Finance Committee votes on employee contract transfers
By Kate Daly Contributing Writer

Marlborough - On March 17, the City Council's Finance Committee wrapped up most of the details of paying for employee contracts.

In a brief meeting, the fivemember committee unanimously approved transfers of $485,171.77 to pay for the second year of raises for employees in the Police and Fire departments, the Department of Public Works, the Marlborough Public Library, the offices of the auditor and city clerk, the Board of Health and Public Facilities Department.

The money was put in reserve during the fiscal year 2008 budget process, since contracts were still in negotiation, said Michael Ossing, at-large council member and Finance Committee chair.

"When we do the fiscal year 2009 budget, we'll have the set increases," he said.

City Comptroller/Treasurer Thomas Abel told the committee that this vote will finish nearly all transfers for the contract. The exceptions would be any sick-leave buy-outs and settling of pay grade diff erences, he said. For example, a firefighter may sometimes fill in for a captain and need to receive a captain's pay grade for that shift, he explained.

Ossing said the transfer will go before the full City Council for approval.

In other business, Ossing suggested the committee consider a three-step process when it begins reviewing Mayor Nancy Stevens's proposed $12 million bond package Monday March 31.

First the committee would examine the impact of the proposed package on the budget, he said, then review the status of existing bonds and lastly seek input from the council on the package itself.

The proposed bond package includes $2.6 million for equipment, including replacing DPW, inspectional services and police vehicles.

Another $4.35 million would go toward street construction and $327,000 would be spent on sidewalk construction.

The proposal includes a $728,000 bond for sewer construction that would be applied to sewer mains and pumps at the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Fire Department would get a new ladder truck and pumper using an $810,464 bond and nearly $1.5 million from the sale of the fire station.

The proposal includes a $1.4 million bond for building renovations, including $400,000 for a roof for Kane Elementary School.

Another $1.09 million bond is proposed for park reconstruction, including the first phase of construction of the playground at the Hudson Street landfill and relocation.

The bonds included range from five years to 30 years.

"We generally bond between $8 million and $12 million a year," Ossing said.

Once the committee re- views the bond package, the package and the committee's recommendation will go before the full City Council.