Show Me the Money! Those four little words were the unspoken standard from the union representative, Mr. O'Brien, during one of the final phases of negotiating a contract with the Select Board for highway department employees Tuesday night. The Select Board has been negotiating for over a year with the union to reach a contract agreement. Emile asked, Mr. Scully, the town lawyer if the voters had to ratify the agreement? The response was ‘no’, but the voters would have to approve the funding for the raises negotiated in the agreement. The Select Board can negotiate below the 10% given in the FY2006 Budget, if above the 10% must go to the voters for approval for funding. Peter asked Mr. Scully what was the time frame for extending the procedure. The response was “no need to rush”. Emile said the employees need a contract to give them yearly wage increases and job security. Some of the ‘fringes’ in the agreement are sick leave, vacation, and bereavement leave. The Select Board went into Executive Session to discuss the wage increase for a 3-year contract. When the meeting was opened, the Select Board wage proposal was 5% the first year, 2.5% the second, and 2.5% for the third year. Mr. O'Brien did not think the percentages were adequate and would not accept the offer. Mr. O'Brien offered a counter-proposal for a one-year agreement with a 10% increase retroactive to July 1, 2005 (FY2006). Mr. O'Brien also told the Select Board that they (union and Select Board) could start negotiating for a new contract as soon as this one was agreed to for FY2006. The Select Board tabled the discussion, and agreed to meet again with Mr. O'Brien either August 2 or August 16.
The town employees and union representative felt that the 10% received in the FY2006 Budget was not enough. It was mentioned several times that the employees of Savoy receive much less pay than other towns. Peter asked Mr. O'Brien to supply the Select Board with the names of the towns they are using as a reference. Mr. O'Brien said he got the copy from the town. Peter said he was on the Finance Committee and asked to see the list. A copy of a list was handed to Peter. Peter said that was not a list prepared by the town. Peter commented he felt that the comparison of towns should not be ‘apples and oranges’. Mr. O'Brien is to get back to the Select Board with a list of towns for comparison. Mr. O'Brien said Owen’s health insurance had gone up $20 and he needed more money to cover this type of expense. Owen also brought up other towns pay employees overtime, night differential and a regular 40 hours a week wage. (Note: At the Annual Town Meeting, when the issue was brought up regarding changing the 10% hourly pay increase to 2.5% as suggested by the Finance Committee, it was brought to the attention of the townspeople that the line item vacation, personal and sick days would also be changed. Not only did the highway department receive 10% hourly pay, 10% was approved for vacation, personal and sick days. Hourly pay; and Vacation, Personal and Sick Days were part of Article #3, Town Highway Department Expenses.)

Other notes from the Select Board Meeting, June 28:
Emile noted the condition of the Town Hall. A few of the problems are new sills need to be installed, new roof, flooring, windows for downstairs, paint touch-up, wobbly fan and winter shoveling. The Select Board will continue their pursuit of trying to find funding for a custodian or building superintendent on a part-time basis. Emile said ‘it is vital to keep the building repaired’.
There were no responses to the solicitation for a Town Treasurer. The Select Board will appoint a Treasurer for one year when a qualified candidate comes forward. The issue of changing the position from an elected to an appointed position must be addressed by the townspeople to avoid future situations of the elected person resigning and not fulfilling the elected position. Emile said the position requires approximately 8 hours a week.
The Select Board Meeting will be held every other week during July and August. The scheduled meeting dates are July 5, July 19; August 2, August 16 and August 30. by Brenda Smith

The Police Department is looking to rent a garage in Savoy for the new police cruiser for the winter. The solicitation is open until July 31. Anyone interested, please contact the Select Board at 743-4290. from the Select Board