Easton Selectmen Consider Reducing or Eliminating Salaries

With the town of Easton facing a $1.75 million deficit in Fiscal Year 2012 and Town Administrator David Colton and Superintendent Dr. Michael Green , Selectman Sean Noonan said Monday night that the board's own salaries should be considered.

Noonan said, besides the Board of Selectmen chair, whose time commitment and extra work was greater, the selectmen should consider not taking their annual salary which consists of $1800 a year per member.

Selectman Irwin Cohen said he agreed with Noonan, adding that salaries for all elected officials should be looked at. He said, as an outgoing member, he didn't want to propose the idea, but he agreed with Noonan.

"Especially in dire times, where everyone is taking hits," Cohen said. "I think the chair would receive her stipends [because of] what she does and the time she puts into it."

While each Board of Selectmen member makes $1800 per year, Board of Health members make $1,000 per year and Board of Assessor members make $1800 per year, according to the latest draft of this year's Town Meeting Warrant. The Town Moderator makes $100 per year. In total, elected officials' salaries add up to $19,000 annually.

Board of Selectman Chair Colleen Corona said cutting or reducing pay may preclude someone from running for a board because of the many expenses. She said she never submits for expenses for fundraisers, or travel expenses to meetings, which add up throughout the year.

"Certainly I’m not in this job for the money – nobody is in this job for this money," she said. "Tomorrow I’m traveling into Boston – I’m paying for the train in, and I don’t bill back."

Corona said she had discussed the issue with Town Accountant Wendy Nightingale at length, who concluded that cutting or reducing salary may have an effect on potential candidates for office.

Corona said the idea of reducing or eliminating salaries was "something to think about" when budget discussions continued.