Cuts not likely on municipal side in FY11, but neither is new spending

By Mike Berger

Selectmen are not anticipating layoffs or any other major program cuts in the municipal budget for the upcoming fiscal year, yet they are also not expecting much in the way of additional funds either.

That was the message delivered Tuesday night to five of the town’s department heads, who appeared before the board bearing nearly $175,000 in new spending requests. Selectmen said the remaining 13 department heads submitted level-funded budgets for FY2011.

Town Administrator Bill Friel said the dilemma for selectmen is that there is only about $52,000 in projected new spending. Of the five department heads seeking new funds, Fire Chief Charlie Doody had the highest request at $79,878, followed by Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti, who requested $33,310; Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, who requested $30,483; Library Director Mark Lague, who requested $28,360; and Recreation Director Jeff Kaylor, who asked for $6,500 in additional money.

Berkowitz said his increases were the result of contractual obligations and repairs to motor vehicles. Doody cut his original spending request by more than $150,000, coming up with new ideas on overtime spending but still needing new money for diesel fuel.

Lague said that in order to keep up with the rising use of the library, he needs to increase a part-time position to full time and purchase new library materials for state certification, and Andreotti said he has seen a marked increase in his caseload, although the state reimburses roughly 75 percent of the associated costs. Kaylor asked for additional money for utilities, pool and playground supplies, and printing costs.

In an overview of the budget, Friel and Finance Director Jim Murgia said many questions still remain on state aid and the town’s assessment for Blue Hills Regional Vocational School. They projected a 5 percent cut in state aid, which amounts to $463,472, but stressed that it could be steeper depending on legislative action. There was good news in the form of a reduction in the town’s obligation to the Mass. Water Resources Authority, but bad news when it came to health care costs and local receipts, which are projected to fall by $180,000 from a year ago, caused by a reduction in building permits and local excise tax collections.

In other news:

• Friel announced a two-year agreement with the firefighters’ union that calls for a 2.5 percent wage increase in 2010 and a 3 percent increase in 2011. Friel said the union has formally passed the agreement, which will come up for a resident vote at the April town meeting. Friel said the agreement has new language that calls for drug and alcohol testing, a regional central dispatcher, and changes to the vacation policy.

• Selectman John Connolly announced he will resurrect former plans to move the current post office to a more convenient location in town with more parking. Currently, Congressman Stephen Lynch is a ranking House leader on a committee overseeing the postal service.

• Selectmen Chairman Sal Salvatori will attend a March 11 meeting between representatives of Napleton Corp., owners of the Reservoir Pond Dam, and abutters and residents living near the dam. Napleton is under state order to make short- and long-term repairs to the dam and has asked the state for more time in drawing up plans. Residents have asked for the meeting to hear an update of the plans and to discuss whether Napleton has any wish to either donate or sell the dam to either the town or the pond reservation. Selectmen said Tuesday night that neither the board nor residents want to see a reduced water level, which residents experienced last summer while awaiting Napleton’s actions.

• Friel announced the town has a fair chance of obtaining a near $500,000 federal Clean Water grant to help alleviate the cost of the Greenlodge Street Sewer Project. Friel estimated the grant could save the town 12 percent of the cost of the project.

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