[May 17, 2013] Questions over budget presentation, city of Nashua employee raises dominates meeting discussion Tweet NASHUA, May 17, 2013 (The Telegraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Questions connected to past criticisms of Mayor Donnalee Lozeau's communication with some aldermen, and budget numbers that indicate some top City Hall employees would get far larger raises than teachers and firefighters should the proposed $251.2 million city budget be approved, dominated Thursday night's meeting. Lozeau and aldermen met in the City Hall aldermanic chamber to resume discussion on the fiscal year 2014 budget, which was presented to the board Tuesday. Most initial questions surrounded the new way in which the numbers are presented -- rather than list each department's employee salaries separate from benefits and pension allowances, the new format combines those numbers. Lozeau said greater transparency was the motivation to change the format. Ward 9 Alderman Dan Moriarty said the new look allows the reader to see the current budget for each department along with what each proposed for fiscal year 2014. Contract agreements, step and merit raises and pay scales dominated the general discussion period, with Alderman-at-large Jim Donchess bringing up what he called a significant disparity in proposed raises for some City Hall department employees and those "on the line," such as firefighters and teachers. Donchess cited a Lozeau memo from April in claiming that some top merit employees stand to receive raises between 8 percent and 11 percent over three years while teachers and firefighters would get 1.3 percent and a maximum of 2 percent, respectively, over the same period. But board President Brian McCarthy told Donchess the comparison isn't accurate because such elements as step raises don't appear in the budget. "The step table is what leads to raises of 3 to 4 percent a year," McCarthy said. "But that's not an apples-to-apples comparison (with merit employee salaries). You have to look at individual salaries." Donchess said more details may be needed to make the right comparison. "I think we need to get a complete picture of what's going on," he said. "I really don't think it's fair that we're asking line employees to take 1.3 percent or 2 percent over three years while some in City Hall are getting 3 to 4 percent each year," Donchess said. Meanwhile, discussion on the budget for Lozeau's office began with the status of her staff positions -- all of which, she said, are currently filled. She cleared up confusion raised over two communications directors -- one full and one part time -- saying the full-timer splits her hours between Lozeau's office and as curator at the Hunt Building. Lozeau later praised Citi-Stat, a new department that, she said, eliminated the need for the former general services division. "It's about numbers but also about efficiency," she told the board. "We've come to count on Citi-Stat, for analysis during budget times and many other things." Also discussed was the budget for the Park and Recreation Department, during which Alderman-at-Large David Deane revisited his long-held complaint that volunteers would love to chip in and take some of the groundskeeping load off city employees. "But they can't do it. The city won't let them," Deane said, prompting Lozeau to redirect the discussion. Big raises proposed for city's top earners in fiscal 201 Name Position as of 12/3{012 City's FY 2013 salary recordings Salary proposed for fiscal year 2014 budget Increase Percentage increase Salary as of 12/31/12 Department STEVEN GALIPEAU ASS'T FIRE CHIEF $103,308 $121,226 $17,918.00 17 percent $103,308.07 FIRE DEPARTMENT JOHN SEUSING CHIEF POLICE DEPT $124,317 $129,312 $4,995.00 4 percent $124,938.82 POLICE DEPARTMENT BRIAN MORRISSEY CHIEF FIRE DEPART $116,520 $121,226 $4,706.00 4 percent $118,500.97 FIRE DEPARTMENT SCOTT HOWE DEPUTY POL CHIEF $112,654.50 $117,180 $4,525.50 4 percent $113,217.58 POLICE DEPARTMENT ANDREW LAVOIE DEPUTY POL CHIEF $112,654.50 $117,180 $4,525.50 4 percent $113,217.58 POLICE DEPARTMENT ANGELO MARINO CHIEF ASSESSOR/GIS MANAGER $103,825 $108,018 $4,193.00 4 percent $105,589.63 ASSESSORS CHRISTOPHER PEACH POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT GEORGE MCCARTHY POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT JAMES LIMA POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT BRUCE HANSEN POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT SCOTT HAMMOND POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT MICHAEL CARIGNAN POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT JEFFREY BUKUNT POL CAPTAIN $100,961.29 $104,950 $3,988.71 4 percent $101,401 POLICE DEPARTMENT KATHERINE HERSH DIRECTOR COMM DEVEL $110,270 $113,556 $3,286.00 3 percent $110,270.16 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DONNALEE LOZEAU MAYOR $107,555 $110,029 $2,474.00 2.3 percent $107,555 MAYORS OFFICE JAMES MCNAMEE CORPORATION COUNSEL $111,913 $113,556 $1,643.00 1 percent $110,270.16 LEGAL DEPARTMENT MARK CONRAD SUPERINTENDENT SCH $135,810 $137,168 $1,358.00 1 percent $135,810 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT A comparison of salaries presented in FY 2013 budget to FY 2014 proposed for city of Nashua, with mention of Telegraph's requested numbers in early 2013 (ASTERISK)as reported to the Telegraph in early 2013 (ASTERISK)as reported in the proposed FY 2014 budget by the city (ASTERISK)as requested in the proposed FY 2014 budget ___ (c)2013 The Telegraph (Nashua, N.H.) 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