CLINTON — During a joint meeting on April 23, 2025, the Clinton Finance Committee and Select Board reviewed key budget items, including the fire department’s overtime funding, the fire-inspector position and several administrative staffing requests.
Finance Committee Chair Erin Powell raised concerns about the fire department’s proposed $1 million overtime request, noting that as of March 2025 the department had spent about $323,000. “I think $1 million is way too much,” Powell said. “As of March, we’re at $323,000. I don’t know how he can get to $1 million in just three more months.”
Town Administrator Michael Ward said staffing shortages were the impetus for the inflation in the overtime line item. “We’re down five people,” Ward said, adding that recent resignations have strained shifts. Finance Committee member Michael Dziokonski suggested an outside review of the account. “I often think that overtime is managed to maximize overtime, not minimize it,” Dziokonski said.
The board also debated the proposed salary increase for the vacant fire-inspector position. Powell questioned raising the pay to entice an internal candidate. “I don’t like the idea of increasing that salary to make somebody in that department move into the job and now you’re down in the woods,” she said. Dziokonski agreed, recommending that the town advertise the job externally before adjusting pay.
On human resources staffing, the committee weighed a request to add a second full-time position. Dziokonski called the proposal “a perfect example of empire building,” adding, “I’m just too old and time has passed me by, but it seems like if someone comes into the Town Hall and passes gas, they should be paid $100,000.” Finance Committee member Paul Cherubini backed the HR office but urged a wait-and-see approach. “After six months, we’ll have a better feeling,” Cherubini said. Powell noted that the current HR manager is still building the department after several years of turnover.
Administrative assistant requests from Public Works and Parks and Recreation were also reviewed. Cherubini voiced hesitation about new hires, citing looming financial pressures. “We just can’t keep adding right now,” he said. “We’re getting into tight times.” Members discussed adopting a 311-style reporting system to cut DPW phone traffic before adding staff.
Ward later reported that the draft budget is about $1.08 million in the red. Powell asked department heads to look for trims of up to 2 percent. “It’s not sustainable for taxpayers to continue funding 4 percent increases annually,” she said.
The Finance Committee and Select Board then agreed to keep refining the numbers in subcommittee meetings before presenting a final spending plan to Town Meeting.
