Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 City Council completes budget hearings with departments By Christopher Roberson T he City Council Budget Committee, during its June 5 meeting, finished the final wave of budget hearings with city department heads. This year’s request for the Fire Department is $12.1 million, which represents an increase of $800,000 over last year. During the hearing, Fire Chief Anthony Carli said “18-20” new firefighters will be joining his department. However, they cannot be officially added to the roster until they complete the three-month training program at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Carli also said it has come time to purchase a new truck for Ladder 1, adding that it should arrive by the end of the year and that he strives to get every possible mile out of each vehicle. “We want to get 10 to 15 years out of a frontline piece,” he said. Carli also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided funding for a stateof-the-art fire boat, which is also expected to arrive by the end of the year. “We’re extremely excited about that,” he said. However, there were a few tense moments when Councillor-at-Large Gerly Adrien questioned the department’s salary line item, which has gone from $7.8 million last year to $8.5 million this year. “I just want to clarify, for some councillors who may not know how to do math,” she said. Ward 6 Councillor Michael McLaughlin, chairman of the Budget Committee, immediately took exception to Adrien’s remark. “That was an uncalled for comment,” he said. “Councillor Adrien, I would respectfully ask that you refer your questions to me or our invited guest, not to any of our colleagues. We are not here to make personal attacks.” The request for the Police Department is $16.2 million this year compared to $15.8 million last year. Police Chief Steven Mazzie said 10 officers will be joining the department during the next year. He said a number of officers are also eligible for pay increases and that $1 million has been budgeted for overtime compensation. In addition, Mazzie said $314,329 has been earmarked to purchase new patrol vehicles, an increase of $164,329 over last year. “Vehicle pricing is through the roof; it’s gotten extremely expensive,” he said, adding that the department is also considering electric vehicles. The budget for the Mayor’s Office came in at $929,998, representing a decrease from last year’s figure of $1.1 million. Ward 5 Councillor Rosa DiFlorio called attention to the fact that $147,900 was budgeted for Erin Deveney, Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s current chief of staff. “I just want to clarify something, the chief of staff last year was getting paid $61,000 because he couldn’t make any more than that,” she said. “I just want to make that clear.” DiFlorio also questioned why only $85,000 was being offered to hire a director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “I feel like we’re not paying a lot of money in this city, even though it sounds like a lot,” she said. However, Deveney said an additional appropriation will be requested if the salary needs to be increased to find the right applicant. In addition, DiFlorio took issue with the stipends for the city’s boards and commissions. “Some of these board members are making $1,500 and $2,200 and they do as much work as we do,” she said. “It’s pretty sad because we’re making over $25,000 to be councillors.” In terms of reductions, Ward 1 Councillor Fred Capone made motions to eliminate DeMaria’s $6,000 auto allowance, to cut the advertising budget by $16,300 and to cut other miscellaneous expenses by $25,000. Each motion was voted down. Capone’s final motion on the Mayor’s Office budget was to reduce the official celebrations line item from $100,000 to $75,000. However, City Council President Pro Tempore Anthony DiPierro responded in opposition. “To vote for a reduction tells a story that we want less community engagement and less community enjoyment,” he said. “I’m not willing to do that.” The motion ultimately failed by a vote of 2-8. This year’s budget for the Department of Public Works (DPW) came in at $13.5 million, a decrease of $700,000 from last year. After reviewing the DPW’s request, Capone made a motion to reduce the line item for citywide seasonal expenditures from $100,000 to $75,000. However, his motion was defeated 2-5. Capone made another moCOUNCIL | SEE PAGE 21
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