Charles "Mike" Callahan was reelected as auditor and water commissioner, and Brian Donovan was reelected to the Prudential Committee, which is the governing body of the Fire Department.
PALMER — Palmer Fire and Water District No. 1 held its annual meeting recently, and voters approved budget reductions that will result in fewer hours for two Water Department employees, along with office hours for the public.
Approximately 20 people turned out for the annual meeting, which was held at the library, on May 8.
Charles Callahan IIIWater Commission Chairman Charles “Mike” Callahan III explained that due to rising costs for chemicals, as well as fuel and electricity, cuts had to be made to the Water Department budget. It was more than $900,000 in fiscal 2012, but will be approximately $830,000 for the fiscal year starting July 1.
The decrease in funding resulted in the reduction of a laborer’s hours from 40 to 32. The office clerk also will be reduced to part-time, going from 40 hours to less than 20, he said.
Commissioners recognized that water rates were increased 20 percent, a change that took effect in customer’s April bills, Callahan said.
Callahan said the department relied on so-called “free cash” – unexpended funds from the treasury – to balance the budget over the last three years, but that has been depleted.
Office hours at the Water Department will be revised as a result of the cutbacks, he said. The Board of Water Commissioners will meet with the water superintendent to create a new schedule, he said. In the event of a water emergency, Callahan said residents should call the Water Department, and if they cannot reach someone, the Police Department.
William K. Cole, who retired, will continue to work on a per diem basis as the department’s treasurer, Callahan said.
During the special meeting before the annual meeting, voters approved using $85,000 from the Water Department surplus account to pay unpaid bills. Contributing to that cost were three water main breaks over the past year, on Breckenridge Street, on North Main Street by Friendly’s and on Thorndike Street, as well as clean-up from the October snowstorm that damaged a generator, roof at a pumping building and wellfield, Callahan said.
All fire district employees received raises of 2 percent. Voters approved a Fire Department budget of $453,992.79 for fiscal 2013.
Callahan said the water commissioners did not take a 2 percent raise, as employees’ hours were cut. He said the three water commissioners receive stipends of approximately $1,300 a year.
Callahan was reelected as auditor and water commissioner, and Brian Donovan was reelected to the Prudential Committee, which is the governing body of the Fire Department. Candidates ran unopposed.