If Haverhill is so desperate for money, why is it taking the city so long to collect $14,000 it is owed by a retired police officer?
That is perhaps the most important question to ask about the vigorous, profitable and excessive work schedule of former Officer Joseph Spero. But there are plenty of others as well.
Spero, 68, who retired in 2005 after 40 years on the Haverhill force, was paid $29,241 in detail pay last year — the fourth highest amount among 145 police officers and firefighters who worked traffic and fire safety details. The problem with it is that it was $14,000 more than state law permits him to earn, given that he collects a pension.
According to police Chief Alan DeNaro, a close friend of Spero, it was Spero himself who identified the overpayment, and brought it to the attention of the city Retirement Board. The problem, DeNaro said, is that until this past week, the city had failed to ask Spero to repay the money.
And that, according to Mayor James Fiorentini, is because it took eight months to resolve a disagreement between City Solicitor William Cox Jr. and the Retirement Board over how much Spero owes and whether the city or the board is responsible for collecting it.
This sounds like something that would qualify for a comedy sketch if it wasn't a serious matter. Eight months to figure out the amount owed and who should collect it? The mayor, councilor and all local citizens should be outraged.
Beyond that, why is Spero still working details? In the first seven months of this year, he has made nearly $10,000. Given the money he owes, along with the fact that active fire and police staff are supposed to get the first choice of working details, there is clearly a management problem here as well.
While DeNaro does not personally oversee and schedule work details, he is ultimately responsible for everything that goes on in the department. It shouldn't be difficult to see when a retired officer has reached his or her limit for a year. After that, there should be no more detail work offered.
That is the simple, professional way to avoid a problem, so it doesn't take another ridiculous eight months to resolve it.
