Sick Pay: Buy Back vs Accumulation

Much ado was made at the Annual Town Meeting (ATM)

regarding

SICK LEAVE BUYBACK

Because those amounts were clearly disclosed, voters FINALLY

began to notice one of many giveaways, courtesy of taxpayers.

At ATM, Chairwoman Brunelle indicated that the town policy

had been discontinued after 2005.

11/5 STM was again asked to fund

SICK LEAVE BUYBACK

TO THE TUNE OF HOW MUCH?

Were you watching? Have you totalled

those amounts?

I'll offer the hint that it's not a pittance.

What the Bait & Switch experts didn't tell you is

they instead ALLOW employees to

ACCUMULATE SICK LEAVE

UP TO 275 DAYS.

Regardless of whether the policy is a conspicuous

lump sum that requires Town Meeting approval

or a carefully concealed additional 'EMPLOYEE'

on the payroll exhausting their sick pay prior to

retirement, it is a concealed liability the

TAXPAYER - TRANSLATION - YOU,

has incurred that will reduce town services.

That the policy IS extended to SALARIED

EMPLOYEES has yet to be questioned.

The retired Town Manager received his

'lump sum' for his accumulated

sick pay, declaring that he had never taken

a sick day.

A cursory review of the BOS

meeting minutes might prove otherwise.

The BOS signed a contract with a recently

hired SALARIED Town Accountant who will work

4 DAYS EACH WEEK

yet he will accrue sick time at the same

rate as a full time town employee.

The BOS also allowed the contract to

include VACATION PAY that he WOULD

HAVE been entitled to in his previous

position.

Little noticed is that NO ONE was

keeping track of sick pay or vacations.

While some might disagree, a list of

private sector employers offering

those benefits would be appreciated.