Low Salary Ranges Could Save Town Over $400,000

The Montville Township Committee established the salary ranges for several open positions born of retirement in an ordinance that was brought before public hearing Tuesday.

The ordinance set wage ranges for, among other positions, chief financial officer, municipal judge, township principal planner and township confidential sectary.

"Each of these salary ranges is significantly lower than the salaries of the people retiring from these positions," Mayor Jim Sandham said. "I feel we have taken significant steps in the financial arena to move this town forward and curb spending efforts."

The mayor stressed that this ordinance only established the pay ranges, not setting salaries.

"We may get someone at the low end [of salary range]," he said. "We might get someone at the high end. We set these amounts at what we thought was a reasonable range."

Under the ordinance, the township CFO would stand to make between $65,000 and $85,000 a year. At the maximum end of the spectrum, an incoming CFO would make over $17,000 less than recently retired CFO Fran Vanderhoof, whose salary was listed at $102,082 for 2010, according to documents released by the township.

The ordinance also establishes a wage range of $60,000 to $75,000 for a principal planner. The position was created as the result of a combining of two department head positions within the land use office. At the maximum wage range, the position pays over $19,000 less than the land use director position it is replacing.

Under the proposed salary ranges, the township could potentially save between $370,491 and $420,491.

Some residents, like Mike O'Biren of Montville, expressed concerns about being able to fill open positions under the new salary ranges.

"Will the market be able to locate [candidates] within in this range?" he said.

Other citizens, like Steven Chang of Montville, were concerned about how these salary ranges compared to other towns. When asked to put them in perspective with nearby municipalities, township administrator Frank Bastone characterized the new ranges as "low."

"We based these numbers on what we saw in the marketplace," he said. "These numbers are low compared to some neighboring towns."

Bastone said that, even under the new salary ranges, the township has received resumes and begun the interview process for several of the open positions. HE said the township has already found a municipal judge at the proposed $20,000 to $30,000 wage range.

Committee member Tim Braden justified the salary ranges by saying that the township was "taking advantage of the economic landscape."

Chang was weary of that characterization, saying he was concerned about how the comparatively low salaries would affect turnover rate in specific positions.

"You don't want to say that, because when things turn around, we will have trouble keeping these people," he said.

The next township committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14.

The salary ranges set in the ordinance are listed below:

• Chief financial officer: $65,000 to $85,000
• Municipal judge: $20,000 to $30,000
• Principal planner: $60,000 to $75,000
• Secretary: $35,000 to $50,000
• Social services coordinator: $10 to $20 an hour
• Youth activities coordinator: $10 to $20 an hour