ORANGE — Voters at Monday’s town meeting adopted a $19.2 million budget for the next fiscal year, though it first appeared as though there wouldn’t be a quorum to get the meeting off the starting blocks.
At least 75 people must be present to hold a town meeting and Moderator Christopher Woodcock called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m., declaring enough voters had finally trickled into the Kermit W. Cook Auditorium at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. The meeting was scheduled to start at 7.
Sanitation Superintendent Priscilla Curtis stood up to say that, under the proposed budget, she was to make less per hour than a new highway foreman and she tried to offer an amendment to increase the public works superintendent salary line item, which includes her pay. A Warwick resident, she was seated in the section designated for non-voters and Woodcock would not let her propose the amendment. Curtis then got Tax Collector Jeri Deyo, who is an Orange resident, to read her prepared motion, which voters rejected.
Curtis told The Recorder the adopted $19,247,402 budget includes raise for her, from $44,578 to $45,246.
Resident Kim Marshall asked why the town accountant salary increased from $53,681 for the current fiscal year to $65,000. Selectman Richard Sheridan, sitting on a stage in the front of the auditorium with other town officials, explained the town has a new accountant and the $65,000 is contract-negotiated based on her qualifications.
Education spending is going up $383,799 due mostly to an increase in special education costs.
The $51,172 increase in police salaries and wages is a 3.5 percent hike included as part of a collective bargaining agreement now in its third year. Police Chief Craig Lundgren’s salary will increase from $87,712 to $93,264.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli