MARION — After much discussion, the Finance Committee will recommend article two for Marion’s Town Meeting which asks voters to approve a $24,483,799 budget draft for the 2021 fiscal year.

The committee will also recommend improvements to Silvershell Beach facilities, Marion’s share of the cost to repair Old Rochester Regional High School’s track, two replacement utility trucks for recreation and facilities and funding for the design, engineering and construction of a new DPW facility. 

Before approving the budget, which represents a 1.35% increase over last year, and 25 other articles at the March 11 meeting, the committee discussed hiring a new librarian and its effect on the budget, and changes in the DPW department.

Town Administrator Jay McGrail said that the library wants to increase its pay by 75 cents in the next fiscal year for part-time employees, but that they have to increase it by $1.50 because the library is behind on pay raises.

Committee member Jay Pateakos pointed out that employees should be paid more because “people are getting more money for doing less work elsewhere,” and that librarians can seek employment in Wareham, where the pay is higher.

Selectman John Waterman said that if the library hires a new librarian, the town may need a hiring freeze the following year to make up costs. 

Waterman also pointed out the steady increase in senior citizens in Marion and suggested that the library hire a new full-time librarian on the stipulation that they increase programming planned with the Marion Council on Aging.

Before the Finance Committee approved article two, Marion Department of Public Works Director David Willett discussed the water and sewer enterprise budget and how these numbers were calculated.

The finance committee will discuss articles concerning those two funds at a March 18 meeting. But, a majority of both budgets will go towards improvements to the systems.

Marion’s water drainage and sewer system are in need of adjustments to be up to state regulations. 

Marion is behind on lining a sewage lagoon to prevent leakage because of the high costs of the $7 million projects. The town will also look to examine where the sewer system could be extended, and to replace rapidly aging and degraded pipes.

After the committee approved article two, they quickly approved recommendations for 25 other draft articles.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Winters said that this has been the committee’s “best budget season we’ve had since I’ve been chair.”

The committee will meet next Thursday, March 18 to continue discussing recommendations.