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During a presentation regarding the utilities & facilities and highway departments, Superintendent Peter Boria outlined the duties of current personnel and described where more staff is needed.
The discussion took place at the second special Board of Selectmen meeting on October 2 concerning a potential Proposition 2 ½ override.
Boria talked about the workload of two senior clerks in the utilities & facilities department, who also handle water and sewer department tasks and transfer station/highway duties.
These duties include tasks like billing, payroll, transfer station stickers, keeping records like abatements, answering phones, greeting customers, purchase orders and more.
Boria said in the past, they used senior tax work off help but cannot just have an unfamiliar person come in to “handle the nitty gritty,” without a lot of training.
When both clerks are present, Boria said, it is “manageable,” but if someone is out sick or on vacation, “it leaves a huge hole…and makes it nearly impossible to get (all the work) done well.”
“It’s amazing what they do…there is a lot of multi-tasking,” said Board of Selectmen Chair John Howard.
Boria made a request for a part-time junior clerk to help across the areas where the clerks work.
In the highway department, the request is for two full-time light equipment operator and one full-time heavy equipment operator.
He said that everyone pitches in and does what is asked of them on a particular day.
Eben Butler, highway department foreman, said that it is very challenging to hire people because of the town’s share of insurance and lower salaries compared to other communities.
Because of a shortage of personnel, he said, they always seem to be behind, painting lines on streets in October instead of August, for example.
Selectman Gary Woodbury said highway departments in general appear to have a difficult time filling positions. “Here, Shrewsbury, pick a town…You have a thin pool to draw from right now.”
Boria said he has seen a “tricky dynamic,” over the past year where the town would have to pay a new person more than people who have been there for years to attract them to a job.
Butler said the 10-member crew had stayed at the same level for 26 years, all the while taking on additional work.
Examples of work include keeping drainage and culvert pipes clear, weekly trash pickup at town buildings, snow and ice operations, storm clean up, maintenance at various parks, road and sidewalk maintenance, brush cutting, drainage work and more.
“It is not just about being able to get stuff done. It’s about being able to get stuff done well,” Boria said.
Boria said they did the best they could but it would be better if they had the resources they need.
Also on his request list is an assistant superintendent to help him or a highway superintendent. Boria is responsible for direct oversight of the highway, water department, transfer station, town buildings, street lighting, traffic signals, GIS services, bridges, damns, culverts, grants, permit reviews and more.
“We’re not going to be able to be Santa Claus for everything on the list,” said Selectman Anthony Pepe. He said they need to find creative ways to reach goals in a strategic way—such as spreading requests out over several years.
Selectman Jared Grigg said he has been advocating for the assistant director’s position for some time. “The grant writing and project management alone is a lot.”
Selectman Ralph Hicks said town departments are struggling with personnel and other issues because tax bills were not raised for 10 years “the customary 2 ½%, not an override,” and “meanwhile inflation marched on.”
Butler mentioned the highway department took 0% and 1%, raises, creating the gap that exists today.
“At some point, you have to decide what kind of town you want to have,” Hicks said.
He said there are many things they are going to try to do “without bankrupting residents.”
Boria said the town has been generous in providing equipment and employees make it a priority to ensure things are well maintained.
Regarding a request for highway garage renovations, Town Administrator Jeff Bridges said the building needs better bathrooms, locker and shower facilities. In its present state, the town cannot employ a female there, he said.
Hicks noted such work would be debt exclusion items which are “easier to sell because (people) see light at the end of the tunnel and what they get for the money.” He suggested those capital items be “separated out,” from any Proposition 2 ½ override request.
He said departments had to present reasonable numbers otherwise an override “won’t pass if taxes go through the roof.”
Assessors and library will make presentations at the next special Board of Selectmen meeting on October 28.
