Weston Forum
Town operating budget:
Weston salaries to increase by 3.5%

Mar 27, 2008

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