Committee forwards three departmental budgets to finance committee after presentations
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Summary
The committee voted to forward positive recommendations for the Human Rights Advisory Commission, Human Services Department and Health & Environment Department budgets to the finance committee; members also pressed department leaders on staffing, program grants and testing costs.
The Cape Cod Regional Government Assembly of Delegates standing committee on health and human services voted on March 23 to forward favorable recommendations to the finance committee for three departmental budgets: the Human Rights Advisory Commission (HRAC), the Human Services Department and the Health & Environment Department.
Chair O'Malley opened the virtual meeting and after presentations and questions entertained motions to recommend each budget to the finance committee. Delegate Harder moved the HRAC recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call. The committee later moved the Human Services Department budget and then the Health & Environment budget; both motions passed and will be considered by the finance committee.
Administrator Michael Dutton described the packages as "level services" budgets prepared to be sustainable across towns and said department heads would be available to answer questions. On the HRAC budget, director Santos Dominguez told delegates the commission generally manages with current part-time staff but that events like the human rights academy create short-term spikes in workload; she said volunteers and an assistant help cover work and that the $15,000 supplies line is "adequate," with food and increased printing costs accounting for most of the spend.
On human services, Director Joe Pacheco outlined a level-services budget and told the committee the department is pursuing a competitive application for roughly $500,000 to sustain an older-adult social-services program whose initial $200,000 award and subsequent no-cost extension are set to expire. "We're in the middle of an application process for a half million dollars," Pacheco said.
During the Health & Environment presentation, Director Jay Gardner and lab director Dan White reviewed lab growth and water-quality work. White discussed testing revenue and PFAS activity and described staffing and certification improvements that helped the lab meet demand.
All three recommendations will now be considered by the county finance committee as the next formal step in the budget process.
