Chief proposes shorter firefighter work week
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Fire Chief Brenton MacAloney presented selectmen on Monday what he believes could be an innovative way to pay for more personnel without drastically increasing the department's budget.

He asked selectmen to consider renegotiating the firefighters' contract to reduce them from a 48-hour work week to a 42-hour work week.

"The firefighters would like to go to a more common work schedule," MacAloney said.

MacAloney said he's had only had informal conversation with the firefighters but that they were willing to do this if a new firefighter was hired. Only the Board of Selectmen is authorized to negotiate with a union.

If each firefighter reduce his work week by six hours, then only an additional $13,000 would be needed to fund the new position, MacAloney said.

Selectmen were hesitant about reopening the contract. They also weren't sure which would have to be obtained first, the agreement with the union or the approval of the voters.

"You need both in place, but what do you do first," said Selectman Thomas O'Toole. "It's like the chicken and the egg."

Selectmen invited the firefighters to attend a board meeting to discuss the matter.

MacAloney's budget discussion with selectmen was one of many Monday night for selectmen. They also met with the Department of Public Works and the Health Department.

The highway department will be seeking $500,000 for oiling and sealing additional roads this year.

Preston Baker, the interim highway superintendent, said he would like to start appropriating $200,000 to $300,000 every year for the next 10 years, while the town is receiving income from the landfill contract.

"We get further behind every year," he said.

DPW Director William Winturri said the $500,000 would only get five or six of the worst roads in town repaved and wouldn't leave money for maintenance.

The selectmen agreed to support the article at the annual town meeting.

The DPW is also looking to buy a new trailer to carry the rolling paver, which weighs about 25 tons. A new trailer would cost about $25,000.

The town also has to appropriate money to comply with the federal disinfecting byproducts rules for the water system this year, Winturri said. It's required that the money come out of the water bills.

"We have to do this," Winturri said.

New Health Agent Elizabeth Swedberg also met with selectmen who agreed to support her request for additional money for training. Swedberg wnoted she will be advertising for a part-time agent.

Some of the additional training money may go to that person, who will be working 19 hours a week. Selectmen asked that the training budget be reduced next year.