Proposed Welfare Budget is $10K Leaner

by Bruce Farrin
     
     RUMFORD - Reacting to the June 8 vote (965-727) by citizens rejecting the $70,021 Welfare Budget,
     selectmen decided to propose trimming that account by $10,000 as well as cutting General Assistance
     Director Thelma Giberson's time from five to four days a week.
     The board voted 4-1 to take that action during Thursday evening's special board meeting, acting on a
     motion by Selectman Mark Belanger. New Selectman Jeremy Volkernick opposed the measure.
     The informational meeting for this budget item will take place at 6 p.m. on July 1 in the Rumford Falls
     Auditorium, prior to the next regular selectmen's meeting. During that time, selectmen plan to do a better job about educating the public about General Assistance.
     The secret ballot vote for the Welfare Budget will take place on Tuesday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a location to be determined.
     The discussion began with Belanger noting, "The pulse of the people is that it's way to easy to get welfare. Do we need a fulltime administrator?"
     The board then learned more about how the welfare budget works as they heard from Mexico Town
     Manager John Madigan on how Mexico handles the state-mandated law, then Giberson described the process involved with individual cases.
     “I'm amazed that the people voted it down, because it's illegal. You have to help people in an emergency situation...I understand the frustration, but it's (welfare) not just to feed people who aren't working...There are residents who can't work because they're disabled," Madigan said, adding welfare is also used to provide rent, heat and even up to $1,000 for burial costs if needed.
     Madigan said he didn't believe many voters understood that a lot of the money spent in that budget is
     reimbursed. For example, the town budgeted $70,970 last year but only spent $53,409 because more than $20,000 was reimbursed to the town by the state, Social Security and clients.
     He said most people also don't realize that General Assistance directors like Giberson actually put people to work. That's something that a part-time director or even a town manager would not be able to do, because it involves supervision.
     "You people have one of the best General Assistance directors there is. Because she's fulltime, she has the time for followups and to make sure applicants are getting other help. What is not reflected is the people she sees who are not eligible," said Madigan.
     “I would say as a taxpayer, I have no problem with the $70,000 to help the needy in this community, and I hope the citizens of this town, if you present a number to them, rethink that,” he said.
     Madigan recommended keeping the same figure, but doing a better job of explaining why that amount was recommended by selectmen and the Finance Committee, or reducing it by a mere penny.
     Board Chairman Brad Adley responded, "Voters have told us to relook at this. Voters said we need a
     better number."
     Madigan countered that the Welfare Budget number is a realistic one and a lot of that money is
     reimbursed.
     Selectman Jeff Sterling said, "Perception has become reality that it's too easy to get assistance for doing
     nothing. If we present the same number, we're probably going to get the same results unless you also give a number of what's reimburseable."
     Volkernick, who didn't believe an arbitrary number should be thrown out for the welfare budget, asked
     Giberson to explain the process people go through when seeking General Assistance, to better understand how the budget is determined.
     When asked the amount that a town is obligated to raise for welfare, Giberson said towns can pick any
     number they want, but they have to understand that if the account is over-drafted, that money would come out of the general fund.
     Madigan added that General Assistance is one of two accounts that can be overdraft legally. The other is
     road maintenance due to snow plowing.
     Belanger said, "Most towns have part-time General Assistance directors. What makes Rumford so special. Why do we have to have five full days?"
     Giberson said, "Most who are doing that are fulltime employees doing something else. If it (her position) was part time, because I don't do anything else, you're going to be looking for someone else."
     Madigan also said that Mexico pays Rumford $5,000 a year to have Giberson handle General Assistance in Mexico.
     Belanger responded, "I have a problem with Mexico paying $5,000 to handle $26,000 worth of claims."
     Selectman Greg Buccina added, "Sounds like a good deal for Mexico."
     Madigan said, "It's a wash. You can't look at the dollars; you never know what you're going to get."
     He added that before this agreement, Mexico was dealing with General Assistance only one day a week. "This is a mutual aid thing. It's no different that when you had an issue with the call force. This has been a benefit to both sides."
     Buccina then recommended the $60,000 figure for this year and then to look at the welfare budget for the future.