Manchester Board approves series of budget amendments and grants including $10.75 million canal project and $2 million smart-traffic grant

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve a package of budget amendments and grant acceptances covering multiple capital projects and department requests at its meeting. The actions included a $10,750,000 transfer for canal design and construction and a $2,000,000 smart-traffic grant intended for study and potential pilot implementation on a single corridor.

The package covered 15 items on the consent/finance agenda that the board moved and approved in sequence. The items authorized acceptance and expenditure of funds across capital improvement projects (CIP) for opioid settlement proceeds, youth programs, homeless health care, emergency operations center upgrades, a vehicle and equipment purchases, annual street reconstruction, a traffic-signal smart grant, a FEMA hazard mitigation award amendment, hazmat training funds, and time-frame extensions for several CIP projects. Most motions were moved and seconded by board members and were approved with “Aye” votes.

Why it matters: these approvals allocate funds for near-term capital work and grant-funded programs that city staff said will support street reconstruction, corridor traffic-signal optimization, emergency operations upgrades and public-safety training. Item 11—the $2,000,000 smart-traffic grant—was discussed at length…