Reading City Council introduced three ordinances Monday night that would correct a spending error, buy a city official a vehicle and set up a new account for holiday expenses.
Gun buyback funds
Mayor Eddie Moran’s administration miscalculated how to pay for the city’s gun buyback program.
When the buyback program was being organized last spring, city Finance Director Jamar Kelly said the program would be funded through a donation from a trust account that was bequeathed to the mayor’s office.
Moran’s office set aside $10,000 for the program but ended up needing $12,000 from the Potteiger Trust Fund, Kelly said.
Kelly emphasized that taxpayer money would not be used for the program.
City Auditor Maria Rodriguez discovered money from the trust fund could only be used for charitable purposes.
City Council on Monday night had to introduce an ordinance to repay the trust fund the money.
The guy buyback program purchased 91 guns from county residents.
Council did not ask any questions regarding the ordinance, but introduced the ordinance at the council meeting later in the evening. Council will vote on the ordinance in two weeks.
Mayor’s car
Council also introduced an ordinance to allocate $30,000 to the mayor’s office to buy a vehicle for the mayor to continue to make public appearances throughout the city.
“Since taking office we’ve been using hand-me-down cars for the mayor to go to various official events inside and outside the city,” Kelly said. “There have been a lot of maintenance issues for those vehicles.”
The city plans to purchase a certified used vehicle, Kelly said.
Moran had been using a former Reading Police Department vehicle.
“Unfortunately, the vehicles I have to use have left me stuck on several occasions,” Moran said. “However, I didn’t feel it was appropriate or even justifiable to have a new vehicle.”
Council did not ask any questions regarding the ordinance but introduced the ordinance at the council meeting later in the evening. Council will vote on the ordinance in two weeks.
Holiday parade
Moran’s administration also asked council to set up a $25,000 account to help pay for holiday related activities in the downtown.
The city has picked up many of the responsibilities that the Downtown Improvement District used to provide since City Council voted not to reauthorize it last year.
“With the holiday season approaching we need to be able to receive donations to help with the cost of decorations in the downtown corridor,” Kelly said. “And any money left over can be rolled over and used for the next year.”
Kelly added the $25,000 is expected to be all donations.
“Fundraising is going extraordinarily well,” Managing Director Abraham Amoros said. “We’ve already exceeded that amount.”
Moran’s administration recently announced the city’s holiday parade would return Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. after it was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were pleasantly surprised to see how many people responded immediately in terms of signing up,” Amoros said. “We are really looking forward to it. It’s an annual event many people look forward to and we expect the streets to be packed.”
Moran added that the city is planning the annual tree lighting ceremony as well.
Councilwoman Donna Reed seemed to take issue with the need for money to decorate the downtown.
“Money isn’t always the thing,” she said. “We have done it in the past with zero money that we’ve decorated. We’ve gone out in our woods, gathered natural branches and everything else. I don’t know if it’s the best way, but we did it with zero money.”
Reed added that the city even had trees donated.
“Don’t go there. Don’t go there. Let’s move on please,” Moran said with a chuckle.
Reed once again expressed her displeasure over the city’s current artificial tree.
“That tree is just the worst,” she said. “But let’s consider having a natural tree.”
Moran heard Reed.
“You’re completely correct,” he said. “However, we were referring to additional decorations instead of reusing old decorations from 10 or 15 years ago. Let’s take a little pride and a lot of people are willing to help out.”
Reed pointed out the city had a list of people willing to donate a real tree to the city.
“If we can get one of those live trees donated, can we have a live tree in addition to the artificial one?” Reed asked.
Moran said he believes it is too late to consider that idea but suggested Reed help coordinate it for next year.
Source: Berkshire mont
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