Woodstock CT Café

The Norwich Bull has an extensive article on the pros and cons of having a Resident State Trooper.

After reading the front page article of the “Pillager� on Friday regarding the most recent negotiating session between the BOE and the Academy BOT, I couldn’t help but think back to my previous posts on this subject in the Cafe. That is, that the BOT has been negotiating in bad faith for months now with respect to a new contract with the BOE. It is crystal clear to me now that the BOT has no intention of negotiating a contract anytime soon with this BOE as it is presently constituted. They seem to be willing to stall, knowing that the court of public opinion is largely in their corner (for God knows whatever reason!) It is now clear that they are banking on the fact that no new contract between now and the November election continues to fuel the bad will multi media campaign that they have been relentlessly perpetrating against the BOE over the past few years, all with an eye towards populating a new BOE with one that is more willing to capitulate to their will.

Why else would they decide after months of negotiating to pull out a proposal at the 11th hour for a “trialâ€? three year period where capital expenditures will be allowed to grow by as much as 15% per year when the largest capex investment has never exceeded 13%, and that the increase over the past five years or so has approximated no more than 6%? Also, bear in mind that these percentages are calculated against an ever growing allocation, so that the real dollars continue to soar. Read the rest of this entry »

It gets worse.

I was appalled when I turned the page on this years 2007-2008 Town operating budget. I decided to look at our First Selectman’s salary after reading Dave Babbitt’s (First Selectman of the Town of Thompson) complaint in this week’s Shoppers Guide (see “JL on First Selectman’s Salaries” at the right).

I was already aware of the fact that Ms. Wholean had given herself an 8.92% raise – an even $4500, not $4496 or $4503. I’ve been continuously employed since 1966 and the raises that I received were usually a rounded percentage like 3% or 4% or maybe 2.5% (in tough years) except when I took new positions or jobs at higher levels with increasing responsibilities.

In government there can be no question that an 8.92% raise is out of order. The notion that higher pay attracts more qualified, altruistic candidates to run for office is a foolish thought given who’s available to run for office in Woodstock.

If one turns the page from the Board of Selectmen’s budget, one finds that the new Tax Assessor’s salary underwent a 9.52% decrease presumably because he was considered ‘entry level’. Does this mean that if there is extra cash because of this it should be destributed to the others?

On the next page, one finds that the Tax Collector recieved a 9.88% raise – another $4500 even. On the next page one finds that the Town Treasurer received a 9.88% raise – another $4500 even – and a new assistant was hired at $39,530. On the next page one finds that the Town Clerk received a 9.88% raise – another $4500 even. The new Town Planner’s salary was bumped from $47,866 to $56,909 in the 2006-2007 budget – a $9053 raise which amounts to a 19% raise even though this was this individual’s first job out of college (isn’t this “entry level”). This year she did not receive a raise and her salary was reduced marginally by $749. All union staff appear to have received a 4% raise. Read the rest of this entry »