SUNDERLAND — Taxpayers voted unanimously at town meeting to adopt an amended budget that carries a $123,886 increase from the current year.

Voters at Sunderland Elementary School on Friday OK’d a $7,228,146 budget, with notable adjusted figures in the Police Department and town library categories following lengthy discussions.

Residents adopted a $420,228 police budget that includes a $7,000 salary increase for police chief that was approved via amendment. They also agreed to a $2,649 increase among the Sunderland Public Library’s support staff members in FY2017 and a $923 cost-of-living increase for Director Katherine Hand.

Sunderland Finance Committee member Bruce Bennett explained the suggested extra $2,000 bump would bring the chief salary to $72,000 for FY2017. It is currently $65,000. Sunderland needs to replaced the retired Chief Jeffrey Gilbert and Bennett explained a $72,000 salary is much more competitive.

A nine-member police chief search committee vetted a pool of candidates and recommended three to the Board of Selectmen for more consideration.

Selectmen’s Chairman Scott Bergeron said he applauds the Finance Committee and its members, but felt an increase from $65,000 to a selectmen-recommended $70,000 was adequate.

Laurie Salame, who said she was a member of the search committee, encouraged the crowd to vote for the amended figures, as many good candidates dropped out when they learned about the salary. She called it a minor increase. Mike Wozniakewicz, who said he was also on the search committee, said Sunderland is the fifth-largest town in Franklin County and pays the lowest salary for a full-time police chief.

The Fire Department budget is down $42,366. Town Administrator Sherry Patch has previously said this is the result of a drop in Sunderland’s assessment for South County Emergency Medical Services. The budget is $274,764. Patch said Deerfield, the fiscal agent for the regional ambulance service, used some retained earnings to lower Sunderland’s assessment. The ambulance services Sunderland, Deerfield and Whately.

In other items, there was an increase of $5,260 under the “Elections & Registrar” category.

The meeting was still underway at press time.

You can reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261,
ext. 257. On Twitter, @DomenicPoli