Citizens may cut town officials pay
Published on April 25th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Selectmen will face a 33 percent pay cut at the May 7 Town Meeting.
At an April 23 meeting, the Finance and Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend cutting Selectmen salaries from $3,000 to $2,000 per year for fiscal 2002. This issue falls under Article 4 on the warrant.
“This has nothing to do with the performance of the Selectmen,” said Finance Board Chairman Richard Gregorio. “A study was done.”
Finance Board member Barbara MacLeod compiled figures on Stoneham and 14 similar communities — populations between 19,500 and 43,500, with town managers and boards of selectmen. The figures show that Stoneham Selectmen are the third highest paid board in the sample. At the top of the list, Belmont pays its Selectmen $5,000 per year.
“If the cut was made, our Selectmen would still make more than two-thirds of the selectmen out there,” said Finance Board member Stephen Geary.
“I think the positions of moderator and selectmen should be volunteer,” added Finance Board member John Warren.
North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington and Winchester pay their Selectmen nothing.
Historically, the townspeople have supported selectmen salaries, Gregorio told the board. Past efforts to cut the salaries have failed.
But citizens are conscious of a fluctuating economy. As recently as 1996, Stoneham Selectmen made $2,000 per year. And they made $1,000 per year from 1990-1994 during tough economic times, down from a previous high of $2,500 in 1988.
Selectmen Chairman Tony Kennedy decided not to address the Finance Board about salaries.
The Finance Board decided that the fiscally responsible thing to do in the face of a budget deficit and staff reductions is to recommend the pay cut.
Citizens have the final say on Town Meeting floor.
In other finance news:
The Finance Board and Beautification Committee Chairman Peter Gilligan discussed the cost of beauty.
Article 40 on the May 7 Town Meeting warrant asks citizens to appropriate $22,885 for the beautification of Stoneham. Money would pay for equipment to water road islands and paint to touch up rusting light poles, for example. Selectmen recommended favorable action on Article 40.
But the question of who will do the watering and the painting remains unanswered.
“We don’t do the painting,” Gilligan said. “We tell the Selectmen what needs to be done.”
At a previous meeting, the Finance Board recommended unfavorable action, but the Board then decided to grant Gilligan a chance to argue his case.
Gilligan recommended bringing back a retired employee to work under the golf courses department or Public Works to oversee watering. He added that things like painting the poles should be done as part of regular town maintenance.
Acting Town Administrator Ron Florino plans to speak with Public Works Director Bob Grover and Golf Course Grounds Supervisor Rick Arzillo.
The Finance Board will wait to hear from Florino before considering a re-vote. All votes of the Board are just recommendations to Town Meeting. The Board meets next on Thursday, April 26, at Town Hall.
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