Mayor’s Update
May 10, 2021
MAYOR DONNA D. HOLADAY
Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal: I am pleased to submit the Fiscal Year 2022 budget for your review and approval. The budget totals $88,870,608 including all enterprise funds. It includes increased funding for our public schools. We were also able to restore items in the budget that were cut as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am happy to report that, at a 2% levy, the budget is funded without levying to our full limit. I look forward to reviewing my proposed budget during the workshops over the next few weeks and have arranged for department heads and staff to attend.
I’d like to a moment to thank my Department Heads, not only for their diligence in putting together this document, but also for their hard work and dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Department Heads and their staff were steadfast in their dedication to maintain municipal operations and provide services to residents in very difficult times. I am so proud and thankful for their hard work.
AAA Bond Rating: Last week S&P Global re-affirmed Newburyport’s AAA bond rating. Highlights from the S&P report credits our bond rating to a strong economy, strong management with strong financial policies and practices, strong budgetary performance and flexibly, and an adequate debt and contingent liability profile.
FY22 to FY26 Capital Improvement Plan: I wanted to thank the Council and the Budget and Finance Subcommittee for their productive review of the CIP. Each year we strive to improve on this document so that it’s truly a workable 5-year CIP for the City. I look forward to the Council’s approval of the plan and on working together on implementation. We plan on submitting the FY22 funding requests at the next City Council meeting for appropriation.
COVID-19 Local Clinics: Our local COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be phased out in May. Beth Israel/ Lahey Clinic at the Senior Center will hold its last clinic on Saturday, May 29th. The Lower Merrimac Valley Regional Collaborative is now held on weekends at the Nock Molin gym, with the final clinic to be held on May 22nd. The collaborative has been involved in the vaccination of over 23,000 residents in Massachusetts and I want to thank all who have been involved, they have just done an incredible job. Residents will continue to have access to the COVID-19 vaccination through local pharmacies and other health providers.
Yankee Homecoming 2021: I met with the E-Board of Yankee Homecoming and I am happy to report that the Board is moving forward with a full week’s worth of Yankee Homecoming events and activities. This year’s Yankee Homecoming will be focused on supporting our local businesses in their recovery. The YH Board will be submitting special permit applications in the coming weeks, and I ask the City Council to support their applications. The plans will comply with the COVID-19 guidelines over the summer as laid out by the Governor.
High Street Safe Routes to School: The Safe Routes to School project on High Street is essentially completed with the paving and striping of High Street from Buck Street to Tyng Street. The contractor will be working on a few punch list items over the next few weeks and will be de-mobilizing.
We will be using the same striping contractor from the Safe Routes from School project to re-restripe the remaining portion of High Street from Tyng St to Three Roads. DPS is coordinating that work with the contractor and we will have a schedule of work very soon.
Parker St and State St Complete Streets: This project is moving along. The paving of State and Parker Street within the project was completed last week and striping will be completed this week. National Grid will be energizing the HAWK signal on Wednesday. By Wednesday the light should be operational and flashing but more programming is needed before it is fully functional.
57 Low Streets and Parks Department Location: We were notified by DCAMM that the Military will be proceeding with selling the 2.17-acre parcel at 57 Low Street property and will not lease the property to the City of Newburyport. DCAMM, on behalf of the Military Division, will be moving forward with the disposition of the property through an open and competitive process in the near future. We will be coordinating with the Military Division on vacating the property and relocating parks equipment and vehicles, most likely returning to Atkinson Common.
The Parks Department has been exploring future locations for a parks facility to house staff and equipment. We are currently looking into leasing commercial space in the City. There’s a specific location that has potential to suite the department’s needs, and we will keep the Council informed as we explore this option.
Building Department Staffing: I wanted to update you on the building department staffing plan. As reported, we hired Greg Earls and Dennis Morel, for the roles of Building Commissioner and Local Inspector. Mr. Earls and Mr. Morel bring years of construction management experience as well as an intimate knowledge of the City of Newburyport. They have jumped right into helping roll out our online permitting system and modernizing the department. They do need to obtain their inspector license from the state. Until Mr. Earls and Mr. Morel receive their inspector license from the state, Gary Calderwood has agreed to serve as the temporary Building Commissioner and has been kind enough to come out of retirement to help us through this transition. He has been invaluable helping train both Mr. Earls and Mr. Morel in issuing permits and conducting inspections, as well as instilling institutional knowledge. In accordance of Section 3-5 of the City Charter I have notified the City Clerk that Mr. Calderwood will be serving the duties of Building Commissioner on a temporary basis. We expect to appoint Mr. Earls and Mr. Morel by the end of June once they have passed their three examinations and are licensed by the state. So far both have passed the first exam and will be taking the second within the next few weeks. This is an unorthodox approach but feel that we have assembled a great team to transition the Building Department into the 21st Century.
Business View Magazine Feature: I’m happy to report that Newburyport, Massachusetts was featured in the April 2021 edition of Business View North America:
Business View Website https://businessviewmagazine.com/newburyport-massachusetts-lifestyle/
Digital Magazine https://businessviewmagazine.com/civil-municipal/apr-2021/23/
Upcoming Dates
Mayor’s Ribbon Cutting on State Street for Downtown Newburyport – May 13th at 4PM: To celebrate the completion of our parklets and the start of outdoor dining, I will be joining the Chamber of Commerce and our local restaurants for a ribbon cutting on State Street this Thursday afternoon.
Phillips Drive Neighborhood Site Visit– Thursday, May 13th at 5PM: As a follow up from the April, we will be holding a meeting on site in the Phillips Drive Neighborhood with our engineering consultant BSC to review the 75% design drawings in person.