By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
5/29/08

(previous)
Last Thursday, Program Director Reva Levin and Director’s Secretary Rita Fantasia were laid off and both positions were eliminated from the department, a move that Selectman John Shields called “extremely unfortunate” but that Heller said is necessary to meet budget reductions. Heller said that Fantasia had been at the department for a dozen years and Levin for five and that both were excellent employees.
“They both helped us in a lot of ways and had a great passion for the town of Milton,” he said. “I need these positions, but right now we just can’t afford them. We’re in a tough situation.”
The elimination of these two positions will save the department around $100,000, Heller says, and further reallocation of workloads will bring down additional costs. The department will combine the senior administrative clerk and conservation administrative assistant positions to save another $45,000. Current Conservation Assistant Kara Barry will move to assistant town accountant and the new combined position will be decided in union negotiations.
Heller says these changes will define structure within the department and will have only a minor impact on town residents.
“The amount of work that we perform on a daily basis will not change,” he promised. “Our employees are amazing and resilient.”
Despite these reassurances, Heller acknowledged that public works budget cuts will leave the department less able to participate in community activities, submit grant applications and handle telephone traffic. He said that the ability to repair roads and drains would also take a hit.
“We’re already falling behind on sidewalks and streets,” he said.
Shields worried about the loss of Levin’s job as program director, a position that involves grant writing. He suggested that the town hire a contract employee to fill in as a part-time grant writer as a way to supplement this position.
“It’s a very important thing that we’re losing,” he said.
Kennedy Carpet
The good news that Jay Kennedy had been hoping for came when selectmen approved the LED sign that he says he needs to attract customers to his new carpet showroom in East Milton Square. Selectmen voted to approve the sign, which does not pass the town signage bylaw standards, because they say that the uniqueness of the location and potential benefits to town economy are enough to grant a reasonable request exemption.
The sign will be displayed at the showroom on Granite Avenue and will feature four alternating visual panels advertising Kennedy’s carpet services to passersby on I-93, where Kennedy says most of his business will come from. Selectmen adopted language to allow for public service announcements, such as amber alerts, to be displayed on the sign and it was agreed that the bright ad logos would be dimmed down at night.
Selectman Chair Kathryn Fagan, who had initially opposed the sign, said that she was swamped with e-mails and letters in support of Kennedy.
“I received more feedback on this than on the override discussion,” she said. “But I want to make sure that we’re not basing this on what people may think (about Kennedy). I got letters from people saying ‘give Jay whatever he wants.’ But it’s important that neighbors of the building have supported the sign.”