The city anticipates receipt of $130,000 in federal funding for a January blizzard cleanup.
Westfield City Hall is seen this past winter.WESTFIELD – City officials will use surplus funds in a variety of existing accounts in the Fiscal 2011 municipal budget to offset more than $700,000 in deficit for snow and ice removal from the past winter.
Routinely the city has used its free cash account, usually certified by the state Department of Revenue in the fall, to balance winter road maintenance.
But, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik requested, and received approval, with City Council action transferring small surpluses from 17 accounts involving numerous departments to balance the Department of Public Works’ snow and ice account now rather than later. One large transfer involved $250,000 from city insurance accounts.
“It is called sweeping the books,” Knapik said of using balances in various accounts to cover the DPW expense.
The mayor and City Council also boosted the city’s stabilization account to around $7.5 million with a transfer of $1.9 million in free cash surplus.
The stabilization account provides funding for unforeseen expenses providing the council gives a super majority, or nine votes, to approve any appropriations from it. That funding is also immediately available, unlike free cash, which must sit in the account as of July 1 until it is certified by the state.
The total spent on snow and ice during the past winter amounts to around $1.2 million. The city started the year with $400,000, up $50,000 from previous years, for winter plowing and sanding operations.
The $719,000 transferred by the mayor and council will cover nearly $605,000 in plowing and sanding services and another $114,000 in purchase of supplies, Knapik and Department of Public Works director James M. Mulvenna said.
Westfield also is in line for federal reimbursement for 75 percent of expenses incurred in a January blizzard.
Mulvenna said the city has filed a claim of $130,000 of the total $170,000 cost for the two-day storm.
Knapik said the $130,000 when received, will be place in the free cash account for later use.
The second largest transfer to offset the snow deficit came from the Police Department. Several accounts, including police salaries had surplus amounting to $175,000.
Police Chief John A. Camerota said that amount represents funding not spent from the department’s $6.7 million budget.