The Board of Selectmen questioned salary increases for the school superintendent and business manager included in the budget approved by the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District (STGRSD).
Selectman Joseph Deedy reported this week that he reached out to School Committee Chairman James Vincent for a better understanding of the numbers. The board thought the proposed increases were very high but Deedy discovered the board was comparing it to paperwork that was two years old.
“It’s not six percent like we thought,” Deedy said. “It’s 3.25 percent for [Superintendent Dr. John] Barry,” said Deedy.
Deedy told the board Vincent said the committee approved the increase because it wanted to entice Barry, who is of retirement age, to stay in his position through the renovation of the Southwick campus and see it to completion.
“He also said it is still $16,000 below the average of the other districts in the collaborative,” Deedy said.
Selectmen questioned the size of the other districts in the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative in comparison to STGRSD, which include, Agawam, West Springfield, Ludlow, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, and Hampden-Wilbraham Regional.
When Selectwoman Tracy Cesan asked if there was further explanation, Deedy said it was explained to him that “Mr. Barry could retire at any time” and the committee wanted to keep him in his position.
Cesan said she was not in favor of raises, especially when cuts were being made.
A raise of two-percent was approved for Business Manager Stephen Presnal. Deedy said he was told that Presnal’s raise was due to completion of required credentials, among other reasons.
“He is also the procurement officer, so they don’t have to fund that position,” said Deedy.
The board briefly discussed the town budget during the same meeting and commended department heads for adhering for the most part to the board’s request to reduce expenses.
“For most operational accounts, we had a five-percent reduction,” noted Deedy.
Board Chairman Russell Fox said he was pleased so far with the budget that will come before voters at the May 20 Town Meeting.
“I think we have a good budget,” he said.
The Town Clerk’s Office will be open for voter registration on Wednesday until 8:00 pm. This is the final day to register to vote in the Local Annual Election and Town Meeting on May 13 and May 20, respectively.
The last day to obtain an application for an absentee ballot is noon on May 12.
Daily hours to register are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Town Clerk’s Office.
