Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/30/2017
CHICOPEE – The City Council approved an increase in the fiscal year 2018 tax levy to fund several projects.
The council made it decision at its meeting on Nov. 21.
The Council acted on several appropriations made by Mayor Richard Kos that would be funded by increase in the tax levy. One million-two hundred thousand dollars would go to capital budgeting purposes and the first phase of the rehabilitation of the City Hall, while employee salary reviews and employee contract settlements each were allocated $600,000.
The capital budget allocation is earmarked for a new fire engine. Councilor James Tillotson noted the trunk in question is too old for which to buy parts.
Councilor Gary Labrie said of the funding for the City Hall repairs, “ We’ve got to start somewhere and this is a start.”
Tillotson noted there is no funding in the current budget for collective bargaining increases.
The council approved both the receipt of a grant for $15,637 from the U.S. Department of Justice to be used to purchase new bulletproof vests. That finding was combined with the approval of $39,160 in city funds to buy the needed number of vests. Councilor Fred Krampits explained the vests have an effective lifetime of five years and must be replaced.