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Date: 6/21/2021
NORTHAMPTON – The Northampton City Council approved the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget after a second reading at the June 18 meeting.
To start the budget discussion, Ward 5 Councilor Alex Jarrett said he wanted as much funding for the new Department of Community Care as possible.
“I think this department is a great positive step that will help meet needs and I want to say there are many more needs than just the peer emergency response, including safe and accessible housing, access to shelter and food, treatment programs and many more. I think we need to set an expansive agenda for the department because if these needs are met it will reduce crime and save resources,” he said.
Jarrett added that he wanted to see more funding for the department as soon as possible.
“We are being a leader in the state by moving this forward and we want this program to succeed, if we are successful, it can be replicated throughout the state, which is why I request for more funding and ask the mayor to request additional funding as soon as possible,” he said.
While some members of the public asked the council to vote down the budget, City Solicitor Alan Seawald said the budget would still go into effect 45 days from when it was first received by the City Clerk.
“The Charter does not contemplate a rejection of the budget; it says, ‘The Council shall pass the budget including amendments within 45 days.’ Either you are going to pass it within 45 days or the budget the mayor submitted goes into effect without action from the council,” he said.
Ward 7 Councilor Rachel Maiore, who voted against the first reading of the budget at the previous meeting, said the second reading was the time to make the best budget possible.
“It’s our job to make this the best possible budget for Northampton. I think this is a reasonable budget in many ways, but I wonder if this is the best possible budget we can make right now. It makes all the difference in finding better solutions for our constituents. Let’s collaborate and find a budget we can all be proud of,” she said.
After Ward 6 Councilor Marianne LaBarge asked about implementing an Advisory Committee for the department, Mayor David Narkewicz said it was a part of the initial funding.
“In terms of the Advisory Committee, that is specifically mentioned in the description for the Department of Community Care as one of the key things for this department. That is why I wanted to make sure there was administrative support as well,” he said.
Narkewicz also reiterated that the 10 percent cut from the police budget in FY21 was different from what was requested for the Department of Community Care.
“I have gone through the $882,000 number several times and I think it is a symbolic number, but it does not represent the actual 10 percent cut to the NPD budget that was enacted last year. The reductions happened but then we formed a commission to study the issue and make some recommendations. I am doing my best to implement them and provide what I believe is significant funding to begin that process,” he said.
Narkewicz said he was following the recommendations of the Northampton Policing Review Commission by getting the department ready by FY23.
“The report says the department should begin being formed immediately as part of the FY22 budget with a goal of it being fully operational for the FY23 budget,” he said.
While many residents support the Department of Community Care, Ward 1 Councilor Michael Quinlan said some residents did not want to cut the police budget.
“Two weeks ago, I felt like I understood the community here supports the Department of Community Care but in the last two weeks that has become even more clear. There were some questions about how many people would not like us to cut the police budget,” he said. “Many would rather not see a cut to the police budget to fund the Department of Community Care, they feel the city can fund both.”
Quinlan added that he wanted to see more money for the new department.
Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra wrapped up the discussion by saying the council recognized the funding for the Department of Community Care is not enough but there is work to be done to find out how much money more is needed.
“It sounds like all of us recognize this funding is not enough for operations and I am committed to finding the additional funds once they are determined. There are actual things that need to be worked out, that is just the reality of this work,” she said.
The council approved the second reading of the FY22 budget with a 8-1 vote.
The City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 15.