Town of Avon adopts 2013 budget

AVON— The Avon Town Board formally adopted the 2013 budget at a specially scheduled meeting held on Monday, November 19.

The final changes and adoption of the budget passed with a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Robert Ayers opposed. The approval should put to rest the controversy regarding the large pay increase given to the Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk.

The public hearing regarding the budget closed at the previous meeting held on November 8, at which a resignation letter from the Deputy Town Clerk was accepted by the Town Board. It was decided that a $3,000 increase in the Town Clerk salary will reflect added duties taken on due to the loss of and changes to the deputy position.

The Town Clerk will also receive an additional 2% pay increase, which is standard for all town employees.

For the 2013 year, the salaries of the elected official are as followed:
Supervisor $12,240.00
Councilman (4) $4,794.00
Town Justice (2) $12,018.50
Town Clerk $36,226.00
Highway Superintendent $59,752.00

A decrease in the Deputy Town Clerk’s salary will reflect a changes in hours and duties, totaling $20,800. The position remains open and interviews are currently being conducted by the Town Clerk.

The preliminary budget released last month caught strong feedback due to a substantial increase in pay to the Town Clerk, at roughly 23%, and the Deputy Town Clerk at 41%. With these item changed in the final budget, all other areas remain unaffected.