The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Officials to meet on $46.3M plan for East Hampton
‘United, we can make progress’
EAST HAMPTON — The Board of Finance was to vote this past Wednesday on the 2018-19 budget, but members put off action on the proposed $46.3 million spending total until after they meet with the Board of Education.
The $31.17 million schools package was the focus of attention during two finance board meetings earlier this week.
A meeting between the two boards has been set for 7:30 Tuesday evening. The Board of Education will have a home-field advantage since the meeting is slated to be held in the T-Bell Room at the high school.
The five-member Republican majority on the finance board surprised both their Democratic colleagues and school officials and supporters Monday with a presentation on school salaries.
It appeared to show instances in which certain teachers are being paid at salaries comparable to some of the most exclusive districts in the state.
The presentation was created with the assistance of Finance Board Chairman Michael J. Rose’s wife, an attorney.
Former chairman and current board member, Democrat Ted Turner, said he had only learned of the presentation 10 minutes before Monday’s meeting began.
In a telephone conversation early Friday afternoon, Rose stressed he is not looking to make salary reductions in negotiated contracts. Instead, he intends to hold a two-phase meeting with his education colleagues.
During the first part — which will be open to the public — Rose said he hoped to explore potential savings in other areas than personnel. For instance, a board member might ask if there are ways in which solar power could be used to reduce electricity costs, or “can we get a better deal on computers,” Rose suggested.
The second phase of the meeting would be closed to the press and public alike. “[The state’s Freedom of information Act] allows us to just sit and talk about collective bargaining issues,” Rose said. “What we want to do is, candidly, in a safe place, talk about what you see in the future” that could reduce contractual pay increases.
Rose reiterated he is not seeking to reopen contracts and reduce already agreed-upon salaries. Rather, “We’re looking to bend the cost curve going forward.”
“If there’s a 5 percent increase, is there a way that can be found to perhaps limit that to 4 percent, and save a little on salary, so that we can absorb another ECS reduction,” he asked.
Rose was referring to Education Cost Sharing funds, which were sharply cut back during last year’s prolonged budget battle.
Too often, Rose said, residents have seen, “If we’re not united, we can’t make progress.”
He hopes the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will show residents just the opposite: “If we are united we can make progress.”