Selectmen Approve Alternative Budget Cuts

Foxborough's Board of Selectmen opened their May 4 meeting by thanking former selectmen Paul Mortenson for his time, hard work and service to the town. 

"He did a fantastic job," said Lynda Walsh, Chairman of the board.

Walsh then turned her attention to newly elected selectmen Mark Sullivan. 

"I would like to welcome back [Mark] Sullivan to the board," Walsh said.

Applause broke out from the audience in honor of Sullivan rejoining the board.

After the pledge of allegiance was recited, Town Manager, Kevin Paicos, acknowledged the recent news of Osama bin Laden's death by saying, "It feels good to say the pledge of allegiance right now."

Paicos quickly turned his attention to the pressing issue of the evening - the "alternative" budget.

Selectmen indicted to Paicos at the last selectmen meeting that is was unacceptable to cut shuttle service for the seniors.

Paicos went back to the drawing board and with the help of William Scollins, town Finance director, proposed another alternative budget to selectmen - the budget that will be voted on assuming the meals tax budget does not pass.

Paicos proposed $15,000 in overtime cuts in police and $15,000 in overtime cuts to the fire department.

Overtime cuts in police and fire is something that Paicos has been looking into and plans to delve into more this upcoming summer.

"I have already looked at ways to cut this by examining several personal - looking at injured leave and if those folks can be rehabbed or should retire," said Paicos. "Another thing we have already done is replaced vacancies - I have appointed three new police officers."

Selectmen were also determined to make a soft landing in regards to library cuts.  Paicos told selectmen that he left the cuts up to the library board's discretion. The library board submitted a new cut list to the town which included reduction in 3 pieces --part-time personal, hours reductions, cutting expensive accounts and capital outlay.

"This achieves not hitting the library so hard," said Paicos.

Selectmen James DeVellis called the revised alternative budget "wonderful news" but was concerned that all of the hard work that went into the budget would disappear if the meals tax passed.

Paicos disagreed saying, "[no matter what] this summer I will be doing a massive detailed look at police and fire overtime."

Sullivan was confident that the alternative budget is going to be the one that "sticks."

"My feeling is the meals tax will not pass," said Sullivan.

Selectmen motioned to accept the alternative version of the budget 4-0 - including the revision of library cuts and police and fire overtime.