Video: Mayor Gives FY2010 Budget Briefing to Ward 3 on 3/16/09

Here is a complete Google video of a FY2010 budget briefing given by Mayor Clare Higgins to residents of Ward 3 on 3/16/09. The briefing took place in the Bridge Street School cafeteria. The video is 1 hour and 51 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. It is also available on Vimeo.

Supporting documentation for the FY2010 city budget outlook is available at http://northamptonma.gov/fy2010/

See also:

Video: Finance Committee Meeting of 2/25/09 with FY2010 Budget Presentation; Schedule of Budget Briefings by Ward

Residents may attend any meeting which they would like, but the Mayor
is attending meetings in each Ward in order to make it as convenient as
possible for as many people to attend who would like to.


All Meetings are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Monday March 9, Ward 1, Jackson Street School Library, hosted by Councilor Maureen Carney

Wednesday March 11, Ward 7, Leeds School Cafetorium, hosted by Councilor Ray LaBarge

Monday March 16, Ward 3, Bridge Street School, hosted by Councilor Robert Reckman

Monday March 23, Ward 6, R K Finn Ryan Road School, hosted by Councilor Marianne LaBarge

Tuesday March 24, Ward 5, Florence Civic Center, hosted by Councilor David Murphy

Monday March 30, Ward 4, City Council Chambers, hosted by Councilor David Narkewicz

Tuesday April 7, Ward 2, to be announced, hosted by Councilor Paul Spector

Mayor’s Email Update March 2009: FY2010 Budget Information Available; Presentation to Ward 3 on March 16
I have also asked you all to provide us with ideas and suggestions for
possible budget cuts and areas to cut back. I am deeply grateful for
all of our neighbors who have so far sent in their thoughts,
priorities, suggestions and concerns. We have added a webpage called
The City Speaks [link], where I have posted these ideas. Some of them are
actions we have already taken; some are actions we cannot take under
the law; some bear closer scrutiny. I hope you will take some time to
read the ideas our neighbors have suggested, and as always, let me know
your thoughts as well, by email at mayor@northamptonma.gov.

The budget projection we have leaves us with a deficit of more than $6
million on the city side and $3 million on the school side. There is no
way we can function with the same level of programs and services we are
currently accustomed to with so dramatic a budget gap. Now more than
ever we need to keep the community dialogue alive about the kind of
community we want to live in and how our city government can best
support that vision.

Video: School Committee Meeting of February 12; Presentation of Strategic Plan