By John Collins and Robert Mills, Sun Staff
DRACUT — The stipend-stopper was stymied.
Selectman John Zimini’s motions to get the five-member board to stop accepting its yearly $2,000 stipends and $934 gas allowances failed at Tuesday night’s meeting for lack of a second.
The other four selectmen labeled Zimini’s action a transparent “political ploy” to make them look bad.
“I find it highly insulting that somebody makes an issue of this,” said board Chairman George Malliaros. “If you expect people to become selectmen for nothing, you’re going to be disappointed in the quality of the candidates you get for the office.”
Selectman Joe DiRocco said, “John Zimini is not going to tell the rest of the board what they are or are not going to do. If he feels so strongly, then he should just turn his (stipend) back in as an individual.”
Malliaros and DiRocco claim Zimini wants to paint the board as selfish to boost the campaign of selectman-candidate Brian Bond, whom Zimini is publicly endorsing over incumbents Malliaros and Selectman James O’Loughlin in the May 3 election.
“Hopefully, people can see through John Zimini,” said DiRocco.
Zimini said there’s nothing “political” about forgoing stipends as a both a practical and symbolic demonstration of leadership in difficult economic times.
“When is it ever a bad thing to be protecting the taxpayer?” Zimini asked a Sun reporter yesterday. “When did it become ‘political’ to say to your town employees who have gone without raises, or taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet every day, ‘We know what you’re going through?’
Added Zimini, “To me, that $2,900 stipend is not that important. Maybe it is to Mr. Malliaros.”
Malliaros said those towns that don’t pay stipends cannot expect to get “qualified candidates” to serve — as other area towns recognize.
“In checking other towns, I’ve found that Tewksbury’s selectmen chairman is paid $5,000 and the other members get $4,000,” said Malliaros, a 31-year practicing attorney, who is not bashful about stating the professional expertise he brings to the position.
“Personally, I can point out $50,000 in the last three years that I’ve sacrificed due to a possible conflict of interest with my work as a selectman,” he said.
Zimini called Malliaros’ stance on stipends “baloney.”
“So you’re telling me the only reason Mr. Malliaros is there is because of the stipend? That’s ridiculous,” Zimini said.
“Quality people get involved in community service every day that don’t get paid,” he added. “Do we have less-quality people running our baseball leagues because they don’t get paid, or Planning Board? They are the epitome of public service because they don’t get paid. And that’s what we should be doing on our Board of Selectmen, taking the lead by saying we won’t take the $3,000.”
Selectman Bob Cox was chagrined Tuesday that the board didn’t adopt his compromise on the stipend issue.
“My suggestion was to suspend it, rather than eliminate it so it didn’t affect future boards,” said Cox, who believes the stipend is justified.
“We don’t even know if the state cut in local aid that’s been assumed will come through. If the need comes down, and there is a requirement to do something drastic, OK, fine,” Cox added. “But for (Zimini) to just make a random statement to grab headlines doesn’t seem right or fair to me.”
Zimini said he intends to bring the stipend to a vote on the floor of Town Meeting in June. He is angered by the other board members’ criticism that he is simply “grandstanding” and doesn’t truly care about the taxpayers.
“The reason people don’t get involved in politics is because of the political tactics these gentlemen spew,” said Zimini. “They make everything personal. Well, they picked on the wrong guy because I’m going to do what I think is right for the town.”
O’Loughlin could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Tyngsboro is among a few Massachusetts towns that have suspended stipends for selectmen. Beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2010, Tyngsboro selectmen, citing their respect for the taxpayers’ struggles in a poor economy, have renewed their decision not to accept a $1,200 yearly stipend that was paid to each board member in previous years, Tyngsboro board Chairman Rich Lemoine said.
In Lowell, city councilors receive $15,000 yearly (the mayor, $19,000) and School Committee members, $6,000.
John Collins can be reached at jcollins@lowellsun.com. Robert Mills can be reached at rmills@lowellsun.com.
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