SALEM — Selectmen have agreed to fill two positions at the Department of Public Works that have been vacant since February. They should be filled in time for the winter plowing season.
Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to fill the positions of mechanic and light equipment operator. The board had discussed possibly filling only one of the positions — or neither — during an earlier meeting.
But public works officials, citing a backup in mechanical work and the need for laborers for the upcoming plowing season, convinced the board it will be in the town's best interest to fill both open spots.
The town usually operates with three mechanics to work on DPW and town vehicles, but has only had two since one left in February. The shortage of help has put repairs a month behind schedule, and mechanics have been working six-day weeks since September, highway maintenance director Dave Whalley said.
Public works director Rick Russell told the board the DPW has eight fewer workers than it did 25 years ago, but has 50 more miles of road to maintain.
"We're lean to begin with," Russell said. "Then you take two people out of the mix and you fall further behind."
The mechanic will be paid $68,000 and the light equipment operator $63,000, including benefits. Russell said he hopes to have the positions filled by the end of the month.
In a meeting on Oct. 26, selectmen mulled filling only one of the positions, before they decided to have Russell come to the board and explain the state of the public works department.
After Monday's unanimous vote to fill the two jobs, Town Manager Jonathan Sistare told selectmen they made the right choice.
"In the public sector, the work doesn't just magically go away, it still needs to get done," Sistare said.
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