By George P. Hassett
The layoffs have begun. City officials eliminated 10 employees and eight vacant positions this week, claiming it will save cash-strapped departments close to $1 million as the city struggles with an $8 million budget gap. |
Three jobs in the recreation department, three in the library and one each in inspectional services, planning and public works will be cut.
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said in a statement that the job cuts will not cause a reduction in services or hours in those departments.
"It saddens me to make these cuts and I am well aware that there is a very real human cost behind these numbers," he said. "We have been faced with hard choices and the only way we will be able to close our budget gap is to let some people go. These layoffs are necessary for the city to avoid regressive cuts in the services it provides to its residents."
City spokesman Michael Meehan said no more layoffs are planned for now.
"We will not be closing schools and libraries," Curtatone said in the statement. "We will not be taking police officers off the streets. We will not be slashing services to the elderly or youth programs. We have done our best to share the sacrifice among different departments in a fiscally responsible fashion while preserving our core community commitments and values."
City officials are also trying to outsource custodial work in the city's schools, a move that could eliminate 49 union jobs in Somerville. Union leaders for school custodians have vowed to fight the outsourcing in court.
The City has solicited quotes for school custodial services from vendors currently working with state entities and other cities and towns. The process allows the city to solicit quotes from state-approved vendors. Both union and non-union vendors are on the state list and they will be responding to a scope of work request that includes square footage in need of maintenance, number of schools, and hours of operation. The city will be meeting with bidders this week.
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