By Rebecca Hyman
Wicked Local Bridgewater
Posted Jun 06, 2011 @ 06:00 AM


   
BRIDGEWATER —
The Town Council has refused to fund Police Chief Christopher Delmonte’s proposed contract, saying it is too generous and would send an unintended message to push for unreasonably high pay raises.

“The chief is doing a great job, but I think this is setting a bad precedent for every other department head,” said council president Michael Berolini. “We can’t afford it. Every other employee will look for 3 percent every year.”

“The easy way would be to say yes I support this, but the tough decision is to say no,” Berolini said.

Delmonte, sworn in as chief in September, has been working without a contract at an annual salary of $98,000 – the amount he received as a lieutenant.

His proposed contract, negotiated by Town Manager Troy Clarkson, would increase his salary to $135,000, retroactive for the current fiscal year, with 3-percent annual pay increases. The contract would last until 2014, when Delmonte would receive $151,000 annually.

Previous Police Chief George Gurley retired at a salary of $117,000.

Delmonte made several concessions, Clarkson said. He agreed to give up sick-time buyback, including the $73,000 he already has accrued. The chief also had agreed to pay 25 percent of his health-insurance premium, as opposed to 12 percent. That would save the town about $2,400 a year, Clarkson said.

The vote not to fund Clarkson’s contract was 5-4. Voting against the contract were Berolini, Mike Demos, Kristy Colon, Peter Riordan and Peter Colombotos. Voting in favor were council Vice President Scott Pitta, Timothy Fitzgibbons, William Wood and William Callahan.

“I’m going to support this and not because it’s easy, but because of what we have in the police chief,” Pitta said. “He grew up in Bridgewater. He’s a fifth-degree black belt. He’s a lawyer. He’s a leader technically, tactically, intellectually, professionally and physically. He’s everything we look for in a police chief.”

All of the councilors who voted against the contract praised Delmonte’s job performance.

“He’s a great leader, but financially, our town can’t afford to sign a contact and set a precedent that will put us in bankruptcy in a year because of the other expectations,” Riordan said.

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