News

Former Amesbury councilors critical of spending

By Katie Farrell
Staff writer
Published: March 12, 2008

AMESBURY — Municipal councilors responded to criticism last night from two former councilors, who questioned why $2,500 was spent to attend the annual Mass. Municipal Association conference in Boston.

Six of the nine councilors attended the conference held at the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston in January.

The councilors — Mary Chatigny, Robert Gilday, Robert Lavoie, Roger Benson, Allen Neale and Jonathan Sherwood — submitted reimbursement requests and the town paid for their registration to the event and meals, if they went to the provided dinners.

The councilors submitted reimbursement requests for parking, mileage, hotel stay and valet service if they stayed at the hotel.

Councilors Joe McMilleon, Stephen Dunford and Anne Ferguson did not attend.

The council has a professional development/training line item of $1,800 included in their budget.

Former District 2 Councilor Mario Pinierio told councilors he was "appalled" at the $2,500 expense total. During his four years on the council, Pinierio said he took the train to the conference and spent only the minimum amount necessary.

"I'm disgusted at what some councilors spent," he said.

Former District 6 Councilor Alison Lindstrom also voiced concern.

"I, too, am upset with the spending for the MMA conference," she said, adding that when she attended as a councilor last term, she asked for reimbursement only for her train ticket and a soda.

Councilors said the conference is an opportunity for training and networking with municipal officials from throughout the state.

Councilors can attend 16 hours of training if they choose to give up the two days of their weekend, Council Vice President Bob Lavoie said, and can meet their counterparts from across the state.

The expense is "reasonable," he said.

Council President Roger Benson said he was "excited" to see how many councilors attended the conference this year and agreed with Lavoie's statement.

"I think it's a reasonable level of expense," Benson said, adding he felt the news article on the matter was "a little unfair."

At-Large Councilor Allen Neale said he was "thankful to be able to attend" the training. Neale said he reviewed the expenses associated with the conference and determined the council's total line item expense of $1,800 for professional development training was "woefully understated."

For all nine councilors to attend, including tickets, meals and one night hotel stay, it would cost about $4,600 — or a little more than $500 per person, Neale said.

"Last year's budget didn't have enough money in it for all nine councilors to attend," Neale said. He added he didn't find the expense total to be "awfully outrageous."

At least one member of the public who attended the meeting disagreed.

Leaving the room during the discussion, Greenery Designs owner Terry Gleason called out, "Shame on you, people."

Salary bills sent to April Finance Committee meeting

The council last night accepted three late-filed bills, including two measures sponsored by Lavoie that will increase the salaries of the mayor and Municipal Council, starting Jan. 1, 2010.

Under Lavoie's bill, the mayor's salary would increase to $90,000 from its current $60,000 and councilor salaries would go from $1,200 to $5,000 a year, with the council president making $5,500.

The council sent the two salary bills to the Finance Committee for a public hearing on April 22.

Neale, chairman of the Finance Committee, noted that the next Finance Committee meeting on March 25 already has a "full agenda" with a discussion set for the costs associated with upgrading the town's water treatment plant.

Financial Advisory Committee named

Benson released the names of three citizens he has appointed to the newly formed Financial Advisory Committee. The group, composed of citizens with a financial background, will serve as an advisory committee.

Scott Jordan, Whittier Street, is the executive director of the Mass. Water Pollution Trust. His past positions include serving as director of budget/finance in Lawrence, director of debt finance for the Office of Administration and Finance and deputy director of the Mass. Office of Tax Policy Analysis for the Department of Revenue.

Norman Morris Jr., South Hampton Road, is an accountant and worked as a certified public accountant at Ernst and Whinney for five years and later started his own business. He has spent 15 years working in the private sector.

Jamie Grant, Whittier Street, is a partner at Mirus Securities in Burlington as a broker/dealer. He was a member of the Finance Committee under the last Municipal Council.

Benson said he expects the group will meet quarterly to review items like the mayor's Capital Improvement Plan and the budget, in order to issue recommendations and to give a report on their findings and analysis.

"I think it's a great make-up," Benson said.

Benson said he is also in the process of finalizing his two citizen appointments to the Ordinance Committee and expects to make those appointments at the next meeting in April.

Government at a Glance

Amesbury Municipal Council

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

APPROVED

r a Class II auto license for Absolute Auto, 39 Hillside Ave. (8-0, Benson abstain).

r a $5,400 donation from the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Charitable Foundation (unanimous).

r a transfer of $40,000 from the reserve fund to the legal budget (unanimous).

r a transfer of $25,000 from insurance to the veterans budget (unanimous).

r amending the zoning map for 49 Macy St. from R20 to Commercial (unanimous).

r a resolution to accept a $300 settlement from the attorney general's compact disc anti-trust litigation for the public library (unanimous).

SENT

r to Finance Committee, an order to accept a $2,400 grant from the Provident Bank.

r to Finance Committee, an order to appropriate $75,000 from free cash for the design of offices for the MVRTA transportation center, re-codifying of town bylaws and a personnel study of non-union employees.

r to Finance Committee on April 22, an order to provide for salary increases.