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Aldermen approve contracts, grants and a $2.25M budget transfer in June session
Summary
The board approved a slate of contracts, project authorizations and grant acceptances — including a $339,000 dam‑removal grant and a $3.1M state sidewalk grant — and approved a $2.25M in‑year budget transfer to cover settled salary contracts and staffing costs.
The Waterbury Board of Aldermen approved a broad slate of administrative and capital items on June 22, including construction contracts, grants and an intra‑year general‑fund transfer intended to cover salary increases tied to newly settled labor agreements.
Key approvals: The board approved construction and professional contracts for schools and city facilities (notable items included theatrical lighting upgrades, elementary‑school parking-lot work and front-entry door replacements), accepted a Long Island Sound Ecosystem Grant of $339,000 for design and environmental work on the Risen dam removal project, and authorized a state grant of roughly $3.1 million to reconstruct sidewalks on the north side of Lakewood Road.
Budget transfer explained: City budget manager Sarah Gary said the $2,250,000 transfer from contingency to departmental salary and utility accounts was primarily to cover wage and step increases approved during FY26 for firefighters, nurse supervisors and white‑collar employees; the transfer leaves a $250,000 contingency balance for the fiscal year ending June 30. Alderman Martinez‑McCarthy and others questioned timing and the ability to ask about monthly financial reports; Gary said the monthly financial status reports include narratives and that staff are available to answer inquiries.
Water‑pollution control and facilities work: The board approved a $298,850 contract with Structural Preservation Systems LLC for concrete repairs and column installation at the water pollution control plant following engineering recommendations, and authorized fire‑station roof and kitchen project authorizations to use existing bond authorizations for those renovations.
Grant and procurement transparency: Several aldermen questioned procurement transparency for on‑call engineering lists and asked that full vendor rate sheets be made available in the board packet; staff noted the material is available as part of the BOA submission package and agreed to ensure digital availability.
Votes and next steps: The budget transfer passed on roll call (9 yes, 5 no). Grants and contracts were approved by committee roll calls and full board votes as listed in the official agenda packet; where federal or state approvals are required (for sidewalk or dam projects), staff said those steps will proceed and the board will be asked to approve any material construction contracts that follow the design and permitting phase.
