Board of Aldermen 3-10-2020 Page 4
Mayor Donchess
Well we are not approving it, we are simply allowing it to be introduced and referred to the Budget
Committee, because you see it’s not on the Agenda. So we would just accept it and refer it to the Budget
Committee.
Alderwoman Lu
Oh | see, thank you.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
| just wanted to make sure | heard it correctly. You talked about Franklin Facility, a start-up for Pre-K and
Brentwood possibly being together?
Mayor Donchess
The first step would be to lease part of the building for the Pre-K which the School Department believes
could save some money. Ultimately the entire building might be used for the Pre-K and for Brentwood,
maybe the City could entertain various options, continue to lease the building, possibly buy it. But we know
we spend a lot of money on Brentwood. So there are various and it is a downtown location, so there are
various alternatives that the City could pursue, the School Department could pursue once they gain a
foothold through the initial lease of part of the building.
Alderman Dowd
On the Legislation for the Budget, it gets introduced tonight, it gets referred to the Budget Committee. At
the Budget Committee we talk about it at the first meeting and then we table it for every successive Budget
Meeting, bring it back off the table until we are done all the Budget Review Meetings. At that point in time
we take a vote to send it back to the Full Board with a recommendation and | believe the date for the final
reading is June 2", somewhere in June, | think it’s June 2". | could be wrong but right about that time.
Alderman Lopez
So Mr. Mayor, first of all, thank you for working hard to get us the Budget on our desks before we actually
have desks. | wanted to know about the expenses that we are talking about for the School District and
particularly the supplies that we were talking about . Is the Grant Writer that we pay, that we added in last
year’s budget focusing on these? Because it is has kind of been my experience that you are more likely to
find grant support for supplies and infrastructure; you definitely won't find it for any staffing or needs. Is that
like buying desk seats or desk chairs, is that something that they might be able to help offset the expense
from?
Mayor Donchess
Well this Grant Writer is working the School Department on a number of possibilities. The desks and chairs
are not something we are likely to get a grant for, | mean | would be glad to ask her but that would be my
impression. Those are usually for more ambitious things than simply getting additional chairs or replacing
chairs and desks.
Alderman Lopez
Then my last question was although it is within two weeks, is there a way to put a sign up on Palm Street
because people, it’s like an 800 foot walk, and that’s partly while people are getting so frustrated, because
you can’t visibly tell from the road when you’re walking down the Rail Trail whether or not the bridge is open
