Mar 27, 2008
Town operating budget:
Weston salaries to increase by 3.5%
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by Patricia Gay
Salary raises for town employees and some new and expanded positions account for 41.6% of the increase in the proposed 2008-09 town operating budget.
The proposed town operating budget, also called the first selectman’s budget, is $10,626,270, a 4.57% hike from the current fiscal year. Of that increase, 41.6% or $193,448 will go to salary increases for employees in general government, public safety, human services, health, parks and recreation and public works.
Of the $193,448, nearly all (93.7%) is for cost of living or step increases. Police, highway and dispatch workers are all under union contract, and step increases are included for employees who qualify for them.
The budget calls for the creation of a full time zoning enforcement officer position, while paying for part-time consulting with Bob Turner, the current zoning enforcement officer (for a net cost increase of $21,660).
The salaries of several employees include additional hours of employment. The social work assistant is getting two more hours per week at a total cost of $1,598. The assistant tax assessor is adding four weeks for a total cost of $966. And, $7,292 was added to reflect the increase in the stipend of the first selectman ($45,000) for a full 12 months.
In the police department, the creation of a lieutenant/captain’s position was approved by the selectmen; however, it corresponds with the elimination of a sergeant’s position, for a difference of an additional $2,512.
Most town employees, union and non-union, will see their salaries increase by 3.5%, including the town’s top paid positions. The salary for town administrator, will increase from $105,099 to $116,587. The finance director’s salary will increase from $100,810 to $104,338. The public works director’s salary will go from $93,298 to $99,955.
Due to a change in personnel, the chief of police position will be budgeted at $92,089, which is down from $98,924.
The budget also includes a new line for $54,000 for the establishment of an OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) account, for several post employment health benefits, including retiree medical benefits, for certain groups of employees and retirees of the town of Weston.
After the board of finance holds public hearings and approves a final overall budget plan, the town and school budgets will be voted on at a town meeting on April 21.
Proposed salaries for Weston town employees
in the 2008-09 budget:
Town Administrator $116,587
First Selectman $45,000
Selectmen’s Admin. Assistant $62,702
Finance Director $104,338
Assistant to Finance Director (.80) $45,800
Part-time Accounts Payable (.48) $22,738
Town Engineer $83,953
P&Z Admin. Assistant $46,854
General Maintenance $49,525
Floater (.40) $17,091
Benefits Coordinator (.16) $8,021
Tree Warden $1,000
Info. Systems Manager $70,453
Info System part-time help $4,800
Registrar (.25) $10,412 (x2)
Deputy Registrar (.05) $1,505 (x2)
Board of Finance Secretary $3,000
Treasurer (.30) $19,713
Asst. to Treasurer (.10) $4,713
Tax Assessor $82,536
Assistant to Assessor (.67) $26,085
Tax Collector $71,855
Asst. to Tax Collector (.75) $35,118
Town Clerk $71,855
Asst. Town Clerk $44,126
Zoning Enforcement Officer (.80) $43,756
Code Enforcement Officer (.20) $10,939
Land Use Director (.53) $41,343
Conservation Planner (.85) $46,380
Building Inspector $69,874
Building Admin. Asst.(.66) $42,727
Building Committee Secretary $1,200
Chief of Police $92,088
Lieutenant/Captain $87,000
Police Secretary $48,208
Police Sergeant $83,405 (x2)
Police Detective $77,267
Police Officer $66,555 (x3)
Police Officer $72,212 (x6)
Police Officer $61,061
Fire Dept. Secretary $11,385
Fire Marshal (.47) $29,278
Fire Marshal Secretary (.61) $23,111
Animal Control Officer $42,467
Asst. Animal Control (.40) $16,749
Communications Center Managing Dispatcher $60,858
Senior Dispatcher $53,425
Dispatcher $51,107 (x2)
Dispatcher $46,381
Public Works Director $99,955
Foreman $67,991 (x2)
Spec. Equip. Operator Senior $62,166 (x2)
Senior Equip. Operator $61,534 (x2)
Senior Mechanic $67,168 (x2)
Maintainer $55,293
Transfer Station Operator $61,325
Part-Time Transfer Station Operator $44,008
Conservation Planner (.80) $44,911
Wetlands Enforcement Officer (.20) $15,838
Recreation Director $82,444
Recreation Supervisor $52,668
Rec. Bookkeeper/Secretary $36,589
Rec. Summer Help $1,600
Parks/Fields Maintenance $36,813**
Field Employee (.50) $16,068**
Middle School Aquatics Director $40,733***
Pool technicians $1,900***
Lifeguards $18,000***
Social Worker (.70) $48,744
Part-Time Social Work Assistant (.32) $12,500
Director of Children and Youth $55,666
Program Coordinator (.66) $28,162
Senior Center Director (.64) $30,531
Senior Center Van Driver (.64) $17,316
Senior Activities Assistant (.32) $9,238
Back-up Van Driver (.10) $2,601
Library Director $73,159
Senior Librarian $52,668
Children’s Librarian $46,844
Library Assistant $36,581
Library Assistant (.16) $6,062
Library Assistant (.46) $15,851
Library Assistant (.32) $11,034
Library Pages $11,319
Director of Health $90,000*
Assistant Director Special Projects (.50) $35,000
Health Office Manager $62,777*
Health Data & Bookkeeping Clerk $45,841*
Health Admin. Secretary $46,334*
Community Health Director $76,694*
Nurse $61,879*
Health Educator/Spec. Projects $56,500*
Chief Sanitarian $76,559*
Sanitarian/Engineer $79,275*
Sanitarian (.60) $42,000*
Sanitarian II $54,000*
Environmental Assistant (.80) $33,051*
Envir. Health Clerk (.72) $19,435*
Positions less than full time are designated with a decimal percentage after the job title.
*Health Dept. costs are split with Westport based on per capita population figures.
**The town pays 30% and the schools pay 70% of these salaries.
***The town pays 60% and the schools pay 40% of these salaries.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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