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Finance Subcommittee recommends payments and transfers, including $5.5 million to stabilization account
Summary
The Finance Subcommittee, led by Chair Mark Bednarz, reviewed a set of seven fiscal items and recommended 2-0 approvals on prior-year payments, a $5.5 million transfer to the stabilization fund, a roughly $82,000 local match for a Safe Streets for All grant, a $100,000 refuse disposal transfer and other appropriations; several items will still need full council action where noted.
Mark Bednarz, chair of the Finance Subcommittee of the City Council, opened the meeting and read seven communications from Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella asking the subcommittee to recommend a series of payments and transfers.
Bednarz recommended subcommittee approval on each item and the attending member concurred; the subcommittee recorded 2-0 recommendations on all items and then adjourned. Several items were described as prior‑year obligations or transfers from excess and deficiency to operating accounts or reserves.
The most substantial recommendation was C95, a request to transfer $5,500,000 into the city’s stabilization account. Bednarz cited guidance from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which recommends maintaining a stabilization balance of roughly 16%–18% of the budget; he said the city’s balance was about 13% and the transfer would help move toward the recommended range.
The subcommittee also recommended the following actions:
• C90 — Prior‑year invoice: Bednarz said Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella requested payment of a prior‑year invoice for $21,042 identified in the communication as "Lummus to public schools." Bednarz noted the bill was generated in fiscal year 2025 and the funds were present but not encumbered at the time; he recommended the subcommittee grant C90. The subcommittee recommended the payment 2‑0 and Bednarz said the item will await the absent councilor’s vote at the full council meeting.
• C91 — Prior‑year salary obligation: The mayor requested approval to pay a $4,938.80 outstanding salary obligation to an employee (listed in the communication as related to "Lummus to public schools"). Bednarz said the funds are available and a question about what was due to the employee has been resolved; the subcommittee recommended approval 2‑0.
• C93 — Council expense account: Bednarz requested a $5,000 appropriation to the city council expense account, funded from excess and deficiency, to cover bills through the fiscal year. He noted a heavy year of zoning matters and that some fees are collected and recirculated into the general fund. The subcommittee recommended the appropriation 2‑0.
• C94 — Weights and measures fund and van purchase: The mayor asked for a $10,000 transfer from excess and deficiency into the weights and measures receipts reserved for appropriation fund and approval of a $37,000 expenditure to purchase a new departmental van. Bednarz said the fund had a $30,498 balance and the transfer would leave a modest cushion after the purchase. The subcommittee recommended the request 2‑0.
• C96 — Safe Streets for All grant local match: Bednarz described a competitive Safe Streets for All grant totaling about $410,000, with roughly $328,000 in federal funding and an approximately $82,000 local share. He said the funds would be used to hire consultants to study traffic and safety and develop a planning document to support additional grants. The subcommittee recommended transferring $82,000 into the grant account 2‑0.
• C97 — Refuse disposal account: The mayor requested a $100,000 transfer to the refuse disposal account to cover contract usage costs (including mattress pickups); Bednarz said the contract is usage‑based and the amount is required by the contract. The subcommittee recommended the transfer 2‑0.
On each item, Bednarz framed the recommendation as the subcommittee’s position; where the communication or the chair noted a requirement for a full council vote (for example, certain prior‑year payments), the subcommittee recommendation does not substitute for final council approval. After taking the recommendations, the subcommittee adjourned.
Votes at a glance (subcommittee recommendations): C90 — recommend payment of $21,042 (2‑0); C91 — recommend payment of $4,938.80 (2‑0); C93 — recommend $5,000 appropriation to council expense account (2‑0); C94 — recommend transfers and $37,000 van purchase (2‑0); C95 — recommend $5,500,000 transfer to stabilization account (2‑0); C96 — recommend $82,000 local match for Safe Streets for All grant (2‑0); C97 — recommend $100,000 transfer to refuse disposal account (2‑0).
The subcommittee did not record roll‑call vote sheets in the transcript beyond the attending members’ verbal concurrence. Several items were presented as mayoral communications; the chair read the requests and recommended approval, and the attending councilor verbally agreed. The meeting adjourned with a brief invitation for any further questions or comments.
