To the Editor:
The whole, long, belabored budget process this year has been a big disappointment because the Board of Selectmen operate in the old-fashioned, paternalistic “father knows best” mold, and not as a body of elected officers pledged to represent us. For years – YEARS! – they have been saying to folks upset with the budget options at town meeting, that the time to interject their opinions is in the budget process.
Well, this year a whole bunch of people followed that directive, writing letters and emails, speaking up (when allowed to) at BOS meetings and at the Budget Committee’s final budget hearing. With a very clear, loud, collective voice, they asked the Board of Selectmen – now, of all times – not to cut library positions or hours, not to cripple the library’s ability to serve in all the ways it does.
But the Board of Selectmen didn’t listen.
After reassuring everyone that the difficult cuts of the original budget had been made in such a way as to be “equitable” across town departments, in the end they:
- restored the Town Planner to 36 hours with benefits
- restored the Park & Recs Director to 36 hours with benefits
- restored a Public Works employee to 40 hours with benefits.
But not the Library. The board’s cut of the Head Librarian to 36 hours was in line with their other restorations. But the Assistant Librarian position was “restored” at only 20 hours (from the 36 currently), eliminating benefits. The total effect is that ONLY ONE town employee has lost time and benefits, and the library has lost a total of 22 librarian hours. That’s the $87K amount you get to vote for or against.
Vote No on Article #13! Demand equitable treatment for the librarians and support for the library as it adapts in every way it can to this new Covid environment while still serving the people that depend upon it.
Penny Hilton, Chestnut Common
