RUMFORD — At Thursday night's meeting, selectmen discussed at length ways to cut 10 percent from the current budget, including eliminating unnecessary overtime, freezing spending or downsizing through layoffs.
Terry Karkos/Sun Journal
Rumford Selectman Mark Belanger, left, listens at Monday night's board meeting to Selectman Greg Buccina stress the need to take action now to achieve the board's goal of reducing the existing budget by 10 percent or $300,000 by eliminating unnecessary overtime and manipulating work schedules of all town employees.
But after about 40 minutes — and much to the chagrin of Selectman Greg Buccina, who repeatedly urged the board to take action — the other board members simply moved on to the next agenda item.
That item was to consider hiring an efficiency consultant to help reduce costs.
That was approved 4-1 with Buccina dissenting, but not without raised voices and an accusation that it undermines Town Manager Carlo Puiia's work.
The discussion started after Puiia told the board the town could save about $17,000 by having town employees in the municipal office, library, Parks and Public Works departments each take five furlough days.
He said that would be the equivalent of every employee giving up a week's pay.
"It's a start . . . a good faith effort," Puiia said.
Selectmen took no action on it.
Discussion moved on to achieving the board's earlier goal of cutting 10 percent or $300,000 from the town's current fiscal budget, which ends in June.
Puiia said he had worked at length with department heads to find savings from the already "bare-bones" budget, but couldn't come up with anything close to saving that much money. He then sought direction from the board about possibly eliminating jobs, as wages represent the largest percentage of the budget.
Fire Chief Robert Chase said his department had already consumed 47 percent of its budget in nearly six months and believes having to cut 67 percent now "would be unrealistic and unsustainable."
"If it comes to reducing staff, it may come to that and people will have to understand that," Selectman Robert Cameron said.
Buccina suggested cutting unnecessary overtime instead.
Selectman Mark Belanger said the board shouldn't handcuff Puiia.
"Not that I want to lay anyone off, but we've got to get lean," Belanger said. "Furlough days are great, but we're not going to get any big savings out of that."
Chase advised the board not to overreact, especially in the face of future school-funding re-evaluations.
"We have to make the hard decision and it's not going to be easy," Selectman Frank DiConzo said. "Mr. Puiia has suggested layoffs, and I hate to go there."
He suggested revisiting regionalization.
Cameron, who made the original goal motion in September, said he did it intending that the board would achieve it and be ready to better meet reduced expenditures in next year's budget.
Buccina said he believes it's possible to cut unnecessary overtime and manipulate shift schedules rather than laying people off and losing the current level of service.
Board Chairman Brad Adley then summed up the consensus of the board, saying everyone unanimously agreed that the situation was critical.
"If we want to attain this (10 percent goal), we've got to get aggressive with it, and it's going to hurt," Buccina said.
DiConzo then motioned to move on to the next agenda item, which was to consider hiring an efficiency consultant.
When the board did, resident Kevin Saisi accused selectmen of showing a lack of confidence in Puiia to do his job.
Cameron shot back that they weren't doing that.
"All we're asking for now is a proposal," Cameron said. "It's not to spend money."
"We have the utmost confidence in Carlo," DiConzo said.
"We're only looking for another set of eyes to assist him to do his job," he added.
Puiia said it was OK to put the proposal out to bid and the majority agreed.
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Dave, great idea. Jon
Dave, great idea.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
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TDDP/Candace ,
Either you are playing political games, or you are not paying attention. The board receives a printed report every meeting under the title "E. FINANCIAL REPORTS – Budget vs. Actual and Excise Tax". Since the report is an agenda item, they have the right to discuss any aspect of the report. Your assertion that this is not happening is, like so many other things you say, just plain wrong. I would suggest that you stop using the Fox News style of reporting the so-called "facts". If you don't know what you are talking about, it is best to not spread dis-information. I thought that you were the "head" of the community pride group. If so, your entry here is contradictory to the concept.
