Board of Estimate & Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on January 14, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on January 15, 2026, authorizing the Amendment of Ordinance No. 31, Adopted by the City Council on AUGUST 14, 2025, entitled “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FUND TO INCORPORATE LEGACY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE MOUNT VERNON FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER” - (Ordinance No. 31, as adopted by the City Council on August 14, 2025, is hereby amended to add Expense Code 8020.405, authorizing the Department of Finance to process all payments associated with and in support of the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center (MVFEC); be, and the same is hereby approved.
City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 31,
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 14,
2025, ENTITLED “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH
THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FUND TO
INCORPORATE LEGACY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE
MOUNT VERNON FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER”
The City of Mount Vernon, in City Council convened, does hereby ordain, and enact:
Section 1. The first decretal paragraph of Ordinance No. 31, adopted on August 14, 2025, entitled “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FUND TO INCORPORATE LEGACY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE MOUNT VERNON FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER,” is hereby amended, and an additional paragraph is added to include the required expense code, as follows:
Whereas, in a letter dated January 8, 2026, [August 4, 2025], the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Planning & Community Development formally requested authorization to amend Ordinance No. 31, adopted by the City Council on August 14, 2025, authorizing the Mayor to execute the “First Grant Amendment,” dated June 1, 2025, with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, amending the original FEC Implementation Grant Agreement dated February 1, 2024, to incorporate Legacy Planning Services into the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 31, as adopted by the City Council on August 14, 2025, is hereby amended to add Expense Code 8020.405, authorizing the Department of Finance to process all payments associated with and in support of the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center (MVFEC).
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon previously entered into a Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) Implementation Grant Agreement with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) on February 1, 2024, to provide free, professional financial counseling to city residents; and
Whereas, the CFE Fund has issued a proposed First Grant Amendment to the aforementioned agreement, dated June 1, 2025, to expand the scope of services offered at the Mount Vernon FEC to include Legacy Planning services; and
Whereas, this amendment provides an additional Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in grant funding, to be deposited under Revenue Code A2705.1 “Gifts and Donations,” to support the integration of Legacy Planning into the City's FEC programming; and
Whereas, the amendment includes an extension of the contract term through May 31, 2027, updates to the Scope of Work, Model, and Budget Exhibits (B, C, and D), and a revised disbursement schedule of $25,000 in Year 1 and $25,000 in Year 2; and
Whereas, the inclusion of Legacy Planning services-such as wills, beneficiary designations, estate planning education, and intergenerational wealth preservation-aligns with the City’s objectives to promote financial stability and empower residents with future planning tools; and
Whereas, the City Council deems it in the best interest of the residents of Mount Vernon to authorize the Mayor to enter into the First Grant Amendment to facilitate these services; Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That
The City of Mount Vernon, in City Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact:
Section 1. Authorization to Execute Contract Amendment. The Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby authorized to execute the First Grant Amendment, dated June 1, 2025, with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, amending the existing Financial Empowerment Center Implementation Grant Agreement originally dated February 1, 2024.
Section 2. Purpose of Amendment. The purpose of the amendment is to integrate Legacy Planning services into the Financial Empowerment Center, including but not limited to estate planning education, will and beneficiary designation support, and other intergenerational wealth preservation services.
Section 3. Grant Funding and Budgeting. The additional grant funding of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) shall be deposited in Revenue Code A2705.1 “Gifts and Donations” and shall be appropriated in accordance with the updated Scope of Work and Budget provided in the amendment.
Section 4. Term Extension and Disbursement Schedule. The term of the contract shall be extended through May 31, 2027, with a disbursement schedule of $25,000 in Year 1 (June 2025-May 2026) and $25,000 in Year 2 (June 2026-May 2027), subject to performance-based benchmarks and documentation requirements as detailed in the amendment.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract.
New Matter Underlined
Deleted Matter in Brackets [ ]