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Date: 3/21/2023
EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton City Council approved several money and staffing moves at its March 15 meeting. Among them were new funding for the city’s library and several projects, as well as adding and renaming staff positions.
To a chorus of cheers, the City Council approved an appropriation moving $510,000 from the cannabis stabilization fund to the Emily Williston Memorial Library operating account. The appropriation came at the request of Mayor Nicole LaChapelle.
Elizabeth Appelquist, president of the library’s board of directors, said that the funds would “put [the library] on the right road” and help it “demonstrate financial stability,” two things that are crucial as the library looks to accept a donation of the old Bank of America building.
Appelquist explained that this funding will allow the library to expand its programming, replace old desktop computers for both staff and patrons, and hire a fundraiser. She expects that this money will help to fund the library for the next six years.
After a public hearing, the council also approved a reorganizing of positions in the planning department. Councilor Salem Derby explained that the moves allow for “aligning the positions with the work being done.”
City Planner Jeffrey Bagg discussed each of the changes, explaining that the department would now be run by a director of planning and development, a title that better describes the level of complexity, mentoring, and collaborating with other departments that the position requires.
In addition, the department will add an arts and culture program director that will bring a fundraising component to what the previous position required. The department will also add an associate planner position and change the title of the assistant planner position to senior planner.
The City Council also approved adding a part-time veterans agent to the budget. This move comes after the funding for the joint Easthampton-South Hadley veterans agent position ended and South Hadley decided to fund its own full-time position.
Councilors also approved moving four positions from a Grade F to Grade G on the salary scale: council on aging director, city clerk, principal assessor and executive assistant to the mayor.
The council approved changes to the pay plan, as recommended by Emily Russo, human resources director. The changes remove the first four steps on the chart and add two at the end, as well as changing the step raise from 2.5 percent to 3 percent. Russo explained that these changes will help to retain employees and to attract new employees.
“We can’t fill positions. We can’t retain employees,” said Russo when explaining the need for the moves. “We need to meet the salary requirements.”
The department of public works also received $725,000 in supplemental appropriations. These included $150,000 in increased electricity costs at the water department and $300,000 for electricity, heating and sludge disposal costs at the wastewater treatment plant. Another $175,000 will go toward maintenance needs at city hall, the public safety complex, at the three vacant elementary schools and 75 Oliver St.