Ways and Means presses officials for details on ARPA spending and outreach

The Everett City Ways and Means Committee spent its Feb. 5 meeting pressing city officials for clearer records and community outreach plans tied to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending.

Councilor Alsie Jabboon, who said “this is my first community meeting,” asked the administration for lists of ARPA recipients and how awards were advertised. “Do we have a list of who received the funds, and how was it advertised to the community?” Jabboon asked as the committee invited a city finance official to answer questions.

A guest who identified himself as Eric Demas, the CFO, told the committee the City Council recently approved an additional $13.1 million in ARPA appropriations and that city staff and outside consultants are compiling subrecipient agreements and documentation. He said the administration would publish a dedicated webpage, provide fillable online and paper application forms, and circulate Excel spreadsheets detailing every expenditure dating to the start of the program.

Jabboon pressed for specifics on several line items. She questioned roughly $2.4 million listed for a senior meal program and suggested the city consider outsourcing to reduce waste, saying delivery staff sometimes find meals left at homes. Demas said the city conducts regular solicitations from caterers and surveys recipients and would supply the requested data.

Committee members also asked about a $700,000 rental and mortgage assistance program and a small women‑and‑minority‑owned community grant pool (about $40,000). Demas said the city has long worked with a nonprofit vendor, ABCD, on resident assistance and would provide records showing what has been spent versus appropriated. He also clarified that some ARPA charges reflect the Treasury guidance category called revenue loss, which the city is using for certain employee salaries tied to COVID-era expansions and ARPA reporting work.

Members sought clarity about a $10 million modular‑classroom line that the council had not approved for the mayor’s use; Demas said a feasibility study is underway and the mayor had not yet authorized that allocation. He also said some water and sewer projects (including work on Ferry and Elm) are being charged to ARPA; the planned Ferry/Elm charge was about $4.4 million, though total water/sewer projects approach larger appropriations.

After the exchange the committee voted by voice to keep the ARPA review item in committee until the CFO and administration deliver the promised spreadsheets, program eligibility guidance and outreach plans.

The committee did not take final action on appropriations or contract awards at the meeting; members requested follow‑up documents and a return appearance by administration staff.