Monday, February 13, 2012

By Steve Myrick
Published: February 26, 2009

Oak Bluffs town administrator Michael Dutton cautioned selectmen that after extensive work to identify budget cuts, the town remains approximately $550,000 short of a balanced budget for fiscal year 2010, which begins on July 1. "When you're this close to the bone, that's going to be very difficult to find," Mr. Dutton said at the selectmen's meeting last Wednesday.

The $24.5 million draft budget, though it is far from a final spending plan, represents a 1.7-percent increase over the current fiscal year. Nearly every department has cut expenses to partially offset fixed costs such as health benefits, and assessments from schools and regional agencies.

Among several ideas floated to help balance the budget, Mr. Dutton raised the possibility of wage concessions from town employees. Nearly all are slated to receive three percent salary increases next year.

"The things we have control over, we've reduced to almost nothing," said Mr. Dutton in a phone conversation with The Martha's Vineyard Times on Friday. "The personnel board and the board of selectmen are committed to trying to incorporate the increases that were negotiated. If it turns out to be impossible to do that, then my recommendation would be to go back and propose something different. We would try to do that across the board. I don't think it's fair to single out any one group."

Wage concessions would be a complicated endeavor, both in practical and political terms. The town's union employees, including police and teachers, work under negotiated contracts. Those employees are under no obligation to re-open those contracts. The town has more control over the salaries of about 60 non-union employees, but reducing or eliminating raises for them risks the appearance of unfairness to one group. The town's salary structure is guided by a new compensation plan approved by town meeting voters earlier this year.

Several other ideas were floated to help balance the budget, though they are far short of formal proposals at this point. Among them is elimination of trash pick-up. Mr. Dutton said the sale of trash stickers at $4.50 per barrel of trash, falls about $120,000 short of the actual cost to the town for picking up trash. Also raised was the possibility of eliminating wastewater fees for town buildings.

Current cuts

Mr. Dutton outlined a total of $307,890 in "turn backs" of appropriations budgeted for the current fiscal year. The turn backs represent cuts in services, materials, and salaries identified by department heads to balance a projected shortfall in town revenues.

Among the larger items in the list of turn backs is $25,000 savings in the selectmen's professional and technical line item, mostly legal expenses.

The highway department has rearranged its schedule of paving projects in order to return $50,000, and also expects to return $15,000 previously budgeted for fuel. The ambulance service is slated to return $40,000 already appropriated for salaries and overtime. Mr. Dutton said he asked all department heads for turn backs, including Oak Bluffs school officials. "Principal Laury Binney has run up against some unforeseen issues," said Mr. Dutton. "He was not projecting any turn backs."

In a phone conversation with The Martha's Vineyard Times on Friday, Mr. Binney said there have been several pregnancies, long-term illnesses, and a leave of absence among school employees this year. In those cases, the school hired long-term substitutes to fill in. "That's stuff you don't budget for," said Mr. Binney. "Historically, we rarely have a residual that's sizable enough to make a difference. Over the years, we spend pretty much every penny we have because we cut it to the bone. Most of that is labor-related. Because of that, we spend efficiently, but we don't end up with a surplus. I know other departments are different. Something about teaching, human labor, just soaks that up with a sponge."

Mr. Dutton also reported an increase in projected revenue from taxi and bus staging rentals, as well as parking lot revenue, totaling $45,000. Though projections of both revenue and expenditures remain fluid, the combination of turn backs and increased revenue is projected to leave the town with a surplus of $7,463 for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

An architect's drawing depicts the planned new Steamship Authority terminal in Oak Bluffs.
Illustration courtesy of the Steamship Authority

Terminal changes

In other action at Wednesday's meeting, Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson outlined some changes in Phase III of the terminal renovation project that will enlarge the terminal area, and provide more curb space for passengers transferring to and from the ferries.

Mr. Lamson said the goal of the original design was to fit into the same footprint as the current building. The modification would extend the building out about ten feet, and extend the curb in front of the building another 15 feet into the current staging lanes. Mr. Lamson said the larger building would provide adequate space for employees, for passengers buying tickets, and allow room for disabled access to the terminal and bathrooms.

"We're actually gaining some room in front of the terminal building," said Mr. Lamson. "Although it's taken many turns along the way, I think we'll have a beautiful terminal when it's done in 2010."

He displayed design sketches of the new terminal, which features a cupola, intended to reflect the historic style of previous terminal buildings dating back to the 19th century.

Mr. Lamson said Phase II of the project, currently under way, involving expansion of the pier and construction of new passenger loading platforms, is on schedule. He said the work would be completed before the spring opening of the Oak Bluffs terminal on May 19.

Ballot questions

Town meeting moderator David Richardson asked the board to endorse a non-binding referendum question on the next town election ballot. The question would ask voters whether they want to use more secret ballots, often referred to as Australian ballots, at town meetings. "Some people are reluctant to oppose powerful people or powerful institutions," said Mr. Richardson. "I believe some people do not attend town meetings because of the way we vote. That disturbs me."

Selectmen Roger Wey and Kerry Scott spoke in support of the non-binding ballot question, and generally in support of secret ballots for controversial issues. "There's nothing wrong with getting input from the public," said Mr. Wey.

Selectman Duncan Ross, who is a former town meeting moderator, and selectman Greg Coogan opposed the idea of secret ballots.

"I disagree completely," said Mr. Coogan, noting that under current rules, a majority of town meeting voters can request a secret ballot on any town meeting question. "It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to put it on the ballot, because what you're going to have is people who don't come to town meeting, or won't come to town meeting, deciding how town meeting is run."

The exchange got a bit testy when Mr. Richardson rebutted several points made by opponents of the ballot question.

"I feel as though I was just scolded," said Mr. Coogan. "You have the right to call an Australian ballot any time you want," he told Mr. Richardson. "If you feel you haven't called them enough, just do it."