LAKEVILLE Selectmen met virtually with their state legislators last week to get an update on the steady flow of federal pandemic relief and economic stimulus grant money being funneled to Massachusetts cities and towns.
In the first meeting after the annual town election, newly-elected Lorraine Carboni was welcomed to the board. During its annual reorganization session, the board named Lia Fabian as the new chair; member Richard LaCamera moved to vice chair for the next year.
The town received a$1.66 million allocation for pandemic related expenses under the CARES Act, the first federal relief bill passed last year. Much of that reimbursement money went to the school department, with the fire department adding two temporary firefighter/EMTs to help with the pandemic surge.
Lakeville officials start budget reviews
Robert Barboza
The board has asked all departments to submit level services budgets for the coming fiscal year.
Chairman of Selectmen Richard LaCamera coordinated the virtual meeting with the police and fire chiefs, library director, public works director, and the Parks Commission to get the budget planning process started in preparation for the annual town meeting, where the municipal operating budget is approved each year.
Police Chief Matthew Perkins told officials that he is seeking a 2.96 percent increase in funding for the police department next fiscal year. Most of the $66,300 increase will go to cover negotiated salary increases, he indicated.
LAKEVILLE After interviewing three finalists for the vacant town administrator’s job Monday night, selectmen voted unanimously to conditionally offer the position to Ari Sky, the current chief financial officer (CFO) of the City of New Bedford.
Chairman of Selectmen Richard LaCamera was delegated the task of negotiating a contract with Sky, while the board’s search consultants, Municipal Resources Inc., conducts the traditional background checks and reports back on its findings.
The action comes six months after former administrator Maureen Candito left the post by mutual agreement with selectmen after 15 months on the job. Selectmen decided not to hire an interim administrator while they initiated the search for a new hire this winter.
LAKEVILLE Trained and standing by, town emergency medical services personnel could be providing COVID-19 vaccinations to Lakeville’s most vulnerable residents by the end of the week.
Chairman of Selectmen Richard LaCamera said Monday night that the first public vaccination clinic planned for about 200 residents 85 and older was scheduled for Feb. 9, but had to be postponed after a promised delivery of vaccine from state supplies was canceled without explanation at the last minute.
As of Monday night, town officials were still awaiting word from the state as to when the vaccine delivery would be rescheduled.
“Everything is in place. but we can’t do anything until we get the vaccine,” LaCamera reported at Monday night’s virtual meeting. “We’ll be ready when we get it.”