Big salary bumps sought for key Saugus posts

SAUGUS – With budget season in full swing in Saugus, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he?s looking to fill some key positions in Town Hall, some of which have been vacant for almost a year.?Overall it?s challenging to fill positions, and the low salaries for department heads is part of a systemic problem along with union employees and a lack of past contracts being settled ?” said Crabtree. “Some of them go back more than nine years without any sort of wage increase.”A look at the proposed budget for next year shows about $60,000 in additional salaries for these vacant positions.The town accountant was budgeted for $60,000 last year. For 2014 Crabtree is recommending $80,000. Similarly, the human resources director position paid $53,000 last year compared to $75,000 in next year?s budget while the recommended budget for an information technology administrator position is $83,000, up from $71,000 last year.A new Department of Public Works Director is budgeted at $95,000, compared to $71,000 last year.The IT director in Wakefield made $115,000 in 2011 while the DPW Director made $109,000, according to the town budget.View the entire budgetAll of these positions have yet to be filled, except for the town accountant, according to Crabtree.?The good news is we do have a candidate that has accepted the town accountant position and right now we?re doing our due diligence as far as verification ?” he said. “We?re happy about that. It?s someone that?s coming in with a master?s degree.”Crabtree said the main reason for the vacancies is retirement, such as former DPW Director Joe Attubato and former Human Resources Director Fran Trainor, who both retired last year.But Crabtree said low salaries are also an issue.?When we went through the forensic audit some of those management practices was to give people stipends, as evidenced by the forensic audit report, that weren?t on the books or in the budget,” said Crabtree. “And when those are adjusted, you had people that already weren?t making comparative salaries being reduced. It obviously adds to the systemic problems.”Selectmen Chairman Steve Castinetti said he?s noticed “a lot of open positions” in town, and noted he?s “not thrilled” that it?s taken so long to fill them.?The manager has been in the position for almost a year and I don?t see any progress being made,” he said. “I certainly think a lot of our positions are underfunded. The requirements of the jobs certainly would dictate a higher salary. We need to get into a position to attract quality employees.”But Castinetti said there?s “more than meets the eye” for why some people left.?I?ve spoken to several and although the stories they gave for leaving seem legitimate, there?s a lot more that plays into their decisions,” said Castinetti, who would not elaborate on the issue.Castinetti also said he would like to see acting DPW Director James Waugh be hired for the position.?It?s my feeling as well as many others in town that Jimmy Waugh has been doing a very, very commendable job and people are wondering why he hasn?t been offered the job yet and I tend to agree with them,” said Castinetti. “I think if anyone deserves the job it?s Jimmy Waugh with the effort and time he?s put in and the results he?s gotten with a very, very small crew.For the next budget, Crabtree said one of his goals is to attract suitable candidates with “the necessary education and experience.”?It?s certainly a challenge,” he said. “We?ve had certain individuals, such as the IT position, that left for more money in another community and it?s unfortunate. When you do a survey of comparative salaries, it shows Saugus is significantly below these comparative averages.Crabtree said he?s also looking to have a salary study completed at some point “in the near future.”?The outgoing town accountant didn?t have a college degree and one of the conversations we had with the (Department of Revenue) was if we paid a town account $25,000 more a year we wouldn?t be in the posi