Town Meeting approved a series of union contracts in a brisk moving third session Tuesday that saw some members frustrated that town administrators negotiated pay raises for school and public safety employees in difficult economic times.
“There are people in our community who wish they were getting a pay check, never mind a pay raise,” said Rep. Paul Overy.
Rep. Virginia Musker was frustrated because she said that members had no authority to vote down the school contracts because school departments officials negotiated agreements that need no funding in the current fiscal year, thereby making the contracts valid even if Town Meeting voted them down, according to Patrick Costello, the town’s legal counsel.
Rep. Barbara Morrissey disagreed: “We are the final arbiter, and I don’t understand why we are giving raises,” she said, “I think it’s our job to protect our citizens.”
School clerical and cafeteria workers will see their pay increase .5 percent next year and 1.5 percent in fiscal year 2013. The raises will be paid for from savings on tuition the town is required to pay for students electing to go to Minuteman Technical High School.
Patrolmen will see their pay increase 1.5 percent each year beginning in fiscal year 2011 and ending in 2013. The town also negotiated adjustments in attendance benefits that will see patrolmen and their superior officers stripped of financial perks should they have only used between two and four sick days. A $1,000 bonus for using no sick days and a $750 bonus for using one sick day remain.
The patrolmen’s contract also contains a new educational provision that is meant to give new hires an incentive to continue their education.
Under the approved contract, the town will reimburse new patrolmen 7.5 percent for receiving an associates degree and additional 2.5 percent for receiving a bachelor’s degree and up to 15 percent for receiving a Master’s degree.
John Curran, the town manager, said he advocated for the incentive because he was concerned about a dividing line on the police force between officers who had their education paid for by the state through the Quinn Bill and those that didn’t.
Each collective bargaining agreement was approved overwhelmingly.
In other news, members again rejected an amendment to the zoning bylaws that would have restricted detached residential accessory buildings to be no taller than 25 feet height and within 900 square feet in scope.
Rep. Mike Rosa, a member of the Board of Selectmen, said that the amendment was too broad. “We are trying to regulate the vast minority of situations,” he said.
Rep. Patricia Flemming, a member of the Planning Board, disagreed saying that the law was not overly restrictive because residents wishing to construct buildings in excess of 25 feet high could always apply for a variance.
“If they want it bigger, or they want another story, they can go to the Zoning Board of Appeals,” she said.
Rep. Salvatore Dampolo was concerned precedent Town Meeting was setting because he said the article was brought forth by a citizen who was trying to make hay out what amounted to three inconsiderate neighbors out of 12,000 lots.
“If we pass this, someone will be in next week with another little ax to grind,” Dampolo complained.
