Board of Aldermen 3-10-2020 Page 3
In terms of the one-time temporary aid expenditures, following the recommendations of the School Department,
there is $700,000.00 to replace all of the Chrome Books for the students which are becoming obsolete. There
are $415,000.00 for the startup expenses to move Pre-K into the former Christian School Building on Franklin
Street as well as to create the possibility that that building could also later house the Brentwood Facility, which
we pay rent for. So in the end, this would be a very strong step for the School Department. There is also
money proposed for technology upgrades at the Elementary and High Schools that are needed for good
Internet access and there’s $175,000.00 for an upgrade of the Middle School Science Curriculum.
| did make a couple of changes. First! did increase the amount for school furniture because of reports that we
have desks and chairs in many schools that are broken, from $60 to $250,000.00. As | have suggested, |
allocated the $200,000.00 for salaries and benefits for three more ELL Teachers. With respect to the one-time
aid that we are receiving with respect to City Projects, the main allocations are to the Library Plaza Park that is
partially funded at this time as well as to the Capital Equipment Reserve Fund or CERF. Of course, the Budget
continues, a lot of our longer term projects, the Paving Plan of Action which would reach about 25 to 30 miles of
streets with paving this year plus crack sealing of another 30 or 40 miles. We are continuing to upgrade the
Waste Water Treatment Plant and replace aging sewer lines. Of course, we are working on the replacement of
the Elm Street Middle School with the new school down on Buck Meadow Road. Again | mentioned the Library
Plaza Project which is one of the things that would be funded through the one-time aid.
So that’s the overall picture of the Budget. Of course | will come to the Budget Committee and talk through the
details of when that is appropriate. You should be receiving the Budget books before the end of the meeting,
they told me by 10 to 8:00. It is now 13 to 8:00 so hopefully they will be here.
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
Donna just got called.
Mayor Donchess
What?
Attorney Bolton
Donna just got called.
Mayor Donchess
So maybe they are here now. Finally, Madam President one issue that has come up is the Eaton Street Bridge
along the Rail Trail. Public Works believes that that will be finished within two weeks. That is an important
bridge for people getting around downtown and Alderman Lopez has been asking about that. So we do believe
it will be finished in fairly short order. Madam President, that concludes my remarks.
President Wilshire
Thank you Mayor. Response to the Remarks of the Mayor.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
Alderwoman Lu
Could you just explain why we approve this Budget at this point?
