Buckfield restores paid sick time

BUCKFIELD — Employee accrued sick time, cut in half two weeks ago, was restored by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday.

Board Chair Robin Buswell, who motioned to reconsider the sick-leave change, said the negative effects on employee morale outweighed the potential benefit of the cut.

During their February 5 meeting, board members approved a revised version of the town's employee policy handbook, including limiting earned sick time from eight hours per month, to four.

On Tuesday, Buswell said it wasn't fair for the town to keep taking from employees.

"I know what taking away does to morale," Buswell said. "I've experienced it."

In an analysis provided to the board earlier this month, Town Manager Dana Lee indicated most of the town's seven employees would lose 48 hours of sick time per year, a total of $5,182.56.

Buswell said the potential savings to the town wasn't worth the blow to morale.

Selectman Warren Wright, who previously abstained from voting on the policy because he had not reviewed it, said he didn't have a problem with restoring the benefits, but wondered if there had been a problem with the policy.

Buswell said an issue was employees tended to accumulate significant sick time without using it.

A 480-hour cap has since been placed on the amount of time an employee can accumulate, Lee pointed out.

Selectwoman Martha Catevenis said the board should stick to its previous decision, which came after months of wrangling with the policy handbook revisions.

"I know how it feels as an employee if something is taken from you," Buswell said. "I believe in this enough so that I keep bringing it up."

The board voted 2-1 in favor of restoring sick leave. Catevenis voted against the measure.