Let's get the quote straight
From the Laconia Daily Sun, Tuesday of 11/21 (the same article I discussed here), I see that Chuck Campbell decided to comment on me. Well, here I get to do the same on his comment:
"some members of the Budget Committee have it out for the town employees"
Wrong. He continues:
He pointed to Skip Murphy's remark that the town wanted B+ employees, not more expensive A+ employees, suggesting that he wanted to destroy wages and benefits"
Mr. Campbell, at least give the quote correctly. Yes, I did use an analogy using A+ and B+. But next time, use the entire quote. While I cannot remember word for word EXACTLY what I said, here is the intent.
Given the ranking of the Salaries, we are paying top ranked salaries. Over time, this will be unsustainable unless the Board of Selectmen wish to force a change in the income demographics of the town. Gilford, given the ranking of its median family income, cannot afford these salaries.
While we may want to have A+ employees, can we afford the A+ salaries that come with them? I am afraid that we may have to settle for B+ employees at B+ salaries.
Let me use another analogy. My current car is 9 years old with 135K miles on it - just about time for a new one. My desire is to get the best I can - a Benz would be nice. I might be able to buy it, but then I wouldn't be able to buy much of anything else - ergo, I really can't afford it.
Instead of a Benz, I have to settle for less. Perhaps a Buick. Certainly a "lesser" car than a Benz, but I can afford it.
As far as destroy wages and benefits?
Hardly
Given my other ruminations here, I am not out to destroy anything. Nice of you to say I want to, but that would run counter to everything else that I have said in public (as you so neatly failed to mention). Repeatedly, and in my motion before the BudComm, I have stated that I do not want to cut salaries. Period. Never. End of Story.
Anything else said to the contrary is a lie, and I defy you to show me where I have ever said differently! I have, and will continue to maintain, that I wish to see the Salaries drift downward in such a way that they better reflect our Town's income ranking within the 32 Town grouping of our population demographic. Nothing less, but nothing more.
After all, even though I have publicly stated that ranking the Fire Dept positions is difficult, your position seemed to do well, Mr. Campbell.....
