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Date: 2/22/2022
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton City Council approved an amendment to raise the council clerk’s salary to $5,000 per year during the public hearing section of their Feb. 16 meeting.
According to City Councilor Dan Rist, who also chairs the Finance Committee, the city clerk is not required to be the councilor clerk, as they are separate and independent entities. Rist noted that it is, however, “extremely efficient” for the city clerk to be the council clerk. Currently, Easthampton’s City Clerk Barbara LaBombard holds this position.
“The salary or stipend was not raised for five and a half years,” said Rist, adding that the last councilor clerk salary was approved in 2016. The per-year salary prior to this unanimous approval was $3,240, according to Rist, thus making this amendment a 3.5 percent increase in salary across 10 years – which is close to what inflationary salaries are at today. The finance committee approved the increase 3-0.
“One of the things that the committee recognized is Barbara’s work for the council has increased exponentially over the last two years,” said Rist, adding that the stipend the councilor clerk receives will now be a monthly payment rather than by meeting, as well. This amendment specifically allows the council president to call a meeting at any time. Additionally, the council approved compensation for alternate clerk coverage at $100 per meeting in case the current councilor clerk could not attend a meeting. All the work done before and after meetings would still fall into the hands of the regular councilor clerk, either way.
Rist believed that this set salary would most likely be revisited in approximately five years. The new salary for the councilor clerk position comes into effect on July 1.
The council also unanimously approved $20,000 to supplement the legal services budget for the Union Street project expenses, which is likely going out to bid in March.
The project, which began back in 2015, includes replacement of underground water, sewer and gas utilities; full reconstruction of the roadway from Big E’s to the intersection of Cottage Street and Willingston Avenue, new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks, crosswalks and curbs, on-road bike accommodations - including sections of bike lanes – an upgraded raised crossing for the Manhan Rail Trail including improved alignment with Union Street, as well as a new crosswalk from Riverside Industries to the Nashawannuck Pond Promenade.
Aside from those changes, the street will also undergo a complete replacement of gas, sewer, and water utilities, as well as the installation of new handicapped-accessible sidewalks. In all, the project will cost more than $5 million, and the majority of the infrastructure project is being funded by Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT)Transportation Improvement Program.