Easthampton Finance Committee Advances Three CPA Projects, Defers Ferry Street Borrowing Vote

EASTHAMPTON -- August 13, 2025, Easthampton's Finance Committee approved three Community Preservation Act appropriations totaling $529,000 and deferred action on a $3 million Ferry Street mill-district borrowing authorization at its August 13 meeting. The CPA items, $264,500 for Naatuck spray park renovations including a water recapture system, $250,000 as the city's match for a roughly 6,000-square-foot skate park at Millside, and $14,500 to pursue national and state historic designations for Brookside Cemetery and the Daly Field comfort station, were all recommended to the full City Council without opposition. The $3 million borrowing request, intended to fund demolition of a boiler room building on Ferry Street as a safety prerequisite for two major housing developments, was continued after City Finance Director Haydl identified a structural timing problem: early-year debt service could exceed pilot revenues flowing into the new development program fund, and a proposed capital stabilization bridge mechanism has not yet been confirmed as legally viable by the city's external auditor or financial advisor. The committee also unanimously recommended a $699,985 capital stabilization appropriation for Main Street reconstruction design and an $8,641.20 interdepartmental transfer to fully fund the veterans service principal clerk position.