William Lantigua, due to be sworn in this evening as mayor of Lawrence, is correct to express outrage about sick-leave buyback in general, and specifically about the deal with the city's former budget and finance director, Mark Andrews.
One of his goals as mayor should be to see if he can maintain that outrage when it comes to his own administration.
Andrews, who was asked to resign from Northern Essex Community College in June 2007 after two charges of drunk driving in 15 months, was hired by outgoing Mayor Michael Sullivan at the end of October 2007, with a contract provision that he could carry over sick time both from his NECC job and his previous state jobs, beginning in 1981.
Andrews, who just became town administrator in Wareham, is seeking more than $21,000 in payment for unused sick time.
He is not unique, of course. As Sullivan notes, that provision has been granted to other employees. The total being demanded in sick time, longevity and unused vacation by outgoing members of his administration who are leaving or retiring is $700,000.
That is indeed an outrage, especially with the city looking at a $17 million deficit.
But it would be foolish, and expensive, to try to contest legally binding contracts. Lantigua should channel that outrage into reform. If he can eliminate such gouging of the taxpayers during his tenure, that will be a legacy of which he can be justifiably proud.
