Finance Committee advances chief pay cap, new facilities commissioner post

MARLBOROUGH -- September 20, 2021, Marlborough Finance Committee clears chief pay cap and new facilities post ahead of Oct. 1 deadline. The committee voted 5-0 on all seven items Sept. 20, including raising the police and fire chief salary cap to "up to $200,000" retroactive to July 1, after Councilor Kathleen Robey pushed to strike a seven-step schedule that she said locked in the top figure. Mayor Arthur Vigeant said a salary survey showed Marlborough below comparable communities and noted that six firefighters and two police officers already grossed more than the chiefs last year through details and overtime. Members also approved a new assistant DPW commissioner of facilities, covering more than 1 million square feet and over 100 identified unfunded capital projects per Commissioner Sean Divoll, and a Collins Center–recommended collector/assistant finance director title at the existing $79,668 to $89,618 range. Two transfers also passed: $93,243 for three retirements and $70,645 to keep Four Leaf Services covering building inspections.