Hopkinton News : voting

Hopkinton residents vote down town employee pay raises

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:28:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

It isn’t uncommon to see employees state their case for a pay raise, but it’s rare for workers to stand up and say they just don’t need one.

That’s what happened at Hopkinton’s annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 14, as Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Steve Clough stood at the microphone to address residents while speaking on behalf of town employees.

“We haven’t questioned your judgment in the past, and we won’t question it now,” said Clough. “We don’t want to cut services further to deal with (raises) if you don’t want them.”

Selectmen decided in the week leading up to the meeting to lower their suggested budget by approximately $80,000 to reach the Budget Committee’s recommended figure.

However, board members wanted to leave in the budget a 3 percent cost of living increase, and said they would make up the difference by making cuts in other areas.

Clough told the crowd at the meeting that the town employees had not asked for the raise, and they would accept the decision if residents decided against it in order to leave the money in other departments.

Marion Paxton suggested an amendment to restrict selectmen from giving raises from the budget, an amendment that was passed by voters.

Overall, the operating budget of $5.43 million passed following the amendment, which will result in a decrease of 13 cents per $1,000 on the town portion of the tax rate.

Residents also approved an amendment to put an additional $12,000 in the budget for the town’s summer camp, which sent mixed messages according to Patricia Finnerty.

“I am having a hard time thinking that people just voted $80,000 out that would fund people who work in this town, keep this town safe, and we are talking about putting money in for people to play,” said Finnerty. “I just don’t get it.”

The longest debate of the meeting came over the pay as you throw program, also known as “SMART.”

Many residents felt that the program would benefit the environment and also help save the town money, but others did not believe it was in the best interest of the town.

Town officials had to count ballots twice before deciding that it had been defeated by a 215-212 vote.

Every article other than the SMART program was passed during the meeting, including approval of the sale of Columbia Hall.

Teacher, support staff contract voted down in Hopkinton

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton residents voted down raises for the district’s educators and support staff before approving a budget lowered by the School Board during the annual School District Meeting.

After seeing voters deny two collective bargaining agreements that would have resulted in a total of about $330,000 in increases, board members decided to back the Budget Committee’s proposed operating budget during the Saturday, March 7, meeting.

Despite a motion to trim the budget even more, residents approved the Budget Committee and School Board’s recommendation of about $15.6 million by a 371-106 vote.

In total, the meeting lasted about five hours, with the majority of the discussion centering on the teacher and support staff contracts.

Resident Ian Tewksbury said during the debate that he does not believe voting down the contracts was in the school’s best interest.

“If we don’t support this contract, I won’t be surprised if we lose some teachers. There’s nothing to stop them from going to other districts if we do,” said Tewksbury.

“I’m very disappointed in the Budget Committee.”

Alan Bloomquist was against the articles because of the current level of pay for educators and the state of the economy.

“I just think this is the time to say, ‘Hey, if you’re a teacher, be happy you’re employed because your neighbors are losing their jobs,’” Bloomquist said. “Let’s just try to take a breather here.”

School Board Chairman David Luneau told residents that the contract was a key part in continuing the highquality education that Hopkinton provides.

“As we pay our teachers, we’re investing in our teachers,” said Luneau. “We need the contract to attract the best teachers to Hopkinton, and also to keep them here.”

Voters did approve a new contract for the custodial staff that will result in a 1.94 percent increase in salary and benefits during a five-year contract.

Hopkinton educators are currently paid at an above-average rate, board members said during the meeting, with 59 percent making more than $60,000 and 19 percent coming in above $70,000.

When it came time to discuss the operating budget, Luneau said the board was willing to support the Budget Committee’s suggested increase of $98,691, an increase of less than 1 percent over last year’s figure.

“We have seen today that voters are not in favor of increase, so we are willing to move ahead with the Budget Committee’s figure,” said Luneau.

SB-2 to appear on Hopkinton school district ballot

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:44:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

When Hopkinton voters go to the polls on March 10, they can expect to see a warrant article asking voters to adopt official ballot law, or SB-2, in the school district.

Arnold Coda, along with three other residents – Diane LaChance, Beth Bloomquist and Beth Taylor – collected 112 signatures in four days. Only 25 were needed for it to be placed on the ballot.

“I think that’s an indication of the dissatisfaction of the people here in town,” said Coda. “In the minds of a lot of people in this town, the School Board and administration do not listen to the townspeople. The townspeople feel shut off. The older people are not going to School District Meetings because they feel it’s useless.”

Coda feels costs within the school district are out of control, as the Budget Committee’s proposed budget on this year’s town warrant is $15,620,642, an increase of $98,691 over the current year’s budget.

“People are saying they’re not getting any explanations from the School Board or administration about why the cost is going up this year,” said Coda.

Hopkinton School Board Chairman David Luneau said the district is in the middle third of districts throughout the state in per pupil spending.

“We’re not speaking out against education, we’re speaking out against the cost of it,” said Coda.

“I do not support SB-2 because it takes away from the meeting where the voters deliberate and come to a decision,” said Luneau. “One of the problems I see with SB-2 is rather than a district meeting, you have a deliberative session a month before the vote, and very very few people show up. These deliberative sessions determine what is on the ballot.”

“No system is perfect,” said Coda. “The School District Meeting is not perfect. SB-2 is not perfect.” The School Board plans to discuss the article at its March 3 meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Maple Street School and will make a recommendation for or against the article then.

This article requires a threefifths ballot vote.

Voting day is Tuesday, March 10, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hopkinton High School.

The School District Meeting is Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m., at Hopkinton High School.