Reorganization Subcommittee seeks expert advice on trimming town expenses

Date: 4/5/2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

AGAWAM — The City Council's Ad-Hoc Reorganization Sub committee invited a productivity and government services consultant from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston to its March 30 meeting.

Stephen McGoldrick, deputy director of the Collins Center at the UMass Boston Center for Public Management, sat in on a discussion of ideas to streamline and consolidate workflow and positions within town government to reduce expenses.

McGoldrick said the mayors of several other local cities and towns had also contacted him — including Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield and Northampton — to consult on municipal consolidation and charter reform issues.

City Councilor and subcommittee Chair Dennis Perry said he learned about McGoldrick's services through the Massachusetts Municipal Association's Web site.

Perry explained the subcommittee was formed to "look at ways to consolidate departments, develop cost-saving measures and regionalize services" in an attempt to reduce the burden on the town's taxpayers.

"I look at our constituents as our customers and I hear across the board, 'We can't take any more,'" Perry said.

He said the subcommittee had already made a preliminary examination of the salaries of the mayor and several department heads, and was beginning to look at the possibility of a duplication of duties both within and between municipal departments.

City Councilor and subcommittee member Robert Rossi said the group was looking to "make [departments] more efficient."

"We're looking at if we want to change [job] titles, pay structures, job descriptions," Rossi said, adding that the group would like to eliminate classifications and "put people where they are needed" within the town's various offices.

He said the subcommittee did have the authority to adjust hours and work load for municipal positions as long as notice is give to any applicable collective bargaining units prior to contract negotiations.

"What we're looking for from you is, 'how can we do this smoothly?'" Rossi asked.

Perry said the City Council had just voted a transfer of $3,500 from the town's Reserve Fund to the Professional Services account to fund outside consulting services for the subcommittee, such as McGoldrick's.

He also said that, following that appropriation, Mayor Richard Cohen had suggested the subcommittee consult with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Audit Team, under the Division of Local Services, Technical Assistance Section, for no-cost assistance in achieving the group's restructuring goals.

McGoldrick indicated that arm of state government would only come in to consult for the town if Cohen requested their services and then "they just do financials."

After a quick overview of the town's current expenditures, McGoldrick said he saw areas where the Collins Center could offer suggestions on consolidation and regionalization.

"We do very low-cost consulting work, funded in part by the state," McGoldrick said, adding that he would draft a proposal for the subcommittee and contact them with a package of potential services.