Vindication for City Auditor, Larry DeCoste

If Monday night’s meeting wasn’t vindication for city auditor, Larry DeCoste, we don’t know what was. In a very under-the-radar move, Mayor Hanlon submitted a piece of business under suspension to cut the budget by nearly $1.2M to “bring the municipal budget under compliance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44.” The apologies and mea culpas to Mr. DeCoste, who endured the ridicule of the mayor, and the codependent Independent newspaper should start now. Anyone who questioned this man’s ability or his integrity should be hanging their collective heads in shame. Special applause to Council President Sal DiDomenco for his masterful handling of the meeting, and kudos to all the councilors and aldermen who stuck to their guns months ago when this budget was initially submitted. You know who you are and you were right all along.


UNDER SUSPENSION
C0284-07 Order/s/Councilor Sal DiDomenico, as President
BE IT ORDERED: That the Everett City Council approve the following Budgetary cuts therefore bringing the municipal budget under compliance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter
44. The proposed budget of $125,780,039 will be adjusted downward by $1,164,788.00. This will leave a budget of
$124,615,351.00.
Mayor:
Reserve Fund 01-121-11-132-5700
$ 200,000.00
Dues
(MA Municipal) 01-121-11-121-5730
$ 13,500.00
Dues
(US Conference) 01-121-11-121-5732-
$ 10,000.00
Official
Celebration 01-121-11-121-5796
$ 6,000.00
Meetings 01-121-11-121-5194
$10,000.00
Salaries 01-121-10-121-5111
$10,000.00
Stabilization 01-132-99-132-5800
$ 500,000.00
City Auditor:
Salaries 01-135-10-135-5111 $ 27,500.00

Personnel:
Professional Services 01-152-11-152-5301 20,000.00
Labor Attorneys 01-152-11-152-5303 20,000.00
Police:
Overtime 01-210-10-210-5130 40,000.00
Fire:
Overtime 01-220-10-220-5130 40,000.00
City Services:
Salaries 01-490-10-490-5111 47,788.00
Salt 01-490-18-490-5536 70,000.00
Equip Hire 01-490-18-490-5280 50,000.00
Const. Repairs 01-490-17-490-5241 50,000.00
Landscape 01-490-11-650-5255 15,000.00
Repairs &
Maintain. 01-490-11-650-5435 30,000.00
Line Markings 01-490-17-490-5541-$5,000.00