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Peabody council approves transfers to leverage grants for cybersecurity and dam repairs, fund bike-path easements and fire equipment
Summary
The Peabody City Council unanimously approved a series of finance transfers June 11 to leverage state and federal grants for cybersecurity at water facilities and mandated dam repairs, to buy easements for a bike path, to equip a fire pumper, and to move cable-fee funds to the municipal access channel.
Peabody City Council voted unanimously June 11 to approve a set of finance transfers approved earlier by the council finance subcommittee that together move municipal dollars to match grants, buy easements and purchase equipment.
Councelor Peach, reporting the finance subcommittee meeting, said the council received a transfer request of $296,525 that will allow the city to leverage $511,500 in total project funding for three grant matches. She said one grant will pay for cybersecurity upgrades at the city’s water treatment facilities and two grants will fund required work at the Winona and Spring Pond dams after a state evaluation. DPS Director Will Pollitz attended the subcommittee meeting to describe what the grants will cover.
The council approved three line-item transfers that were read into the record: $135,000 from account 270033015 to account 300033015-574472026411; $16,400 from account 270033015-5 to account 30003315-57-4472026412; and $55,125 from account 2700033015 to account 30003315-57-447206413. Councelor Gamash moved the package and a roll-call vote recorded every councilor in favor; the motion carried 10–0.
Separately, the council approved a $221,000 transfer to purchase easements for a bike path running from Lieutenant Ross Park to the bridge over Route 1 under I‑95. Peach said the community development director explained the parcels and the transfer moved forward on a unanimous roll-call vote.
The council also approved a $150,000 transfer for fire pumper equipment. Peach said the equipment had not been included in the original 2023 engine purchase to allow the city to obtain components from different vendors; the finance committee recommended the transfer and the full council voted to approve it unanimously.
Finally, a cable-fee fund transfer of approximately $186,131.46 was approved to move Comcast-derived funds to PBD Access Television for public broadcasting operations; the finance committee had recommended the transfer and the council adopted it 10–0.
The council took the motions under routine procedures and recorded roll-call votes for each transfer. These moves authorize staff to effect the account transfers and proceed with project procurement and easement acquisition as described by staff at the finance subcommittee meeting.
