The Bristol Town Council was expected to meet Wednesday night, Dec. 30, for its first full meeting in 16 years without the steady hand of the recently retired town clerk, Louis Cirillo, to guide them. But despite his retirement, Mr. Cirillo’s name was all over the council’s agenda.

That’s partly because Mr. Cirillo handled most of the correspondence leading up to and setting the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, but also because the council docket had two documents specific to Mr. Cirillo’s retirement. The first was an eloquent proclamation from Town Administrator Steven Contente, praising and thanking Mr. Cirillo for his years of unselfish and beloved service to the town.

The second was an explanation from the town’s attorney, Michael Ursillo, of the $60,439.46 severance package Mr. Cirillo is receiving from the Town.

Elected to office in 2004 and every two years thereafter, Mr. Cirillo accumulated a large bank of unused sick and vacation time, despite facing two bouts with cancer, the most recent diagnosed earlier this year. He left office with 120 days of unused sick time (the maximum allowable), representing $39,363.60 of compensation; 54.5 days of unused vacation time ($17,877.64); and six months of longevity pay, representing six months of the fiscal year from July to December ($3,198.22).

Same benefits as department heads

Though elected by voters and not working under a contract with the Town, the town clerk and town administrator have traditionally been entitled to the same benefits as other non-union town employees, such as the police chief, fire chief, DPW director and others. In a note to the council, Mr. Ursillo wrote: “It is my understanding that this has been past practice stretching back many decades.”

Mr. Ursillo further explained that the town’s annual budget includes money to cover those benefits, as well as severance pay. Though not shown as a separate line item per every individual, there is a total budget for these benefits, as well as a carryover budget for severance pays that are not paid in a particular year.

The solicitor went on to write: “It is my opinion that you provide the severance pay being requested by Lou Cirillo,” and he outlined numerous reasons, including past practice, the fact that Mr. Cirillo and other town clerks worked under those expectations, and the fact that the town budgets for it.

Mr. Ursillo added that in other towns he serves, town employees who obtain their jobs through popular election are all treated like the non-union employees of the town.

Changes for the future?

The Dec. 30 meeting took place after the Phoenix went to press, but the council was expected to receive and accept the severance analysis as part of its consent agenda. Moving forward, however, the council will consider changing the way it budgets for these non-union benefits and severances, showing them as individual line items rather than one lump sum. This would create more visibility, so that benefits and severances could be better anticipated and managed.

Bristol Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro is also interested in setting up a clear description of the salary and benefits afforded to the town clerk. The town currently does this for the administrator’s position, with the compensation and benefits set prior to the biannual election. Mr. Calouro would like to see the same done for the town clerk’s position. He hopes to work with the town’s finance director and the council to make this change.