City councilors look for savings
By Doug Grindle Community Reporter

Marlborough - Marlborough city councilors took steps at the March 31 Finance Committee hearing to slow the rate of city spending.

The councilors' actions came as they considered two proposals to transfer funds from the city's undesignated funds account, also called the free cash account. Currently, the account has $1.23 million, and the meeting was dominated by a mood of stretching those dollars as far as possible.

At-Large Councilor Steven Levy noted that several transfers have been drawn from the account in recent months, and the remainder ought to be husbanded.

"That does concern me, to bring that [amount] down too quickly," Levy said.

Councilors took issue with a proposal for $180,000 to be transferred from the account to top up a vehicle fuel fund that has been hit by rising prices. Commissioner of Public Works Ronald LaFreniere said the money is needed because gas prices have risen 40 percent over the past year.

Several councilors expressed concern about the size of the transfer, especially in relation to the original level of funding - $304,000.

Levy asked why the city needed to add 60 percent of the original funding for fuel when the commissioner said the fuel costs had risen 40 percent. LaFreniere replied that the request was based on anticipated mileage to be driven by city vehicles.

Other councilors asked whether the city might be able to trim the cost of fuel by conserving energy and limiting unnecessary trips.

"I wonder if the city has come up with a plan to limit where we can?" Ward 1 Councilor Joseph Delano asked.

Ward 2 Councilor Paul Ferro criticized the city administration for making no eff ort to conserve energy.

"We have spiraling gas costs and our behavior doesn't change," Ferro said. "I would guess we would change when gas prices skyrocket."

He noted that he first suggested that the city consider buying alternative-energy vehicles two years ago.

Ferro made a motion to trim the $180,000 request back to $150,000 as a way of encouraging the city to limit its gas usage. That idea found support among fellow councilors.

"It would be a way to monitor it for the next three months going forward," At-Large Councilor Michael Ossing said.

But Ward 7 Councilor Don Landers disagreed.

"I'd have a hard time voting for that amendment," Landers said. "Gasoline prices will not go down between now and June."

Councilors voted, 4-1, to approve the amendment, and voted, 4-1, to transfer only $150,000 from free cash to pay for the extra fuel.

Councilors also voted to transfer $146,000 from the free cash account to pay for fire and police staffing.

The vote came after councilors objected to police officers being used to substitute for dispatchers who might be sick. City officials noted that police officers are paid more than dispatchers, and even lieutenants sometimes fill in for the absent dispatchers.

"It's an awful lot to pay for a dispatcher," Ward 6 Councilor Edward Clancy said.

Police Chief Mark Leonard said he would consider hiring another dispatcher.