"I tried putting in my two cents, but after taxes, fees and deductions, there was nothing left" -kns
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At last nights meeting, Mr. Puiia was specifically asked where the town stood on accounts in achieving the goal and in staying within the voter approved budget. After much heming and hawing Mr. Puiia's response was, "It is tough to say," and "We really wont know until the end of the fiscal year." He has a great deal of difficulty with postage, printing and other scheduled expenditures which should not be a problem when figuring out if we are where we should be since we know for example we are going to have about half of the postage in the tax collectors office going out for the first billing and the second billing cycle will account for the bulk of the remainder, not rocket science, but basic accounting. Also none of this was made available to citizens present. I do not think you will find a single successfull business owner in town who does not have this running information about their business at their fingertips. To be successful you must know where your money is coming from and where it is going out at all times not just the where it went come the end of the fiscal year.
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Candice,
You stated "Unlike the solid waste board, Town of Mexico et cetera. who receive an accounting at every meeting on where each and every account stands, Puiia has nothing but excuses." which is incorrect. He provides a report just like the other entities you referenced. Just because he didn't have the analysis to a question when he was put on the spot, it doesn't mean he hasn't provided the account balances.
Please stick to the original topic, and don't twist the discussion.
"I tried putting in my two cents, but after taxes, fees and deductions, there was nothing left" -kns
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Kevin, you are wrong, the selectpersons did not have the information, they asked the town manager under J. Discussion on the Goal to Cut 10 Percent from the Current Budget. Furthermore no package is provided to citizens present and it should be. Candiceanne is correct that when you arrive at other meetings like the Solid Waste Board, you are handed a packet that includes the budget with many columns one being how much time has elapsed (percentage of fiscal year elapsed) and one with the percentage of the account that has been consumed to date. There is also an explaination on items that are not consumed in consistant incremental manner such as would be the case with postage in the tax collectors office. This accounting makes it possible for these other entities to catch problems, make adjustmants and even save taxpayer money.
I personally was thoroughly disgusted by this meeting which has become the norm. I would not have wasted my time had on responding to the article had Kevin not pushed the issue. Our town manager has known thtat the selectpersons take the furlough days very seriously, yet he was un prepared for I. Discussion on Furlough Days for Town Staff. He had a number for savings for 1 day for the town hall, the library, and parks. He had only a figure for the 1st day for public works which he said did not include all public works employees since some had already scheduled vacation. He was than asked what the total savings for the 5 days would be and after much paper flipping and attempting to figure it out on the spot since he did not prepare and calculate what he reasonably should have expected to be asked he came up with $16,000. That is WRONG. Using the numbers with the public works people on vacation, (we don't know what a full day for them is) the savings is $21,665. Mr. Puiia you were way off. How far off are you with other important calculations?
Candice Casey and Greg Buccina tried their very best to get this board to take action that would make a difference. I commend them for their efforts. I have no idea how either of them maintains their composure the way they do. The people of Rumford owe these two their support by showing up at meetings and backing them up. Ms Casey has been doing a lot of work around town and taken a lot of crap for someone who will only be here for a year. She thinks the people of Rumford are worth it. Lets show her she is right and have a full house at the next selectpersons meeting.
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Kevin, you are wrong, the selectpersons did not have the information, they asked the town manager under J. Discussion on the Goal to Cut 10 Percent from the Current Budget. Furthermore no package is provided to citizens present and it should be. Candiceanne is correct that when you arrive at other meetings like the Solid Waste Board, you are handed a packet that includes the budget with many columns one being how much time has elapsed (percentage of fiscal year elapsed) and one with the percentage of the account that has been consumed to date. There is also an explaination on items that are not consumed in consistant incremental manner such as would be the case with postage in the tax collectors office. This accounting makes it possible for these other entities to catch problems, make adjustmants and even save taxpayer money.
I personally was thoroughly disgusted by this meeting which has become the norm. I would not have wasted my time had on responding to the article had Kevin not pushed the issue. Our town manager has known thtat the selectpersons take the furlough days very seriously, yet he was un prepared for I. Discussion on Furlough Days for Town Staff. He had a number for savings for 1 day for the town hall, the library, and parks. He had only a figure for the 1st day for public works which he said did not include all public works employees since some had already scheduled vacation. He was than asked what the total savings for the 5 days would be and after much paper flipping and attempting to figure it out on the spot since he did not prepare and calculate what he reasonably should have expected to be asked he came up with $16,000. That is WRONG. Using the numbers with the public works people on vacation, (we don't know what a full day for them is) the savings is $21,665. Mr. Puiia you were way off. How far off are you with other important calculations?
