Finance Committee advances new substance use coordinator, head electrician raise

MARLBOROUGH -- September 19, 2022, Marlborough Finance Committee advances new opioid-funded coordinator and head electrician raise. The committee voted 5-0 on three mayoral orders: raising the head electrician's maximum salary to $81,283.77 to match the head HVAC technician; updating that position's job description; and creating a Substance Use Prevention Coordinator and Intervention Specialist in the Health Department at $58,000 to $65,317.42 for a 35-hour week. Mayor Arthur G. Vigeant said the new post will be funded by marijuana host-community fees and National Opioid Settlement money, approximately $85,000 this year and roughly $771,000 over 15 years. After Council President Michael Ossing's letter urged a sunset clause, Councilor Laura Wagner pushed back: "the sunset clause would be a deal breaker because it would make me think the city's not serious." The committee instead added a two-year Board of Health review, active grant-pursuit language, and a bilingual preference. Public Health Director John Garside will supervise.