Police Budget Meets Level-Funded Guideline

In line with the Finance Committee's request, Police Chief John Moore and Lt. Keith Edison presented a level-funded budget for fiscal year 2012 at Monday night's meeting.

In order to meet the guideline, police officials had to reduce certain line items to offset contractually-obligated salary increases. To counteract a $3,895 increase in personal services, Moore and Edison had to cut the uniform allowances (-$800) and purchased services (-$895).

The department will also have one fewer officer following . There will now be 23 officers, since the department could not afford to fill Moore vacated patrolman spot. Moore said that he wanted to collectively bargain to mitigate concerns about overtime pay. The chief also said the Holliston Police Association has been receptive in talks so far.

Edison also said that the drop-down system installed by the departtment last year has helped minimize overtime pay.

The department was also able to save $2,855 because of phone carrier switch. Moore also said he'd use his personal cell phone instead of department-issued one, which would save $1,200.

The repair and maintenance line item also fell $2,000 because the department is getting three new cruisers. Supplies also fell $1,000.

As for increases, the station's warranties will run out in September, which will bump up expenses, while computer services (+$1,105) will go up as well.

To help offset those costs, Moore is pursuing a cost of prosecution program with Framingham District Court, which would send some of the money paid by the defendant back to the town. Moore said he was meeting with a judge to discuss the proposal soon.

Moore also mentioned renting out the station's training facility and shooting range.

In other business:

• Representing Brian McCann of Hill Financial Services, Holliston lawyer Peter Barbieri presented a plan to re-zone a portion of Washington St. across from Weston Pond. Hill Financial hopes to build “Holliston Commons,” a 6,000-square foot building that will likely house retails shops.
  
  Both Barbieri and Hill said they’d like to limit the building to commercial use. Barbieri and Hill met with the Planning Board last Thursday, where three of four members supported the plan. If the proposal moves forward, the builders would need to attain site plans and special permits from the Conservation Commission and Planning Board.
  
  Barbieri and Hill asked selectmen to sponsor an article at the spring Town Meeting. The Board did so at the fall Town meeting, but a vote was postponed. McColl and Marsden said they would consider the request.

• During public comment, Norland St. resident Liz Theiler criticized the Section 30 Job Compensation Plan, which she said doles out large step raises too frequently. For years after 1996, a grade 5 laborer, the lowest-paid position in the Section 29 Job Classification Plan, would earn 27 percent more than their original salary after four years thanks to step raises.
  
  "It is time to revisit the step raises. They are exorbitant by today's standards."
  
  Theiler asked the board to appoint four more members to the Personnel Board to oversee these raises. Jacqueline Rossini is the only member of the board currently serving a term.

• The Holliston football team, along with coaches and cheerleaders, received their Super Bowl rings Saturday at The Hall at Patriot Place. The Panthers in the Division 3A title game on Dec. 4, 2010 at Gillette Stadium.
  
  Inscribed on the rings are the names and numbers of Joey Larracey (No. 73) and Timothy O'Connell (No. 7). Then a junior lineman, Larracey died at age 16 following a scrimmage on Sept. 4, 2008.
  
  Just two days after his 10th birthday and five days after Larracey, O'Connell died of leukemia. O'Connell was a student of Holliston coach Todd Kiley and an honorary Panther captain.
  
  The families of each boy also received rings.
  
  The Panthers elected to hang Larracey's red No. 73 jersey on the Wall of Champions. A jersey from each Super- Bowl-winning team is selected for enshrinement.
  
  The Panther players had to work tirelessly to raise funds for the rings, sometimes going door-to-door to shovel snow. Meanwhile, the Friends of Holliston Football organized a to pay for the players and cheerleaders to attend the ceremony.
  
  To see photos of the ring ceremony, click this link.

• After announcing that he was stepping down in May last week, McColl thanked the Board of Selectmen office staff and his fellow board members. McColl served five years on the board, but will resign effective May 24. He is one of five candidates for Town Clerk and said last week that he wanted to avoid a costly special election if he won the race.
  
  "I've enjoyed my five years in office," said McColl. "We had some good accomplishments in some tough financial years and we couldn't have done it without the help of the office staff. I didn't want to leave the board with two selectmen and have the town go through the cost and effort of a special election. I look forward to serving the town in the future."
• Selectmen appointed Tony Lulek to the Agricultural Commission by a unanimous vote. Lulek will replace Elizabeth Patt, who resigned.
• Selectmen approved permits for the Eighth Annual Winter Walk (March 13), Holliston Youth Baseball and Softball Association's First Pitch Parade (May 1) and the Holliston Newcomers Club's (May 15).