Selectboard OKs merit pay raises

Saturday, September 19, 2009
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com

SOUTH HADLEY - Town Hall and other municipal employees who recently formed a union will soon get raises of 1.5 percent, 3.25 percent or 6 percent depending on job performance.

Most of the employees will receive the 1.5 percent increase, and only department heads were found worthy of the 6 percent raise, a point criticized by one member of the Selectboard.

Youth services librarian Marguerite A. Clancy, a leader in the workers' years-long fight to form a union under the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said the lowest raises are still below increases in the cost of living. "We are losing money working for the town," Clancy said.

The Selectboard recently approved the increases by a 3-2 vote after considerable discussion. Selectboard member John R. Hine made the motion to award the raises, which was seconded by Selectboard member Marilyn G. Ishler and supported by Selectboard Chairman Gregory R. Sheehan. Selectmen Robert G. Judge and Carlene C. Hamlin voted against the increases.

The system of raises based on job performance allows for raises of 1.5 percent for the 35 employees meeting expectations, 3.25 percent for the 28 employees sometimes exceeding expectations and 6 percent for the six employees often exceeding expectations. The raises, which are retroactive to July 1, will be funded from $80,000 approved for that purpose by Town Meeting.

Hine said the new system of awarding raises at a much a much higher spread than in recent years is an improvement. Last year, the town gave out raises of 3 percent, 3.5 percent and 4 percent annually depending on merit after several years of giving out raises less than those received by the town's unionized employees.

"I think we are better off than we were before," Hine said.

Sheehan said he likes the system allowing for a greater spread between employees just meeting expectations and those exceeding them.

Hamlin criticized the evaluations that showed only department heads often exceeding expectations.