Middlebury’s new Board of Selectmen, left to right, Selectman Elaine Strobel (R), First Selectman Edward B. St. John (R) and Selectman Michael McCormack (D). McCormack, a new member of the board, was sworn in Dec. 8. (Marjorie Needham photo)
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Middlebury’s former Board of Finance Chairman Michael McCormack on Monday night attended his first Board of Selectmen (BoS) meeting since he was sworn in as Middlebury’s Democratic selectman Dec. 8. At the Dec. 21 meeting, selectmen voted to offer members of the Middlebury Police Department an incentive to retire early. They also approved the contract for Acting Police Chief Francis Dabbo, who will take over for departing Chief James Viadero when he leaves Middlebury to become the police chief in his home town of Newtown.
The retirement incentive offer applies to police officers who are eligible for retirement or will become eligible for retirement during the incentive program window of Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, to Thursday, March 31, 2016. Those officers who elect to retire will receive one additional year of credited service at the current applicable prevailing wage rate on the effective date of their retirement. First Selectman Edward B. St. John confirmed the offer is limited to police officers and does not apply to other town employees.
McCormack asked town counsel Bob Smith, who drew up the offer, what the town was trying to accomplish with the offer. Smith said there would be substantial savings to the town if two or three of the highest-ranking officers decide to retire. The new hires would be paid $25.44 an hour compared to the $33.80 an hour those being offered early retirement are paid. He said if two officers retired, the town would save $33,000 a year, and even after eight years, the town would be paying less than it is now.
St. John said he talked to the chief about this offer three months ago. He said he hopes the savings from the offer will offset the budget overruns in police overtime. McCormack asked Smith to report back after the offer’s March 31 ending date.
The contract between the town and Dabbo will be effective Dec. 27, 2015. It is a 9-month contract that ends June 30,2016, but could terminate earlier if the town hires a permanent police chief before then. The contract also can be extended in 3-month increments.
The town will pay Dabbo a salary based on $90,000 a year. Dabbo may not work extra duty during this time, but he may work overtime outside of his scheduled work day with approval from the first selectman. St. John said the town doesn’t have enough police personnel for events like the Rev 3 triathlon at Quassy Amusement Park, so that would be an event Dabbo would likely work. St. John said the vendor reimburses the town for police overtime for the event.
In routine matters, the BoS approved five tax rebates ranging from $30.70 to $179.45. They also appointed Todd Annelli (R) as a member of the Economic and Industrial Development Commission for a five-year term starting Dec. 21, 2015, and Sandra Young (R) as a member of the Beautification Committee for a four-year term starting Dec. 21, 2015. They reappointed Ted J. Mannello (R) to the Land Preservation and Open Space Committee for a one-year term starting Dec. 15, 2015, and Janice S. LeDuc (R) as a member of the Safety and Health Committee for a one-year term starting Dec. 21, 2015.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.
UPDATE 12/30/2015: March date for voluntary retirement plan corrected to 2016.
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