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Council passes 'no new taxes budget'

By J.J. Huggins
Staff writer
Published: June 17, 2008

METHUEN — The City Council voted unanimously last night to approve the city's $56 million budget, and Mayor William Manzi said he believes it will be "a no new taxes budget."

Manzi had previously planned to give the Fire Department about $336,000 less for overtime than they had this year, which fire Chief Clifford Gallant said would cause him to close fire stations and take an ambulance and up to two fire engines out of service on many days. Manzi added $400,000 to the Fire Department, at the council's request.

Also approved last night was the $61 million school budget.

Manzi had planned to cut funding for two police recruits in the academy as another way to save money, but he reinstated them.

Nevertheless, the mayor said he believes the city will have enough new growth and other revenue to cover the police and fire costs he previously cut, "which means no increase in taxes for Methuen residents."

Officials will know for sure whether there will be a tax increase when they set the tax rate around November or December, Manzi said.

Jim Robertson, who moved to Methuen from Somerville in 2006, spoke at the public hearing and urged the councilors to give Police, Fire and Public Works departments the money they need.

"Please don't close down any (police and fire) stations," he said.

City Councilor Kenneth Willette cast the lone vote against the School Department's $61 million budget because school officials cut the $18,000 per-year part-time position for the employee who enforces the schools' residency requirement. The employee investigates out-of-town students suspected of illegally attending Methuen schools.

"It's a huge cost-savings for the community," Willette said, saying students who illegally attend the city's school absorb residents' tax dollars.

Superintendent Jeanne Whitten said the schools had to trim costs, and she believes school Transportation Director Brian Fowler and MaryEllen Kelleher, the director of pupil services, can do the job for no extra pay.

The School Committee approved the school budget by a vote of 5-2, just a few hours before the council voted on it. Committee members Robert Vogler and Barbara Grondine voted against the budget, saying there was too much spending on administrative functions and not enough on teachers to reduce class sizes.

"I want the money spent on teachers, supplies and things that directly affect the education of our students," Grondine said.

Whitten said the schools are in fact hiring about 15 new teachers.

City Councilor Jeanne Pappalardo proposed cutting $21,000 for a contract for a landscaping company to maintain three city parks. Councilor John Cronin hopped on board, but no other councilors supported the motion, so it failed by a vote of 7-2.

DPW Director Raymond DiFiore said he needs to hire an outside landscaping company because he doesn't have enough staff to maintain all the parks.

The council voted 7-1 to approve spending $1.6 million on the Greater Lawrence Technical School budget. Cronin abstained. He works at the school.

Councilor Joseph Leone voted against the technical school's budget, saying it should have decreased spending because its enrollment decreased.

The council unanimously approved $9.6 million for the Water and Sewer Enterprise budget. The total spending for Methuen in fiscal year 2009, which begins July 1, is $130 million.