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Blackstone Parks Committee debates higher summer-help, overtime and maintenance budgets
Summary
Members recommended raising summer‑help and repair and maintenance lines and discussed adding a part‑time position; overtime increase and staffing options were debated ahead of the FY2025 submission.
At its Dec. 9 meeting the Town of Blackstone Parks & Recreation Committee discussed proposed budget increases for FY2025, focusing on summer help, overtime, and repair and maintenance needs tied to new playgrounds and increased use.
Chair noted Adam, the parks staff, had requested more overtime funding. Committee members debated whether adding a part‑time or full‑time employee would reduce overtime needs. One member summarized the concern: “we had to cut people off because we're not gonna have enough money” for summer help, noting prior shortfalls limited staff availability. Members discussed increasing the summer‑help line to allow three workers for an extended season and suggested a part‑time April start to bridge spring workload.
On maintenance, members reviewed two years of actuals (~$19,500 and ~$19,998) and proposed raising the repair and maintenance line; suggestions ranged from $22,000 to $25,000 to address rising costs and new assets. The committee also discussed raising overtime from current levels (chair proposed $4,000; another suggested $3,750) and agreed to refine numbers before submission to the town finance office.
Committee directed staff to prepare detailed cost estimates and a justification for any new positions. Those figures will be populated into the town’s budget worksheet and forwarded to Lauren for inclusion in the town budget process.
