The Chicopee City Council on Jan. 7 approved four mayor's orders including acceptance of a FY2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) of $27,608 for the Chicopee Police Department and related appropriations to buy three sit-stand workstation consoles for the department's real-time information center.

The grant acceptance was announced by the mayor, who told the council the funds will buy sit-stand workstations for the real-time information center. The council then voted to appropriate $27,608 from the city's stabilization fund to a police special account for building renovation, to be reimbursed when grant funds are received.

The council also approved an appropriation of $15,540.92 to a Human Resources special account for indemnification payments related to police and fire injuries on duty, and confirmed Monica Torres as the designated responsible party to solicit contributions for municipal-sponsored entertainment, educational programs and other city activities.

Nut graf: The actions together authorize the immediate purchase of equipment for the police department's operations center, cover a contractual indemnification payment for public-safety employees, and shift a solicitation designation in the mayor's office; all four orders passed by roll call votes.

On process and votes: Councilor Brooks moved that the mayor's orders be received and pass through all stages on the mayor's written recommendation. The motions for the grant acceptance, the appropriation for building renovations, the indemnification appropriation, and the appointment of Monica Torres each passed by recorded roll calls. The recorded tallies shown on the record were 12 yes, 0 no for each of those mayor's orders.

Council responses and context: The mayor said the $27,608 JAG grant would be used to purchase three sit-stand workstation consoles for the real-time information center and noted job postings for four positions to staff the center had been or would be posted. The mayor also confirmed the city is self-insured and described the indemnification appropriation as payment for police and fire bills when employees are injured on duty.

Monica Torres' appointment drew several brief endorsements from councilors who called Torres "professional" and a "go-getter." The council approved the appointment by roll call (12 yes).

Ending: The council completed votes on the four mayor's orders during the meeting; the appropriation for building renovations is recorded as reimbursable when the JAG grant funds are received.