MassVoter.com← Whitman Select BoardWhitman Select Board · 2019–2020 Board · Regular meeting
May 26, 2020
6 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Carl F. Kowalski, Daniel L. Salvucci, Brian J. Bezanson, Randolph G. LaMattina, Justin R. Evans
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Approve bill and payroll warrants
To approve bill and payroll warrants
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to approve bill and payroll warrants. Second Mr. Bezanson. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - yes; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. Lamattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Bezanson)
Accept correspondence in the Read File
To accept correspondence in the Read File
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to accept correspondence in the Read File. Second Mr. Bezanson. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - yes; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. Lamattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Bezanson)
Approve the request of Chief Hanlon for a line item transfer in the amount of $4,645.20 from line item #121 Part Time Records Clerk to line item #120 Clerical
To approve the request of Chief Hanlon for a line item transfer in the amount of $4,645.20 from line item #121 Part Time Records Clerk to line item #120 Clerical
From the minutes
“Mr. Salvucci MOVED to approve the request of Chief Hanlon for a line item transfer in the amount of $4,645.20 from line item #121 Part Time Records Clerk to line item #120 Clerical. Second Mr. Bezanson. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - yes; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. Lamattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Bezanson)
Appropriate $105,000 from Free Cash to fund the cost of living increases to be negotiated with union and nonunion personnel for FY21, subject to the approval of Town Meeting
To appropriate $105,000 from Free Cash to fund the cost of living increases to be negotiated with union and nonunion personnel for FY21, subject to the approval of Town Meeting
From the minutes
“Mr. LaMattina MOVED to appropriate $105,000 from Free Cash to fund the cost of living increases to be negotiated with union and nonunion personnel for FY21, subject to the approval of Town Meeting. Second Mr. Salvucci. Mr. Salvucci asked Mr. Lynam if the increase in the budget is $165,000 with COLA's and if the increase to our share of the school budget is $758,000 with the hiring of 4 teachers. Mr. Lynam confirmed this. Mr. Salvucci then asked why the school superintendent does not go back to the drawing board to find an additional $200,000 in order to reduce our increase to $558,000. He went on to say that the Hanson Board of Selectmen voted on Friday to go for an $800,000 override. Chairman Kowalski stated that he thought the increase was less than $758,000. Mr. Lynam stated that our share of the school budget is $15,367,392 and our assessment is roughly $207,000 more than Hanson's share if we agree to a 50/50 split with respect to the increase in Hanson's assessment. Mr. Salvucci asked why the taxpayers of Whitman would pay 50 percent of Hanson's increase if Hanson is going for an override. Mr. Lynam explained that the Town of Hanson would have to seek an override for any amount of its assessment. Mr. Salvucci said that he feels Hanson should go for the full amount in order to get their situation straightened out this year. If not, he feels that if the superintendent was able to take funds out of E&D and circuit breakers, he should be able to take an additional $200,000 from somewhere else in the school budget. Mr. Lynam advised Mr. Salvucci that the superintendent committed funds that he took from the E&D account, money he saved on transportation and from other services. Mr. Evans noted that the superintendent cannot use one- time money for everything. Chairman Kowalski noted the numbers were sent to us for our consideration. Mr. LaMattina stated that Hanson has to go for an override anyway. We were clear that we could not exceed $15.5 million for the schools; and Hanson has pushed the region into a 1/12th budget. He then commended the superintendent for coming up with the funds, which was done more for the benefit of Hanson. Mr. Evans then advised Mr. Salvucci that the schools will go to a 1/12th budget until at least July 20, 2020, which is when the Hanson Town Meeting will take place. If we force the issue, the schools will go to a 1/12th budget until at least December. Mr. Salvucci asked what will happen if Hanson's request for an override does not pass. Chairman Kowalski told Mr. Salvucci that if the Hanson override fails, it is not our business. Mr. LaMattina stated that $15,156 million is the cost using the statutory method under the agreement and we are offering to pay the extra $211,000. If we continued to use the previous method, our payment