Gustus Lays Out Costs Of Unemployment Claims

In the past three years, Lynnfield has spent about $120,000 on unemployment benefits for municipal workers whose claims were approved despite having circumstances that other jobless people might envy. 

Two weeks ago, Lynnfield Town Administrator Bill Gustus if state lawmakers and Governor Patrick can find common ground on tightening up unemployment laws. This Friday, he confirmed that this is about what the town has been spending on this in each of the past three years.

In that period, according to Gustus, the town has spent:

- $67,861.22 for nine bus drivers who filed for unemployment during times when school was not in session, typically summer.

- $10,557 to teachers who have filed for benefits during the summer, even though they are typically employed through August.

- $1,842 to a long-term substitute teacher who filed a claim during the summer.

- $9,585 to retired police officer Hartley Boudreau since September. As of Friday, town officials were unable to confirm immediately whether Mr. Boudreau, 69, is still receiving benefits. Boudreau collects a pension and is allowed to earn up to $25,000 yearly in detail work, but filed for unemployment after that limit was reached. That said, this latest data also helps illustrate how while his case might have been the catalyst for this matter, he was essentially singled out across the state by media outlets for something he is hardly alone in doing in Lynnfield, let alone statewide.

- $1,117 for a part time librarian who had lost a grant-funded job.

- $6,823 for a school secretary who resigned but had unemployment benefits approved.

- $22,695 for two current part time teachers who lost other part time jobs elsewhere.

The total spent on these claims, reported Gustus, is $120,480.22. (Editor's Note: Yes, I broke out the calculator.)

"These are all just approved," he told Lynnfield Patch on Friday at town hall, adding that next week, he will be joining other town finance officials to discuss this matter with Massachusetts Labor Secretary Joanne Goldstein.

Earlier this week, Gustus and his municipal colleagues from across Massachusetts traveled to Beacon Hill to meet with state lawmakers. "They were visibly surprised by it," said Gustus. "They didn't realize exactly what was happening."

Soon after Gustus sent his letter, Governor Patrick responded by filing legislation that would address some of the types of unemployment claims that have angered municipal officials - especially in light of the budget climate over the past several years. Gustus expressed hope that ultimately, state lawmakers will end up adding some additional language to the Patrick bill to address these other areas. As noted in a previous story, it is likely to take action from both the state's executive and legislative branch to fully address the controversial unemployment claims.

Background Information:

For the text of the letter that Gustus and other area municipal officials sent to Governor Patrick, .

For a March 8 story about the reaction from state officials to Gustus' letter, .

For the first story about this from the night of the Lynnfield Selectmen's meeting where this matter initially came up, .