AMHERST — Part-timers at the Jones Library are worried that a new wage scale implemented by the Select Board last fall, which aimed to increase salaries for part-time hourly employees in town, will actually mean some workers receive less pay than they had anticipated.
Chris Crane, one of those library employees, told the Personnel Board at a recent meeting that people are demoralized by the unintended consequence of freezing step increases and only getting a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment this year.
“What that means for hourly workers in 2019 was that once again only those at the top and the very bottom would really benefit,” Crane said. “Everyone else on the scale would forfeit the 2 percent COLA, and even worse, it appears that a large group of us in the middle would actually take a loss this year.”
In October, the Select Board approved the revised wage scale, assuring part-time workers for the town will be paid at least $12 per hour this year. This is part of an ongoing strategy to keep Amherst in line with the private sector, as Massachusetts moves to a $15 per hour minimum wage in 2023.
Personnel Board Chairman Tony Butterfield said the changes were not technically a cost-of-living adjustment, but a way to address the entire wage structure, and that any specific impact on an employee was an “unusual and unexpected result.”
Nancy Dubin, a former library worker, said morally and ethically there should be no decrease in any employee’s salary line.
Crane said the step increase should be restored. “Clearly the best case scenario for our employees would be to get the step increase this year,” Crane said,
A Personnel Board subcommittee made up of Butterfield and Chris Hoffmann, a member of the library trustees, will look into the matter.
Construction has begun on a combined family and pediatric dental office on Route 9 in Hadley.
Hampshire Meadow Family & Pediatric Dentistry is slated to open at 207 Russell St. later this year, run by spouses Noelle Nubani and Cyrus Safizadeh.
Safizadeh, a pediatric specialist, will focus on providing comprehensive pediatric dental treatment, while Nubani has extensive experience treating both children and adults. The office is being built by Sweitzer Construction of Monson, a general contractor for dental and medical projects.
A bridal expo is being held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle St.
The club, which is located in a renovated Victorian mansion, makes its space available to rent for weddings throughout the year as an alternative to other venues.
During the expo, wedding vendors, recommended by previous couples, will be set up. These will including caterers Blue Door Gatherings and The Catering Kitchen, photographer Melanie Zacek, event coordinator Pam White and violinists Carolyn Walker and Jen Gelineau.
In addition, Atkins Farms will showcase its wedding cakes, flowers and favors, Many Graces Farm will present organic flowers, Alibers Bridal will have sample gowns on display and Northampton Rental Center will showcase its tents, tables and chairs.
A 22-year-member of the Amherst Police Department, Brian Daly is the department’s newest lieutenant, following a promotion announced by Police Chief Scott Livingstone.
Daly, who will be operations lieutenant on the night shift, was promoted following an extensive selection process to fill the vacancy left by Gabriel Ting, who recently became a captain.
Daly, a sergeant since Jan. 24, 2005, has been a member of the detective bureau for the past three years and during his career has been a member of the bicycle patrol, motorcycle unit and crash investigation unit. He is a trainer for the Municipal Police Training Committee and an academy instructor for the Western Massachusets Municipal Police Training Committee Academy.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College, Daly is pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice.
The son of Thomas and Cynthia Daly of Springfield, Daly lives in Westfield with wife Jill and son Sean.
MONDAY: Communications, Outreach and Appointments Committee, 9:30 a.m., and Town Council, 6:30 p.m., both at Town Room, Town Hall.
THURSDAY: Finance Committee hearing on budget for Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
