← Appropriations & Oversight Committee · 2024-06-06 · Appropriations and Oversight Budget Hearing
APPRO-2024-33 : An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $20,000 to the Planning Department (011752-529026) for FY 25 Messina Grant Funding.
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
APPRO-2024-33 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $20,000 to the Planning Department (011752-529026) for FY 25 Messina Grant Funding. Ought to Pass City Council
Transcript
▶ 11:01 Maya Jamaleddine: Ms. Lara Appropriation 2024 dash 33 and appropriation from free cash in the amount of $20,000 to the planning department. 0 1 1 7 5 2 dash 5 2 9 0 2 6 for FY 25 Messina grant funding.
▶ 11:29 Maya Jamaleddine: We moved too quickly. I know. Hi.
▶ 11:32 Speaker 1: Um, Hi.
▶ 11:35 Denise Gaffey: Hi. Um, so this is a, a request for funding for the Messina grant program, which, um, had previously been in the planning department budget. And, um, the mayor has chosen to, um, take that out of the planning department budget and fund it through, um, free cash this year. Um, and I think the, um, it does represent, um, a, an funding amount that is, um, supported by the many requests that we get for, for grants. So I think in the planning department will continue to sort of support the, um, the administrative portion of this, which is just making sure that the, um, the, um, invoices that are submitted represent the work that was completed and having all that backup documentation to demonstrate that, then passing them along to the, um, auditor's office for, for payment
▶ 12:35 Maya Jamaleddine: Vice Chair Williams.
▶ 12:37 Ryan Williams: Um, so I want to ask, I wanna ask a little bit about the difference between the Machine of Fun and the Mass Cultural Council, because I realize as I'm looking through this that I don't really understand what the difference is. I mean, I understand that Mass Cultural Council funds, Melrose Cultural Council, and I understand the Messina Fund was created like as a fund. Like someone wanted to create a fund in the city, but don't they kinda do the same thing? Right.
▶ 13:01 Denise Gaffey: Well, the Messina grant, um, the Messina program was initially created by, um, mayor, former mayor, um, Rob Dolan Uhhuh, and it was to, um, recognize all of the different arts and cultural groups, um, that exist in Melrose and to provide, to find some, um, additional financial support for them. Yeah. Because the funding that the, um, the Melrose Cultural Council receives is inadequate to support all of the grant requests that they receive.
▶ 13:29 Jen Grigoraitis: We can't put, we can't put this funding into MCC, so That's actually our, not that I jumped up, 'cause I don't know. Good. I know some of these conversations Lauren's had, um, that's actually the where we're hoping to go in the direction. So the Messina Fund does have a board, it's become increasingly challenging to, um, retain volunteers to do that work. Sure, sure. Their current board chair has been in conversation with the Melrose Cultural Council Chair. We have a meeting next week to kind of talk about exactly what you're proposing, which is to have these funds, have the cultural council serve as one pass through for all of the arts funding. That's cool. I appreciate that. I literally just thought of it as we were sitting here, so, mm. Thank you. Appreciate that. Welcome. That's it for me.
▶ 14:08 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Any other question? Seeing none, what is the role of the committee? Make
▶ 14:14 Speaker 1: A motion to recommend to full Council. Second,
▶ 14:16 Maya Jamaleddine: We have a motion to recommend to the full council, made by, uh, councilor Finn Harris, again, by Vice Chair Williams on discussion. Seeing none, Mr. Clerk,
▶ 14:26 Speaker 1: Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Councilor Gpe? Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Vandiver. Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor F DeCaro? Yes. President Elli? Yes. And Chair Jamaleddine? Yes. That motion passes unanimously.
▶ 14:42 Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
▶ 14:52 Maya Jamaleddine: Next I have appropriation 2024 dash 34, requesting an appropriation from free cash in the amount of 75,000, uh, dollars to Parks Capital projects. 4 75. Conn Playground