BY MATT HERSH
After a four-hour deliberative session, Salem’s town warrant article list looks exactly the same.
Despite several proposed amendments to various articles by resident Robert Campbell, a room of more than 70 residents voted to leave each article untouched.
Campbell first took objection to a $3.8 million article to repair four of the town’s bridges and conduct hydrology studies in their areas.
When the article was first brought before the budget committee last month, some officials questioned the necessity of the studies and expressed concern that they would be conducted and never put to practical use.
Selectmen defended the $800,000 for studies, citing the necessity to understand flooding issues in the various areas.
“We cannot rebuild these bridges without knowing the effect on the community,” said Selectmen Chairman Michael Lyons at the session. “I don’t want to do one without the other.”
Lyons said performing large bridge repairs without considering how they might affect flooding would be irresponsible, especially in light of the severe flooding that hit Salem last May.
Still, Campbell and other financially conservative residents pushed to have the studies cut from the warrant.
“Salem has a history of doing studies and putting them on the shelf and forgetting about them,” said Stephen Campbell, another resident, who is unrelated to Robert Campbell.
Others spoke out in opposition to the amendment.
“We’ve had so many problems in this town with water,” said Bob Metcalf. “I’m glad someone is taking the bull by the horns.”
Most agreed with Metcalf. The amendment failed by a 53-14 vote.
While most of the town’s other articles received little or no discussion, Robert Campbell and others expressed concern over a pay increase for the town’s head managers.
The 3 percent pay increases and an extra $9,000 to be divided among the town’s department heads serves two purposes, according to Town Manager Henry LaBranche.
Under the new agreement, six managers, including the police and fire chiefs, will leave a 24-member union, LaBranche said.
The $9,000 was set aside to fix a situation where the town’s top managers are making less than their subordinates. Currently, Police Chief Paul Donovan makes less than three officers directly below him, LaBranche said.
LaBranche said this imbalance was the result of planning errors made by past officials.
Stephen Campbell thought the raises were unacceptable and the negotiations weren’t rigorous enough.
“This is once again that the taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill because we didn’t want to have tough negotiations,” he said.
However, those in opposition to the raises were not able to gain enough support and the warrant remains untouched.
The rest of Salem’s voters will have their chance to decide on these issues when they vote on Tuesday, March 13.