Candice Casey and Greg Buccina tried their very best to get this board to take action that would make a difference. I commend them for their efforts. I have no idea how either of them maintains their composure the way they do. The people of Rumford owe these two their support by showing up at meetings and backing them up. Ms Casey has been doing a lot of work around town and taken a lot of crap for someone who will only be here for a year. She thinks the people of Rumford are worth it. Lets show her she is right and have a full house at the next selectpersons meeting.
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Lots of Monday moning quarterbacks here. Don't like the selectman? Run for the position next time.
My suggestion - merge all the local governments - Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield, Peru, Byron, Roxbury.
Eliminate small town inefficiencies.
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I believe Jeff Sterling was a good choice, but It would be interesting to know who else applied.
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Getting an outside opinion on how to trim the town's operating costs is a good idea, but I can assure you the opinion will come at a cost. And unless the savings are far greater than what will have to be spent on a consultant then the town probably shouldn't go in that direction. The financial struggles of Rumford are not unique; they are felt everywhere. And you don't see many communities rushing out to incur an additional cost of hiring outsiders while at the same time cutting back on local employees.
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Bringing in expensive outside consultants will be no help when the majority of the board and town manager have no intention of acting.
The town manager, after monthes of pressure and having every excuse shot down finally came in with a furlough plan for 5 days, not the 10 he should have, just 5. He had sort of numbers for savings for the first day for some departments, not all, never mind a total for the 1st day forget about a managing to come up with a total for the 5 days.
Unlike the solid waste board, Town of Mexico et cetera. who receive an accounting at every meeting on where each and every account stands, Puiia has nothing but excuses. The finance director sshould be at these meetings and providing the board and all citizens present documentation and a detailed report clearly showing where every account stands. For example, we are 50% into the fiscal year and have expended 49% of the payroll account of X. Evey department head should be present to answer questions on their account activity. This should be readily available for evey account and should be continuously monitored. How else can we know where we stand in terms of that 10% goal or even the approved budget?
I would like to thank Fire Chief Bob Chase for coming in on his vacation. I don't think Bob has missed a meeting. Unfortunately he did not get any further with the board last night than any other night. I feel for you Bob and appreciate your tireless efforts.
Bringing in an outside consultant will just cost taxpayers a lot of money for a high paid consultant to tell taxpayers what we already know needs to be done but can not get the town manager or selectpersons to do. Nothing will change accept there will be more red ink on the books.
I agree with D Wilson. it is time to change the people who are not acting and put in people who will do the people's business..
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Selectperson Greg Buccina and Ccitizen Candice Case valiantly fought to no avail to get the Rumford Board of Select Persons to vote on measures to move the town towards the goal of saving 10% of the budger set several monthes ago. To date no savings have been realized. Buccina pleaded with his fellow board members to take action, that time is running out.
Buccina suggested the board vote , among other measures, to operate the highway department on two shifts to reduce overtime during the winter minthes, no action.
It was suggested the town cease operating the street sweeper to cut man hours, fuel use, and maintainence on this expensive piece of equipment, no action.
Casey has citizens trained to recycle and has been fighting for recycling bins that are being used for storage and taking up space at town hall, getting these out would generate approximately $49,000 by years end, no action.
Casey recommended departments institute a cop time program to reduce or elliminate overtime especially important in the highway department during snow season, no action.
Not one single mone saving item was acted on by selectpersons. They did backscuddle on the 10% goal. Worse they voted to spend more taxpayer money on an efficiency study. What is the poin when the select persons amd town manager refuse to take any action that would save money. We the taxpayers of Rumford are paying the highest taxes in the state and also have the distinction of the highest unemployment rate at 19%. We had a record breaking mil rate increase at 22.5 this year. With these big spenders in charge I can see a tax rate of $100 per $1000 valuation next near given the reduction in state revenue sharing and school subsidy. I can not afford that, can you? We have to take our town back and that may well mean a recall ellection on these bums, certainly an out cry of citizens with phone calls to these men an vocal attendence at meetings.
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What a bunch of Bozos!! The town is facing financial shortfalls that could result in furloughs and layoffs, and these clowns want to hire a consultant who will charge an outrageous fee for the same services that any town employee with a BS in Business Administration and some common sense could provide as part of his/her job. Grow a brain, will ya?
“If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.” Winston Churchill
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