would be more than $16 million. For us to see a savings, the region would have to come up with and additional $500,000. With respect to offering COLA's to employees, Mr. Bezanson feels that although our employees deserve recognition and respect for working through the pandemic, many of our citizens have been out of work. He does not believe that in this crisis anyone should be getting an increase in salary. Mr. Lynam reminded Mr. Bezanson that a one-year agreement was entered into with one union. If we treat the other unions the same, we will be starting a new three-year contract next year on the right foot. Recently, the cost of living has risen dramatically and there is some merit to treating everyone unilaterally. Mr. Evans asked if COLA's can be given without a contract. Mr. Lynam explained that the funds can be set aside and then we can enter into agreements with the unions. Chairman Kowalski asked if the approximate cost is $165,000. Mr. Lynam said yes, and $59,000 of that is for the fire union. Chairman Kowalski then noted that the money can be taken from Free Cash which results in no increase in taxes. Mr. Lynam noted that the teachers union and Hanson employees are receiving salary increases and he feels everyone should be treated equally. Mr. Salvucci asked if there is enough money in Free Cash or if a capital project will have to be put on hold because of this. Mr. Lynam advised Mr. Salvucci that there is more than $1 million in Free Cash. Chairman Kowalski stated that COLA's being offered to our employees is linked to accepting the superintendent's agreement with a full statutory method and a 50/50 split, and moving forward with a full statutory method beginning next year. It also saves 40 school positions and adds 4 teachers. He then reminded the Board that when the town was surveyed last year, education was high on the list of priorities. Chairman Kowalski then asked for a vote in connection with the motion on the floor. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - yes; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. Lamattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: LaMattina, second: Salvucci)
Amend line #175 of Article 2 (WHRSD Operating Expense) from $15,156,235 to $15,367,392
To amend line #175 of Article 2 (WHRSD Operating Expense) from $15,156,235 to $15,367,392
Yes: Evans, Kowalski, LaMattinaNo: Bezanson, Salvucci
From the minutes
“Mr. Evans MOVED to amend line #175 of Article 2 (WHRSD Operating Expense) from $15,156,235 to $15,367,392. Second Mr. LaMattina. Mr. Lynam noted that if Hanson does not vote their assessment, all bets are off. Mr. LaMattina stated that if the override does not pass in Hanson and this budget gets rejected, we will then be paying what we paid last year. Mr. Bezanson stated that the Finance Committee is opposed to the 50/50 split and a lot of comments and threats were made at the committee's last meeting. He does agree with their philosophy of our finances and because of that, this has become a personal conflict for him. Chairman Kowalski reminded Mr. Bezanson that we have been subsidizing Hanson for many years without knowing it; and he is not bothered by giving Hanson a boost one last time. Mr. Evans feels that the loss of 40 positions at the schools is a lot. Mr. Lamattina stated that he has been in the trenches of this for a while. We do have a financial responsibility to do this one last time in order to keep the children from suffering. He went on to say that a comment made at the Finance Committee meeting was a clear and obvious campaign statement. He went on to say that there were missteps along the way but he does not think this was an orchestrated event to keep the schools underfunded. The problem lies with the previous school administration and to call some people terrorists was a clear campaign statement. Two members of the Board of Selectmen and members of the School Committee are trying to do right by the children. Chairman Kowalski called for a vote in connection with the motion on the floor. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - no; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. Lamattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - no; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 3-2..” (Motion: Evans, second: LaMattina)
Adjourn the meeting
To adjourn the meeting
From the minutes
“At 8:14 p.m. Mr. Salvucci MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Second Mr. Bezanson. Roll call vote: Mr. Bezanson - yes; Mr. Evans - yes; Mr. LaMattina - yes; Mr. Salvucci - yes; and Chairman Kowalski - yes. So voted 5-0..” (Motion: Salvucci, second: Bezanson)
From the Whitman Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: stills from WHCA-TV’s candidate interviews (Daniel Salvucci 2024; Justin Evans and Shawn Kain 2025; Dawn Byers and Christina Gorman 2026). Former members show initials.
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