Greg Roach's Berkshires Blog: At Long Last...

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

At Long Last...

...An actual discussion of a controversial topic by the City Council:

Councilor Christopher J. Tremblay's motion to revisit the retroactive pay increases for local veterans was approved unanimously and sent to the finance committee, but not before Barrett issued a stern admonition.

"If this goes to committee, make sure you send it back with a recommendation of where you want me to take the money for it out of the budget," Barrett said.

The retroactive pay, which ranges between a few thousand dollars in benefits to $13,000, would cost the city about $80,000 in one-time payments.

"Keep in mind that the preliminary costs for the retirement board pensions is up about $97,000 for next year," Barrett said.

Tremblay would not be a lame-duck had he done this just two months earlier. This would have won him the 38 votes he needed. Oh well.

Hopefully the members of the '08-'09 council will learn the lesson that public airings of tough issues build support, not erode it. I am not suggesting arguing for argument's sake. Rather, the notion of inserting issues that have more than one *legitimate* side into the public discourse is healthy for civic life.

¶ 6:31 PM

Comments:

That was John just being John trying to blow smoke and fear up peoples ass again. He is the Mayor so let him find the money, that's his job! OK Mr. Mayor....how good are you at managing the city if you have to give people services and benefits they deserve?

# posted by

Southview : 4:55 AM

there's money there for the veterans....the retirement board said they'd finance it....it would cost about 8 grand a year as it sits now....but if we could come to a compromise then it would be less....give the vet's a lump sum figure for all that are involved....

ctrem

# posted by

Anonymous : 7:40 PM