35 positions cuts in Town Administrator budget
Published on February 11th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - As several onlooking Selectmen grimaced in frustration, Town Administrator David Berry unveiled a FY05 budget that will cut the equivalent of 35 full-time positions -- including 21 police and firefighters.
According to information provided by Berry at Wednesday's meeting, nearly 70 percent of his proposed cuts would come from safety departments such as the police, fire and department of public works -- a move that the Selectmen immediately chastised.
"I'm assuming you're going to go through the budget analysis because there are things in here that don't please me at all...We can't live with losing 10 police officers and 10 firefighters," remarked Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Pecoraro, who like other Selectmen, glanced at Berry's budget for the first time last night.
With several Selectmen nodding in agreement and voicing their own opposition to the cuts, board members quickly reassured the public that a final budget would differ drastically from Berry's proposals.
"I know this is going to get out into the public and I see a whole lot of wiggle room," said Selectman Charlie Smith. "We have to tell the people at home, this is not etched in stone, not even in clay."
"Not even water," chimed in Selectman Bob Sweeney.
However Berry's proposal, which echoes recent comments made by the Town Administrator regarding his budget philosophy, places the burden of eliminating or consolidating whole departments on all the town's major players.
"It is now up to the Board of Selectmen, the Finance and Advisory Board, School Committee and Town's voters to decide whether this approach, or some other, is better for the Town," wrote Berry in his proposal's overview.
"I look at this budget not as the Town Administrator's final budget, but as a starting point from which key decisions must be made that will affect the quality of life and character of Stoneham," the statement added.
Specifically, the town administrator's proposal calls for laying off one cemetery worker and all part-time workers from the DPW, 10 firefighters and a Deputy Chief from the fire department and 10 police officers.
Only five of the town's remaining 24 departments would institute layoffs under Berry's budget: all traffic directors would be eliminated, the library would lose 14 part-time positions, the Selectmen would lose one part-time position, one town hall custodian would be cut, and the town administrator's office would reduce all part-time staff.
Berry avoided similar layoffs in other departments by slashing employee hours, shifting positions, and lowering operating budget costs.
One layoff avoiding techniques employed by Berry, the town administrator cut $60,330 by reducing four worker's hours to below 20 hours a week, the level at which health insurance and pension benefits kick in.
Of those four offices affected by the proposed measure, the town accountant would reduce one part-timer's hours from 20 to 19 hours, the treasurer's office would cut one part-timer's hours from 24 to 17 hours, the building department would reduce a full-time office assistant's work week from 37.5 to 19 hours, and the community development office would reduce one part-timer's week from 20 to 15 hours.
Although benefit savings would not be realized, the town administrator also reduced staff hours from the Council on Aging, Whip Hill, and the MIS/GIS and community development offices for a total reduction of over $13,000.
Yet while Berry's staff hour decreases would dodge the need for potential layoffs, Pecoraro believed the suggestions would force some workers to shoulder too much of the cutbacks.
"Even in cutting people's hours, I'm finding inconsistencies. The people who work less time will be taking a greater hit. If you're going to reduce hours, make them consistent," Pecoraro directed.
Also wary of the proposed hour decreases, Smith thought Berry should slash departments with broader strokes.
"While I appreciate what you did, it seems like you're nickel and diming each department instead of making more drastic cuts," Smith commented.
Disagreeing with the two Selectmen's viewpoints, Berry countered that some departments had a greater capability to bear the reductions.
"Again, that's one approach. Some departments have the ability to do that while for others it's more difficult to absorb," the town administrator responded.
For the town's remaining offices, nine departments would emerge completely unscathed from staff reductions, with eight of those departments dropping operating costs for a total of $35,045.
Of those nine departments, the town moderator, Finance & Advisory Board, elections and town clerk, town counsel, and Public Health departments will only reduce operating budgets.
However, in addition to cutting operating costs, the Arena, Unicorn Golf Course, and the Assessor's office would rehire or restructure job titles for a total reduction of $19,510 under Berry's proposal.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!