The preferred schematic design for Blessing of the Bay Linear Park

The City Council's Finance Committee met tonight to tackle a 12-item agenda.

I had received some questions from constituents about the two requests for grant acceptances for the Police Department's police storage structure. However, those two items were withdrawn by the Administration, with the Legislative Liaison saying they weren't submitted correctly.

The committee had some questions about a $30,000 state grant to the Economic Development Division to help create a green jobs training program for nontraditional students. We were told these funds will go toward the planning work that will determine the structure of the program, at which point we can expect an update from City staff.

Then we tackled a number of Community Preservation Act (CPA) items, including around $1.4 million to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and nearly half a million for work on the Blessing of the Bay Linear Park on the shore of the Mystic River along Shore Drive in Ten Hills.

Finally, we hear about requests for time-only extensions of the contracts for the final work on the Healey schoolyard and the Buildings Master Plan, as well as an extension with a new official total for the Central Hill design and construction administration work on Central Hill. Ward 2 Councilor J.T. Scott asked about the veterans memorials that were put in storage during construction, and I underscored how badly our city's veterans want to see those brought back out of storage and put on display. This is something I hear about routinely when I talk to veterans.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of all 12 items, and we adjourned for the evening.

You can watch video of the meeting here.