Selectmen give executive secretary additional duties and 23% raise

Date: 8/30/2010

Aug. 30, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- The Board of Selectman's executive secretary has a new title and a significant bump in pay.

Nicholas Breault was earning $64,185 last fiscal year but received a 23 percent. The raise brings his salary to $79,185 with his new title of town administrator, effective July 1.

"While I agree that the increase in Mr. Breault's salary was significant particularly in these challenging economic times it is important to keep in mind that we would eventually have to pay someone at that rate," Selectman James Driscoll said.

"We felt strongly that the cost for an expensive candidate search and the cost of the 'learning curve' of bringing in someone new and unproven in would be far greater than the negotiated contact amount reached with Mr. Breault that keeps him here in town for more than three years continuing to do the good work that he has do for us historically," he continued.

Driscoll noted that with the new title comes added responsibility including roles at chief procurement officer and municipal hearings officer.

Other town administrators in the region boast salaries between $89,000 and $101,000 in municipalities such as Southwick, Longmeadow or Wilbraham.

Driscoll is convinced the town got the most bang for its buck by keeping Breault on the payroll.

Calls to Breault were not returned.