Swampscott selectmen discuss budget cuts

SWAMPSCOTT – The budget was the sole topic of discussion at the Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday evening.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said in order to absorb the mid year 9C budget cuts, several employees are being laid off, positions are being left vacant and services are being reduced.He said Department of Public Works Field Coordinator Charlie Picariello and two part time clerical employees would be laid off this month. He also said the town planner, a firefighter and a police officer have either resigned or retired and those three positions would be left vacant for the remainder of this year and for the upcoming fiscal year.In addition to layoffs and not filling vacancies, Maylor said the operating hours for the library and the senior center will be reduced effective immediately. He said the cuts are necessary due to the mid-year local aid cuts announced by Gov. Deval Patrick.Maylor said department heads have been working hard to save money wherever possible. He said a recent retirement left the department short one patrolman and the position would not be filled so a detective in the police department has been put back on patrol to help reduce overtime costs associated with that vacancy.Maylor said the cuts would carry forward into FY’10 but there are still several unknowns that could affect the FY’10 budget.Maylor said when balancing his zero deficit budget he did not include the $183,000 from the state that is supposed to come from new taxes because the Legislature has not approved the new taxes proposed by the governor.Maylor also cautioned additional cuts could be possible if there is more than a 10 percent increase in health insurance.Maylor said he has engaged in preliminary discussions with some of the unions regarding forgoing salary increases for the upcoming fiscal year, which he said could save approximately $1.2 million and prevent layoffs.Maylor said the town is still involved with a coalition of North Shore communities interested in establishing a regional emergency dispatch center. Maylor said the group is waiting to hear whether it will receive a $6.5 million grant for the proposed dispatch center. Maylor said if the grant is received the facility could be up and running by July 1, 2010. He added utilizing the dispatch center for all emergency calls would allow the town to have a couple of more officers on the street.