Thursday, February 24, 2000 Older Editions

Selectmen to town manager: cut more

By Neil Fater

Despite a booming economy, some Andover officials believe the town must prevent expenditures from exploding as well.

Selectmen Lori Becker and Larry Larsen are calling for cuts to Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski's recommended budget and insertions of more money into a stabilization fund that Andover could tap during an economic downturn.

"Just because we have the money doesn't mean we need to spend it," says Becker. "I don't think we should be spending anywhere near what we've been spending. You can build all you want, but who's going to staff these buildings? That's not a one-time expense, and maintenance isn't a one-time thing either."

"Good times don't last forever, even in Andover. We better wake up and smell the coffee," says Larsen.

Although Stapczynski is recommending only 12 of 21 new full-time positions sought by department heads, Larsen says the town is still asking for too many.

The Finance Committee hasn't taken a position on this year's budget yet, but FinCom members also have said in recent years that the town should be careful about the positions that it adds, because these positions tend to remain a part of the budget forever.

"I'm concerned about the number of positions the town manager is requesting. I think most are unwarranted and, if I understand what our priorities have been, I don't think they address the priorities of the Board of Selectmen," says Larsen.

"For example, we have a priority for youth. We articulated a number of years ago the idea for Youth Services," he says. "We've added one position to that department since then. They need more help. I think that's a very important priority."

Larsen says he supports adding a Youth Services position that is not on Stapczynski's list, and two of the 12 positions supported by Stapczynski.

"Each of those positions, someone's going to have to convince me that they're worthwhile," he says. "The only way that we should approach (additions) is what can we afford."

Stapczynski could not be reached for comment, but says in his budget that the 12 positions he recommends "will improve service delivery and help to keep pace with increased workloads." Two police officers included in the budget will be partially funded for three years through grant money.

Becker says she supports adding the two new officers, but agrees with Larsen that the new hires do not reflect the priorities set by selectmen.

The suggested new hires include the two officers and a dispatcher, a public works engineer and equipment operator, a plant and facilities painter, a network administrator for the library, a part-time conservation land manager that Larsen supports, and secretaries for the community development and planning, elder services, accounting and finance departments.

"The thing that stumps me is the four secretaries. We've been talking to Buzz about creating a department head for community development and planning and that isn't in there," says Becker.

She also questions why the town isn't looking to hire a downtown planner to oversee proposed changes to the downtown, now that a one-year downtown planning position has ended.

"Why did we spend a year doing all this research and putting all this time in if we're stopping? It doesn't make sense," she says.

Budget boom

Andover's budget cracked the $50 million barrier for the first time at 1990 Town Meeting.

In the 10 years since then, the budget has nearly doubled.

Stapczynski is recommending a nearly $96.5 million budget this year, with a capital improvement program budget of nearly $46 million.

Selectmen Chairman John Hess and Selectman Mary French could not be reached for comment concerning this year's budget.