Standing, Joseph Bellitto, city comptroller, presents the first half finance report to the Jamestown City Council during its work session meeting Monday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Jamestown budget finances through the first half of the year are in line with what was predicted in 2019.

On Monday, Joseph Bellitto, city comptroller, presented his first half finance report during the Jamestown City Council work session. He said revenues are within budget estimates, with Jamestown Board of Public Utilities payment in lieu of taxes for electric, water and district heating exceeding budget estimates. However, he said solid waste and waste water are running short of budget. Collectively, they project slightly over budget for the year.

Bellitto said city officials will receive sales tax revenues on Aug. 1.

As far as expenditures, Bellitto said salary accounts are in line with budget predictions, with most departments right around 50%. He said the fire department did experience two large unbudgeted employee retirement buyouts, but the department is still only at 51% of budget even with the unexpected cost being added.

Bellitto said the central garage is running at 66% because of large repairs needed to equipment.

In other business, the council heard about summer construction projects the Public Works Committee discussed. Jeff Lehman, city public works director, said R. Patti Concrete was the lowest bid at $144,035 for concrete work along Price and Van Buren streets between Prendergast and Lakeview avenues. Lehman said even though it was the lowest of two bids, the bid was still higher than expected. He said that is why the concrete work will be done on Price Street this year while the work on Van Buren will take place next year. The project is being paid for by Community Development Block Grant funding.

The Public Works Committee also discussed a streetscape project that will take place along East Third Street from Main to Pine streets; Potters Alley from East Second to East Third streets; and Black Bear Court from Potters Alley to Pine Street. Lehman said funding from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative will be used for this project. This is the last of three streetscape projects city officials received $610,000 from the state to perform. The other projects occurred around the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts along East Third Street and on Cherry Street between Third and Fourth streets.

Lehman said there will be concrete stamping, which looks like cobblestone around Black Bear Court. He also said the fence along Third Street that looks over to painting of Lucille Ball’s famous chocolate scene will be improved.

The Public Works Committee also discussed concrete work that will be done along Monroe Street to alleviate flooding problems around the area of Ben Weitsman of Jamestown. Lehman said an 18-inch pipe will be replaced by a 24-inch pipe and an additional 18-inch pipe will be added. He said the reason there won’t be two 24-inch pipes installed is because of electric lines there is only room for the second pipe to be 18 inches. S.Tabone Paving & Sealcoating was the lowest bid at $60,746.