Less is Less, Vote YES!

For immediate release

June 2, 2017 Knight.bethany@gmail.com

CLINTON---Recognizing the value of talking regularly about the business of town government, town officials, employees and community members met June 2 at the HCH Library to discuss the June 7 budget referendum. All agreed passage Wednesday of the reduced budget is critical to avoiding major disruptions to town operations and services.

Convened by Library Director Maribeth Breen, the informal forum allowed DTC members to ask questions of police, fire, public works and Select Board representatives. Departments were forthcoming with their budgets, answering all questions and providing detail.

Police Chief Vincent DeMaio said just 8 percent of his budget is not contractually committed. With 92 percent of the PD budget tied up in negotiated contracts, there is very little room to legally make cuts to the budget. Such a constraint makes eliminating an entire position one of Chief DeMaio’s few options if cuts have to be made.

A frank discussion was held on the disparity between what Clinton police officers are paid and what neighboring towns offer. “It takes close to $100,000 to get a new officer fully trained,” the Chief explained, noting a trainee is paid for the better part of a year before fully oriented. “Then, we have to worry about them going to the next town where they are paid $10,000 more for doing the same job.”

Police Commission Chairman Peter Niles reminded everyone that if the referendum is defeated again, less tax money coming in means less service going out. “Less is less,” Niles said, with another participant adding, “So vote Yes!”

Antiquated Fire Department equipment, including an old HVAC unit, continues to be propped up with temporary repairs, as the department has had to delay capital expenditures for the past several budgets. Fire Chief Brian Manware noted that inadequate equipment and coverage has led some Clinton residents to experience increases in their home owners insurance, due to a drop in the department’s rating. The FD and Ambulance squad made 2078 calls this past year.

Many voters mistakenly think the library is part of the school budget, which did pass May 24. “We will have to look at Sunday hours,” Library Director Breen said, when questioned about what a cut to the town budget would mean to Henry Carter Hull library. Also present was Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, HCH adult program coordinator.

A shift in services from the PD to the Department of Public Works partially explains the DPW budget increase. Peter Neff, DPW chief, said his crew has expanded their range of work to include upgrading town security systems, once handled by the PD. Mowing all town property, including keeping the ball fields “game ready” also falls to Neff’s department. Only 400 families currently use the transfer station, with seniors provided the service for free.

The last time the town had to hold three votes on the town budget referendum was in 2010, according to selectman Willie Fritz. “That was the year we cut the town planner, and most full time Town Hall positions went to part time.” Fritz said the current staffed hours at Town Hall are still lower than 2010.

Overall, the Fire, Police and Library budgets being considered Wednesday have been cut 1.5, 1.5 and 1 percent, respectively. Town Hall is up 1.24 percent, which includes debt service. DPW is asking for a 5.15 percent raise, in part due to the shift of services from the PD.

DTC chair Andrea Rea and members Christine Goptil, Al Walker and Bethany Knight, as well as Library Trustee Phyllis McGrath and PTA vice president Laura Colebank were the only citizens in attendance at Friday’s public meeting. The group pledged to attend more frequent public forums, possibly four times a year, to better inform taxpayers.

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