By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
Tensions ran high at the Acushnet Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, 3/20, when Selectboard members had their first draft review of the 54 articles on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.
The board first had a discussion on Article 17, which asks the Town to accept Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 41B to require that all Town payroll be made through Direct Deposit.
Chairperson Kevin Gaspar stated that he would like to get rid of the article altogether.
Selectboard member Roger Cabral disagreed.
“Direct deposit is the way one gets paid in 2018,” he said “It makes it more efficient for everyone.”
Mr. Noble stated that there was some pushback from employees, and because there were at least 54 articles he really did not need to present this one at this time at this meeting.
The board did not vote on the article.
The Selectboard also discussed Article 19 to see if the Town would impose a local sales tax on the sale of restaurant meals within the Town at a rate of .75% gross sales receipts.
Mr. Noble stated it would be .07 cents on the dollar, with annual revenue of approximately $68,000. Mr. Noble stated it was invented for a revenue source for OPEB, or Other Post Employment Benefits, which are benefits that government agencies provide to their retired employees.)
Among the most tense conversation was Article 20, about the OPEB Liability. Mr. Gaspar stated he would like his colleagues to consider amending the article to reduce the OPEB benefits to 50/50 vs. 60/40. He said that there have been past mistakes and the liability on OPEB for the town of Acushnet is certainly one of them.
Mr. Cioper stated that he did not think retirees should fund “past mistakes.”
Mr. Gaspar read from an article by Geoffrey Beckwith, executive director and CEO of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, in November 2017 that reiterated his own opinions regarding OPEB.
“The problem is communities are already strapped for cash,” read Mr. Gaspar. “The only way out is reform. We need to have meaningful reform that will provide savings not in 15-20 years but immediately,”
Mr. Gaspar stated it was his opinion that something needs to be done immediately and the Town has a huge liability that does not seem to be going away. He recommended a 50/50 split with retirees on the insurance to at least put a dent in the liability for the future.
Mr. Cabral stated that he felt there were two issues that are not the same. He said that the liability is certainly there, and they could start putting money aside to fund the existing obligation. Mr. Cabral said the second issue is that 60/40 is not that generous with healthcare, and what Mr. Gaspar is referring to are two very distinct issues.
Mr. Gaspar said, the “Government would come down with new bullshit.”
He said he had done a lot of research on OPEB in the last few years.
“I have so much crap that I’ve done in research,” he said holding up a file folder full of paper.
He added that the financial crisis is going to come and should be a shared burden.
Mr. Cioper said that the article is written to stabilize the liability.
Mr. Gaspar said, “the notion that we are going to be downgraded is B.S., the downgrades are coming anyway.”
Mr. Cabral said he would be pleased to look at the competitive analysis of other Towns and how they share the health care costs with their retirees, however it was distinctively two different subjects.
Mr. Gaspar ended the conversation with, “the black market is going to come.”
The board did not vote on the article.
In another tension filled discussion, Mr. Cabral reviewed an article he put forth to change the Town Clerk to an appointed position, versus elected.
Mr. Cabral stated that the article was put forth to protect the Town Clerk office and was in no shape or form a strike against the current Town Clerk, Pamela Labonte.
Mr. Cabral stated that now that the Town Clerk position is full-time and carries a salary of $70,000 that he would like to see it appointed and not at the will of someone who wants to win a political popularity contest.
“I just want to see the right person be appointed to the job. I think it protects Ms. Labonte as well,” said Mr. Cabral.
Mr. Cioper disagreed, saying he did not think that it was about politics.
“I don’t want to take the vote away from the voters,” he said. “I do not favor taking the voters rights away.”
Mr. Cabral reiterated that the Town Administrator position, and the Finance Director position are professional appointments that are not elected.
“We want the right person for the job,” he said. “I believe that the Town Clerk is a professional position and all the other professional positions in Town are appointed not elected.”
“I think we need to do it before it’s too late,” Mr. Cabral said.
Mr. Gaspar said he believed that Mr. Cabral was making more politics out of it than necessary. He said he agreed with Mr. Cioper and did not want to take the rights of voters away.
“We have a safeguard in place,” Mr. Gaspar said. “All you need to do, Mr. Cabral, is read from the Town Charter, page 100, that reads they can recall an elected position.
“I’m totally 100% against this,” Mr. Gaspar said.
With that comment, Mr. Gaspar made a motion to table the article, with Mr. Cioper seconding the motion. Mr. Cabral continued to make his argument and was interrupted by Mr. Gaspar
who said he made a motion to table. Mr. Noble then said there is still discussion after a motion.
“This is to protect the Town Clerk position and not a slam against the current Town Clerk,” Mr. Cabral said.
Since the motion was made and seconded, the vote to table passed 2-0 with Mr. Cabral abstaining.
The board did not vote on all the articles. They will discuss them again before voting on their recommendations.
In other business, the Selectboard reviewed the Annual Town Election Warrant. Mr. Noble advised the board that the Town Election was going to be held on Monday, April 2nd from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. He said among the election for Town officials there would also be the question on the recreational marijuana.
“Again, if you vote YES you do not want recreational marijuana in the Town of Acushnet, and if you vote NO, you are okay with recreational marijuana in Town,” said Mr. Noble.
At the end of the meeting, the Selectboard gave Mr. Noble his performance review.
Mr. Gaspar stated he was confident in Mr. Noble’s desire to achieve, “but please slow down,” he said.
Mr. Gaspar stated the Town was “blessed” to have both Mr. Noble and Julie Hebert, the Town Accountant on board.
Mr. Cioper said he gave Mr. Noble very high marks on the performance review and felt he was an over-achiever. He also said that he felt Mr. Noble was bringing the Town forward fast and felt that he was leading them in a positive direction.
Mr. Cabral reiterated what his two colleagues said, stating that he was very happy with Mr. Noble’s job performance.
“I’m happy to have you in Acushnet,” Mr. Cabral said.
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