The Chelsea Downtown Authority Board held a preliminary discussion of possible priority projects while discussing the draft 2021-22 FY budget at its March 18 monthly meeting held via Zoom.
City Manager John Hanifan called the draft budget “a somewhat status quo one.”
The FY 2021-2022 FY projected revenues are expected to be about 1 percent higher than the previous year or about $432,035 in total, and expenses are estimated to be at about $420,900.
Of that amount, there is about $60,000 in discretionary funding available for projects such as funding for the downtown Sculpture Walk, marketing and other priority projects decided upon by the DDA.
There is about $55,000 remaining in the FY 2020-2021 budget, which runs through June 30, 2021, most of which has been earmarked to finish painting the remaining light poles in the downtown as well redoing the wayfaring signs in the new color scheme. Due to COVID, the sign replacement project was delayed, but it’s expected to commence in the next few months.
Among the priority projects members discussed were: completing the light pole painting project throughout the downtown and reskinning all of the wayfaring signs. In addition, there are about 45 light globes on poles on Park, South, East and West Middle and North Main street slated for conversion to LED lights though the city’s energy optimization fund program.
Among the other potential projects were:
- painting the backless benches throughout the DDA district
- determining ways to assist downtown businesses that have been struggling during COVID
- fixing and/or replacing the trash and recycling cans and enclosures
- determining ways to spruce up the alleyways that lead from the public parking lots to Main Street
- repairing the Park Street parking lot.
It’s expected that city staff will provide funding estimates for the projects and the DDA will have additional discussions at the board’s meeting on April 15 at 7:30 a.m. via Zoom.
In other business, by a unanimous vote, Ron Livengood will serve as the DDA’s secretary and city staff will begin keeping the meeting minutes in April.
City Development Director Julia Upfal reported to the board that the Rockwell building is back under contract and the new developer is planning to re-develop the building into about 51 units of 1-and 2-bedroom apartments. It’s expected that the developer will make a presentation at the next DDA meeting about the project.
In addition, she expects that the list of interested people who have applied to serve on the Kaboom grant steering committee will be on the Chelsea City Council agenda for approval in April.
The city was recently awarded a $46,000 Kaboom grant, which will be used to incorporate parklets into the downtown for outdoor dining and interactive recreation opportunities.
As part of the grant requirements, an appointed steering committee will help plan and design the parklets. The committee is expected to be made up of a member from the City Council, the DDA, Planning Commission, Parks Commission and Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.
Once approved by the City Council, the group will begin meeting to discuss plans for projects for the funding.
