Why it matters: The measures change where the city will spend money this fiscal year and allocate outside grant dollars for equipment and public-safety programs. Several transfers and grants support routine operations (postage, court settlements) while others fund capital work (water mains) or state grant-funded initiatives.

Key approvals and outcomes included:

- Towing ordinance: Councilors adopted a revised towing ordinance (replacement of section 12-208) by roll call. The measure updates towing-list qualification requirements and assignments. The roll call recorded nine affirmative votes and the ordinance was adopted.

- Police grants: Councilors authorized acceptance and expenditure of $352,620 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the Brockton Police Department (order adopted by roll call). Separately, the council referred to the finance committee a $775,475.14 award from the Senator Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Executive Office of Public Safety and Security).

- Fire grant: The council authorized acceptance and expenditure of $49,986 from the firefighter safety equipment grant program (Department of Fire Services) for a self-contained breathing apparatus washer and turnout gear.

- Water and sewer spending and capital transfers: The council approved a $3,200,000 transfer from FY25 DPW water retained earnings to a new water-main capital fund and approved a payment of $254,714.15 from DPW sewer purchase-of-service funds (payments listed to Rehoboth Solar LLC and Altus Power LLC).

- Budget transfers: The mayor’s recommended transfers recorded on the Feb. 10 agenda that were accepted or referred include a $1,098,593 transfer related to opioid funds (Department of Revenue requirement), an $8,106,226 transfer to comply with Chapter 324 of the Acts of 1990 in support of FY26 planning, $750,000 to cover unanticipated law department costs (insurance and court settlements), $268,000 to fully fund Parks and Recreation for the remainder of the fiscal year, and a $50,000 transfer to cover postage costs.

- Other fiscal actions: Councilors approved a $150,000 transfer from human-resources full-time salaries to human-resources consultants and approved revocation and re-approval of a $130,000 parking-authority transfer. The council also approved a $30,000 transfer from certified free cash to fire purchase-of-services and authorized the collector/treasurer, with mayoral approval, to enter into contracts to pursue federal reimbursements or other revenue sources on behalf of the city.

- Education and stabilization transfer: The council approved a $6,000,000 transfer from the stabilization fund to non-net school spending.

- Intermunicipal wastewater: The council adopted an order authorizing the mayor to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the town of Dighton for wastewater treatment.

- Requests for oversight and follow-up: The council resolved to invite the Department of Public Works commissioner and the chief financial officer to provide an update on regional water-supply solutions, including the Aquaria Water Treatment Plant in Dighton; that resolution was adopted by voice vote.

A motion to reconsider one adopted matter was made by Councilor Nicastro and seconded; the motion failed on a voice vote.

Votes at a glance (selected items): Towing ordinance (replacement of section 12-208): adopted; roll-call tally: 9 in the affirmative. Accept and expend $352,620 to Brockton Police Department (Executive Office of Public Safety and Security): adopted; roll-call tally: 9 in the affirmative. Accept and expend $49,986 to Brockton Fire Department (Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program): adopted by voice/committee referral as listed on the agenda. Transfer $3,200,000 from DPW water retained earnings to new water-main capital fund: adopted; roll-call tally: 9 in the affirmative. Transfer $6,000,000 from stabilization fund to non-net school spending: adopted; roll-call tally: 9 in the affirmative. Authorize collector/treasurer to contract to pursue federal reimbursements and permit payments from recovered revenues: adopted; roll-call tally: 9 in the affirmative.

What councilors said: Councilor Rodriguez submitted a late-file communication that the council accepted. Councilor Nicastro moved to reconsider one item “in the hopes that it fails,” and the motion to reconsider was defeated on a voice vote.

Next steps: Several items were referred to the finance committee for detailed review, and the council scheduled committee meetings as shown on the agenda. Finance-committee hearings and any further third readings (for zoning or overlay matters) will return to the council for final action.