Springfield board voices concerns about police overtime budget

The Springfield Select Board was unhappy Tuesday with the proposed overtime budget in the Police Department, saying a 17 percent increase in the dispatch overtime budget was too much.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110107/NEWS02/701079933

Published January 7, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Springfield board voices concerns about police overtime budget

By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Select Board was unhappy Tuesday with the proposed overtime budget in the Police Department, saying a 17 percent increase in the dispatch overtime budget was too much.

Police Chief Douglas Johnston defended the proposal, saying he included the money based on past year’s experience and calculations based on the new police contract. He said Springfield police dispatchers handle all emergency calls in Springfield, and the town now handles fire calls for Chester as well.

But Kristi Morris, chairman of the Springfield Select Board, was not convinced that a 17 percent increase could be tolerated, especially since the board is shooting for a level-funded operating budget.

During the back and forth on the department’s proposed budget, it was revealed that the union representing the officers and dispatchers at the Springfield Police Department had not signed the recently negotiated contract.

Linda Rousse, the town’s part-time personnel director, said Wednesday the town administration and the Select Board thought they had an agreement with the police union, but so far the union has refused to sign the contract.

The issue is language having to do with retirement, she said. The town used language from the union dealing with the retirement issue, which she agreed was vague, and now the police union doesn’t like the vague language either, resulting in the impasse that was “months” old.

Town Manager Robert Forguites came to Johnston’s defense, saying the $56,220 figure was something the town “could live with.”

But Morris was not to be swayed. “We can live with something in between,” said Morris, with other board members nodding in agreement.

The board directed Forguites and Johnston to look into the overtime budget situation and come back with another figure.

Forguites urged the board to look at the big picture on the budget, and was focused on a $10,000 increase, when bigger financial issues were further on in the budget — namely about $60,000 increase in costs for the field services.

“We want you to take another look,” said Select Board member Michael Knoras.

Board member John Swanson noted that dispatch pay overall was up 10 percent, and overtime up 18 percent, under the new contract that hasn’t been ratified.

Officer Tony Moriglioni, who helped negotiate the police contract, couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Select Board on Tuesday started its review of the proposed $9 million town budget and will continue that review Thursday evening at the Town Hall.