The Lawrence City Budget & Finance Committee on Nov. 13 recommended several items be sent to the full City Council with favorable recommendations, including federal and state grant awards and a transfer to cover legal services.

Martha Holt, REACH project coordinator with the mayor’s Health Task Force, described item 4-31-25: a five‑year, CDC-funded REACH award totaling $680,038 (city is in year three). Holt said the program aims to make healthy eating and active living more accessible to the priority population (Latinos) and outlined partner organizations: Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Merrimack College and local food pantries such as Neighbors In Need and Lazarus House. Councilors moved the REACH item to full council with a favorable recommendation.

Director Nollet introduced item 4-32-25, a $226,944 formula grant from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs based on the 2020 census; Nollet said the funds pay program administrator and bookkeeping salaries and part-time staff. Director Velez presented item 4-33-25, a $9,000 Title III grant to support Tai Chi, morning and evening exercise classes for older residents.

City Attorney Tim Hohen told the committee he is requesting a $400,000 appropriation transfer from the stabilization reserve to cover outside legal services ($300,000) for multiple union contract negotiations and $100,000 for judgments related to two anticipated trials in January and May. Hohen noted last year’s transfer was $350,000 and that the request is slightly larger this year. The committee voted to forward the legal-services transfer to the full council.

The committee also approved payment of a prior-year Amazon invoice for $209.70 and voted to forward that matter to the full council.

Votes at a glance: item 4-31-25 (REACH CDC grant) — favorably recommended; item 4-32-25 (EOEA formula grant) — favorably recommended; item 4-33-25 (Title III elder program) — favorably recommended; item 4-34-25 (stabilization reserve to legal services, $400,000) — favorably recommended; item 4-35-25 (prior-year invoice, $209.70) — favorably recommended. Each of those motions passed by roll call with Councilors Wendy Luzon, Vivian Marmol and Chair Stephanie Infante voting yes; Council President Giovanni Rodriguez was absent for the meeting.