Council accepts LaPlante gift to create scholarship and library trust funds; passes related appropriations

The council voted unanimously to establish two public trust funds proposed by David LaPlante. C-26 creates the Patricia and David LaPlante Scholarship Trust Fund for Leominster High School and C-27 establishes the Patricia LaPlante Memorial Trust Fund for the Leominster Public Library. Finance committee recommended both measures; councilors thanked LaPlante for the gift and noted the funds will be pre-funded and can accept future donations.

Other mayoral communications included appropriations referred to committee: a request to transfer $293,402 from the stabilization account to Public Works capital outlay for a new six-wheel dump truck (C-29) was referred to the Finance chair, and a Chapter 79/82 eminent-domain request for right-of-way acquisitions related to Lancaster and Union Streets (C-30) was referred to the Property Committee and a public hearing was scheduled.

What the council did: The trust funds (C-26 and C-27) passed by unanimous votes and appropriations/referrals were sent to committees for standard review and scheduling.