AUBURN – Only after an inquiry by Ward 5 City Councilor Ray Berube did the City Council learn last year that a consulting fee of $45,000 for 60 days of work was being paid to former Superintendent Barbara Eretzian, one councilor said Thursday.

“We didn’t like it. But there was nothing we could do about it,” at-large Councilor Bob Mennealy said Thursday. “We thought it was excessive at the time. Unfortunately, we can only approve the budget as a whole. We can’t take out individual line items.”

On Thursday, Berube and other councilors called the consulting fee “ridiculous. And it was not something that was done out in the open as (School Committee Chairman) David Das has said,” Berube said. “I do not remember at any time, as the mayor’s representative, this issue ever being brought up. It was never brought up that she would remain as consultant and at what fee she would be working at.”

Last year, then-Superintendent Eretzian announced she was retiring. The School Department announced Assistant Superintendent Tom Morrill would become interim superintendent, and Eretzian would be available as a consultant on a temporary basis.

In December, the School Committee made Morrill superintendent. When asked at that time about Eretzian’s role and pay, Business Manager Jude Cyr said Eretzian was being paid $45,000 for up to 60 days.

On Wednesday, Das produced documents that he said illustrated Eretzian’s consulting position was discussed in the open. (To see the documents, go to www.sunjournal.com.)

At the Wednesday night meeting, Das and two school board members had defended Eretzian’s fee. Ward 2 School Committee member Bonnie Hayes said taxpayers were getting a good deal for the $45,000 because of Eretzian’s experience. Das said paying her $45,000 actually was saving money, because it was $55,000 to $65,000 less than filling the assistant superintendent’s job.

City councilors stressed Thursday that they’re looking for no property tax increase this year for Auburn residents, and no increase in the school budget.

If the state cuts education money to Auburn by a half-million dollars, “(The schools will) have to cut a half a million,” Ward 4 Councilor Bruce Bickford said. “We’re not going to give them any more money from taxpayers.”

Berube complained that the School Committee isn’t listening to calls to cut administration.

“The governor did not mandate consolidation for nothing,” Berube said. Gov. John Baldacci cut funding for administration and special education, he said, “and there is a reason for that. But the Auburn School Committee is not listening. They cannot see the reason why the governor has passed these cuts, that school boards have to start living within their means.”

Several councilors Thursday praised Eretzian’s knowledge and said they understood the need for help during the transition year. But the amount was too high, the days too few, they said.

Mennealy said he expected that after this year, the School Department would not need to continue paying $45,000 for a consultant. He called the fee “excessive,” but said he understood the need for help during Morrill’s first year as superintendent. The fact there is no assistant superintendent “makes it less objectionable,” Mennealy said.

Ward 2 City Councilor Bob Hayes, the husband of School Committee member Bonnie Hayes, declined to comment Thursday, saying it’s best if all that’s reported is what is discussed during meetings. “I have no comment outside the council chambers.”

Ward 3 Councilor Dan Herrick said Das was correct that Eretzian’s pay was publicly discussed. “But it was never brought up that we were going to pay her $45,000 for 60 days.” If that was known last year, “There’d be a public outcry,” Herrick said. He said he didn’t approve of that much money for a consulting fee. “Absolutely not.”

Herrick hopes the fee won’t be in the upcoming budget, and said he wants to see cuts in administration. “Administration is not education.”

Bickford said he was surprised when he found out about the $45,000 for 60 days two weeks ago. He didn’t know the amount or number of days previously, he said. “They were very vague last year.” He understood the need to have a consultant in the first year, he said, “but the dollars and days are pretty excessive. If you start getting over $300 a day, it’s just ridiculous.”

Bickford said he asked school officials about a “sundry account” last year, and was told it was used for contract negotiations. “The rumor was they were paying her more than $45,000.” He asked Das and Morrill if that were true. They said it wasn’t, that the amount was less, but they did not say what it was, Bickford said.

At-large Councilor Ron Potvin, who this year serves as the mayor’s representative on the School Committee, said he’s hearing complaints from residents.

When the fee is broken down by the hour or day, it’s “ugly,” he said. However, “I’m not losing sleep over it.” Potvin said he’s explaining to taxpayers that Eretzian has much experience, has a great work ethic, and is giving the School Department more than 60 days.

“I think she’s pretty awesome,” Potvin said. “Nobody else would give you that kind of quality.” But Eretzian is limited in how much help she can provide, Potvin said.

He plans to propose that an existing assistant principal become a part-time assistant superintendent. That, he said, would provide help to Morrill without adding administrators.