The Northampton Department of Public Works on Saturday, Feb. 8, declared a snow emergency that may last more than one night until it is canceled.

The city will tow overnight Saturday into Sunday for illegally parked vehicles. Parking is prohibited on all city streets and in municipal parking lots from midnight to 6 a.m., except on Main Street where parking is prohibited between 2 and 7 a.m. The Armory Street parking lot is open for use during snow emergencies, except from 8 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. to allow for plowing.

If your vehicle has been towed, you may call Northampton Public Safety (413-587-1100) for the tow company’s phone number.

Also, with cold temperatures forecast after the snowstorm, the city announced the availability of warming shelters for people who need a safe, warm space.

The warming shelters will be open through Tuesday, Feb. 11 with varying hours of operation at these locations:

Clinical & Support Options, 29 Industrial Drive East, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Division of Community Care, 1 Roundhouse Plaza, Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Forbes Library, 20 West St., Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Manna Community Center, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 48 Elm St., Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Northampton Police Department, 29 Center St., lobby is open 24/7

Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St., Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Capital Improvement Program

The City Council on Feb. 6 approved a resolution adopting the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 totaling $103,609,476 submitted by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra.

I joined at-large Councilor Garrick Perry, Deborah Klemer of Ward 2, Jeremy Dubs of Ward 4, Alex Jarrett of Ward 5, and Marianne LaBarge of Ward 6 in voting for the resolution. Quaverly Rothenberg of Ward 3 and Rachel Maiore of Ward 7 abstained, and at-large Councilor Marissa Elkins was absent.

In supporting the resolution, I said it is important to maintain the city’s practice of developing five-year projections for capital improvements that are approved by the City Council after priorities are established by the mayor, finance director and department heads. That helps guard against deferring needed maintenance, which often leads to higher costs.

A total of $23,178,032 in capital spending is planned during fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1. Capital projects cost $10,000 or more for uses such as new buildings, renovations, equipment purchases, and land acquisitions.

During January, the City Council approved 14 financial orders totaling $19.4 million in appropriated funds and authorized borrowing for projects during fiscal year 2026. That includes $1,772,500 benefiting the Northampton Public Schools and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, and $1,440,535 for improvements to the Forbes Library. Other major projects include $1.6 million for road safety improvements near Northampton High School, an additional $2.75 million for road resurfacing and $1 million for sidewalks.

The Capital Improvement Program is available here: https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28956/FY2026-FY2030-Capital-Improvement-Program-PDF

Financial forecast

Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra reviewed the financial condition of the city, including revenue and expenditure forecasts, during a joint meeting of the City Council, School Committee, trustees of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, and the superintendents of both school districts on Jan. 30.

As required by the city charter, that is the first formal step in developing the municipal operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.

Among the priorities identified by Sciarra are 4 percent increases in the budgets for Northampton Public Schools and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and adding an additional shift of eight firefighters because of the increasing volume of calls for Northampton Fire Rescue.

Among the challenges in constructing next year’s budget is the uncertainty about continued federal funds resulting from the policies of the Trump administration. Sciarra estimated that during the current fiscal year the Northampton Public Schools received $1.75 million in federal funds, Smith Vocational Agricultural High School received $481,000 and other municipal departments received $2 million.

A recording of the presentation is here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2KkfSE9YzVE

You may read the presentation here:

https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29408/January-2025-PPT-1-30-25-FINAL

Community Development Block Grants

The city seeks public participation in developing a consolidated plan for 2025 to 2029 to help guide how Community Development Block Grant money is used to support affordable housing, services for people experiencing homelessness, infrastructure and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides annual grants to states and municipalities under the program.

Three focus groups are scheduled:

  • 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Lilly Library, 19 Meadow St., Florence (economic development and infrastructure)
  • 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, Senior Center, 67 Conz St. (housing and homelessness)
  • 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24, remote (here is the link to participate via Zoom, passcode 125956, https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2577046101)

Anyone interested in helping to shape the plan also may complete a community needs survey by 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28.

It is available here: https://form.jotform.com/250213304595147

Stan