Council schedules budget hearings, refers water and sewer budgets and approves $250,000 for fire overtime

At its May 11 meeting the Leominster City Council took several finance actions ahead of the FY2027 budget process and approved a supplemental appropriation for the fire department.

Communications from Mayor Dean J. Maserella (C74, C75, C76) were referred to the finance chair. C74 requests a water department appropriation of $6,998,779 and C75 requests a sewer department appropriation of $7,190,666; both were given "regular course" and public hearings were scheduled for May 26. The larger FY2027 municipal budget (C76, roughly $186.7 million) was referred to finance; the committee announced subcommittee hearings will be held May 18 and May 19 to review department capital needs and allow the public to attend prior to the May 26 public hearings.

The council also considered C73, a request to transfer $250,000 from the excess and deficiency account to the fire department overtime account. The finance chair read a letter from Fire Chief Craig Long explaining that overtime expenses reflect contractual obligations and coverage for duty-related injuries, military activations, emergency recalls and staffing shortages. The appropriation was approved by roll-call (7 yes, 1 abstention). The finance chair said the transfer will help sustain operational demands while staffing shortages are addressed.

Councilors asked about the subcommittee schedule and which departments would appear; the chair provided a lineup of departments and times for the May 18–19 subcommittee sessions. The council also referred several administrative and licensing matters to the appropriate committees and set future public hearings as part of the regular course of business.

The council’s vote on C73 and the scheduling of budget hearings set the process and dates for department budget presentations and the May 26 public hearings.