New positions, pay raises included in Barrington budget

Proposed municipal budget shows 3.9 percent increase

Posted 3/15/19

Barrington's proposed municipal budget is calling for a 3.9 percent or $648,016 increase.

If the increase is approved, the municipal budget would jump to $17,100,706. 

The FY19-20 budget …

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New positions, pay raises included in Barrington budget

Proposed municipal budget shows 3.9 percent increase

Posted

Barrington's proposed municipal budget is calling for a 3.9 percent or $651,186 increase.

If the increase is approved, the municipal budget would jump to $17,103,876. 

The FY19-20 budget drafted by Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha features a number of proposed increases, including the addition of a resilience officer and an assistant superintendent for the department of public works, as well as expanded roles for the human resources director and economic development officer. 

The proposed budget also features pay raises for a number of municipal employees, including a 2 percent increase for police officer salaries; a 2.5 percent increase for firefighters; a 5.7 percent increase for the town manager; and a 300 percent increase for members of the town council.

Personnel changes

Mr. Cunha is proposing the creation of a new "resilience officer" for the town. The position, said the town manager, is vitally important when considering the future impacts of climate change and sea level rise. 

"Sea level rise is a fact," said Mr. Cunha, adding "And we're the most susceptible community in Rhode Island."

Barrington is surrounded by water and much of the community is low-lying. Mr. Cunha said the resilience officer would help the town develop recovery plans following natural disasters. Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said the town recently changed its energy committee into an energy and resilience committee, as there is an immediate need to prepare for climate-related challenges. 

Mr. Carroll said Barrington Town Planner Phil Hervey has been handling some of the tasks related to community resilience. He said Barrington resident Kim Jacobs has also been involved. 

Mr. Carroll said town officials tried to locate grants to off-set the cost of hiring a resilience officer, but were unable to do so. He added that the new position will help the community secure grant money to pay for resilience issues. 

The town manager said the proposed addition of an assistant superintendent at the Barrington Department of Public Works would actually serve to fill a position that has been vacant for the last five years. Mr. Cunha said the department has been struggling to complete its primary tasks, partly because of the administrative burden placed on the current director and superintendent. The addition of an assistant superintendent, he said, would remedy that and make the work force more efficient.

"We're almost in triage mode with the public works," Mr. Cunha said.

The proposed municipal budget also calls for the human resources director position and that of the economic development officer to be made full-time. 

The manager is proposing a 26.10 percent increase to the human resources department — a jump of $14,296 for salary. 

"This large increase is justified predominantly to align this position with other department heads, accretion of duties and exceptionally meritorious performance in hiring practices, arbitration case resolutions and leading the town hall LEAN initiative and safety committee," stated the manager's report. 

The increase for the economic development officer — the full-time position will carry a salary of $50,000 — will be partially funded ($15,000) by The Spencer Trust, as the officer's responsibilities will include serving as the Spencer Trust administrator. 

The economic development officer position is also part of a restructured planning/building/resilience department that is being formed by the town. Mr. Cunha said the town will realize more efficiencies through the consolidation of the departments. The economic development officer will also help handle the town's social media accounts.

Reductions

There are also a number of proposed reductions. Among those items eliminated or reduced in the budget are a $39,000 decrease for police equipment, a $70,000 decrease for fire equipment, an $11,000 decrease for Peck Center improvements, and a $181,000 decrease for a transient dock. 

Proposed pay raises

Included in the proposed municipal budget are a wide range of pay raises. Some of the salary increases are part of the recently-negotiated labor contracts, while others are for non-union positions. 

"I think the CPI (Consumer Price Index) is 3.1 percent," said Mr. Cunha. "We've kept unions' salaries below that…"

The budget proposes salary increases for a number of non-union positions, including town manager, town clerk, finance director, town council and recreation department.

Following are some proposed budget changes:

• Town council: 59.9 percent budget increase requested, from $19,200 to $30,700, due to salary increases for council president (from $1,000 to $3,000) and council members (from $500 to $2,500).

• Town manager: 5.2 percent increase due to a 5.7 percent salary increase for town manager (on Feb. 4), and reductions in travel and conferences, and membership dues.

• Town clerk: 3.57 percent increase due to 4 percent merit pay increase for town clerk, and slight increase in stationery and supplies; some reductions in travel, conferences, land records and probate.

• Board of canvassers: 37.51 percent decrease ($12,125) due to no expected elections.

• Finance: 5.09 percent increase due to employees qualifying for longevity pay; slight reductions in education and training; stationery and supplies.

• Computer operations: 3.31 decrease due to reductions in contractual services and stationery and supplies.

• Tax assessor: 3.37 percent decrease due to a salary reduction attributed to the retirement of a long-time employee; slight decreases in travel, conferences, auto allowance, contractual services, bookbinding.

• Planning, building and resilience: The combination of the planning and building departments and addition of resilience department will result in a 3.05 percent reduction; salaries decreased 17 percent; increase in part time help; economic development officer position increased to full-time ($50,000).

• Human resources: 26.10 percent increase due to $14,296 increase in human resources' director salary.

• Recreation department: 6.4 percent increase due to department salary increases and increases in part-time and temporary help; reductions made in summer supplies ($6,000), contractual services ($1,900) and special projects ($1,000).

• Library: $33 increase.

• Senior services: 6.33 percent budget increase in salaries and part-time help.

• Fire department: 8.71 percent or $192,855 increase due to the loss of salary support from a grant supporting the four new firefighter positions the town added recently.

• Hydrant fees: 100 percent or $143,200 reduction in anticipation of revised PILOT agreement with local water authority.

• Police department: 2.03 percent increase ($50,363) due to salary increases, and additional line item for computer services.

• Dispatch: 3.93 percent or $13,963 increase for overtime,

• Animal control: 30 percent decrease ($3,000) due to spending trends.

• Harbor control: .25 percent decrease due to minor cuts in boat operation expense and mooring inspections.

• Public works: 4.09 percent increase ($92,056) due to increase in salaries and addition of assistant superintendent position; decreases were in streetlights ($28,408), general maintenance ($10,000) and public grounds ($11,500).

• Employee benefits: 7.93 percent increase ($320,000) due to increases in Social Security, Medicare tax, medical and dental insurance and pension expenses.

• Town solicitor: 24.46 percent increase ($40,000) due to increased legal requirements for pending litigation and increased labor arbitration requirements.

• Insurance: 10.59 percent increase ($43,200) due to 10 percent increase in property and liability insurance.

Capital budget

The planning board is recommending a 1.27 percent increase ($16,500). There were, however, the removal of numerous funding requests. Eliminations include:

• Police equipment ($14,500)

• Harbormaster equipment ($9,000)

• Landfill monitoring ($40,000)

• Bay Spring Community Center ($70,000)

• Mathewson Road sea wall repairs ($75,000)

Additions include:

• Tax assessor software: $50,000

• Peck Center improvements: $2,000

• Athletic improvements: $25,000

• Climate mitigation projects: $75,000

• Building official vehicle replacement: $3,000

Other reductions

• Conservation commission by 100 percent ($900)

• Juvenile hearing board by 33.3 percent ($500)

• Bay Spring Community Center by 37.5 percent ($3,000)

• Memorial Day misc. by 55.56 percent ($2,500)

• Council contingency fund by 50 percent ($10,000)

• Misc. medical expensed by 100 percent ($5,000)

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