An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $72,180 to purchase MHS Band uniforms.
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B. (ID # 2026-1173): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $72,180 to purchase MHS Band uniforms. Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Karamcheti Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Maya Jamaleddine Cari Berman and Ken Kelley said that the marching band uniforms are about 25 years old and in need of replacement. It's a large group of students, and they will be custom-made, thus the expensive price. 8
Transcript
▶ 2:14:46 Devin Romanul: Yes. All in favor. All right, all in favor. We'll move that to our next full council meeting. Next up, ID number 2026-1173, an appropriation from free cash to the school department in the amount of $72,180 to purchase MHS band uniforms.
▶ 2:15:01 Speaker 9: Yes. So thank you. The marching band hasn't had their uniforms replaced in about 25 years, and this is a big group. It's part of our arts program. They're at multiple school events. They're high visibility, and so a respectful request to use some free cash as we do not have this as part of our visual performing arts budget to replace on this scale and level. And again, these are uniforms that are 25 years old, and in discussions with our arts folks, that's well overdue. So, respectfully considering the free cash support to purchase new uniforms for the marching band at the high school level.
▶ 2:15:39 Devin Romanul: All right. Up first I have Councilor Karamcheti.
▶ 2:15:41 Manjula Karamcheti: Well, I'd just like to say thank you for putting this forward. As someone who was a band aider and had to sew these uniforms, my sewing abilities were pretty terrible. But I want to make a motion to recommend. Second.
▶ 2:15:55 Devin Romanul: Motion to recommend by Councilor Karamcheti, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion?
▶ 2:16:01 Speaker 1: Councilor Finocchiaro.
▶ 2:16:02 Cal Finocchiaro: I was just going to say I completely agree with this. The band is very good at what they do. We've won states, so they deserve new uniforms.
▶ 2:16:15 Speaker 1: Councilor Chen.
▶ 2:16:16 Jason Chen: I spoke to a number of band parents, including Councilor Karamcheti, who there's a whole army of people who replace and keep these in good shape. So they've made the current uniforms go far past their useful life. So I believe that even though it's a lot of money, it is what they cost. There are used uniforms out there, but even I have limits to my frugality. Sorry. That's really So I think we will take care of these well- ... and hopefully last another 20 years or so.
▶ 2:16:42 Speaker 1: Well, that gets to me. Councilor Williams.
▶ 2:16:43 Ryan Williams: I just wanted to ask for the price, which is about $1,100 per uniform, we're getting the whole package here, like top to bottom? Yes. Custom? Like embroidery, like Melrose-
▶ 2:16:56 Speaker 9: Yes, it will be logoed and branded with the Melrose High School, yes.
▶ 2:16:58 Ryan Williams: Oh, okay. Sounds good. Okay. All right. It is pricey, but like the other folks around the table, I think for a full size band uniform, it's probably not too far above what you could do if you really tried to scrape it together, so...
▶ 2:17:16 Devin Romanul: All right. So from the DPW and vehicles, and the band parents, I'm sensing a theme of extending the useful life of many items in our city. Vice Chair Vanderberg.
▶ 2:17:25 Kimberly Vandiver: Did you project out how many you may need in future years, change in band numbers, change in who needs what sizes? Like, how much have you put in cushion for that type of thing?
▶ 2:17:37 Speaker 9: So I would have to defer to all the arts people on that. They did do a lot of groundwork. They got a lot of quotes. So they're definitely much more in the know on a band uniform than I am, and I can certainly get more information if you'd like it. But they did spend considerable time researching and-
▶ 2:17:50 Speaker 4: Okay, great. So this should last. We're not going to need additional uniforms. 25 years.
▶ 2:17:53 Speaker 9: Yeah. As I said, these look to be... Yeah. God damn. Yeah. Maybe 10.
▶ 2:17:59 Devin Romanul: All right. There's a motion on the floor, and I believe that's all the questions I have in queue, unless there are others. Seeing no others, Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?
▶ 2:18:06 Speaker 2: Vice Chair Vanderberg? Yes. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Councilor Obremski? Councilor Park? Councilor Williams? President Freeman? Yes. Chair Romanul? Yes.