GREENFIELD — Town Council President Brickett Allis said he’s expecting the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Capital Plan to generate significant discussion during tonight’s Town Council meeting — specifically the $5.25 million proposed for a new senior center.
“There’s a lot on the agenda; it’s going to be a long night I think,” he said.
Allis and Council Vice President Isaac Mass created an alternative $7.8 million budget, slashing the mayor’s proposed $11.8 million budget by 34 percent. Allis said he expects their ideas to spark some discussion and also expects new ideas to be raised by members of the community during the public hearing, which will be held before the council votes on the plan.
“I personally have gotten a lot of calls specifically on spending and taxes and the Senior Center,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s controversial, but I think it’s going to have a fairly lengthy discussion.”
He estimated about 70 percent of those calls and emails have been from those in favor of cutting spending.
Allis said the Ways and Means Committee discussed the proposed budget during its last meeting and will make formal recommendations during its meeting before the Town Council meeting tonight.
“I do anticipate a lot of the public to show up to weigh in on the capital budget and the spending plan,” he said, adding Mayor William Martin will also speak on his proposed budget.
The council will also hold a public hearing and vote on a motion to appropriate up to $800,000 for renovation to the middle school to make space for the Greenfield Public School Administrative Offices.
New business on the agenda includes a proposed 30-year contract for a solar farm on the Millbrook Well field, brought forward by the mayor. However, Allis said council members may vote to delay that to next month’s meeting.
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