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DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2010
wickedlocaldedham.com | GateHouse Media New England Vol. 2 No. 12 75

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SPORTS, 11

DEDHAM LIBRARY

Budget mistake cause of shortfall

Director says she will work Sundays
By Andrea Salisbury
STAFF WRITER

Wrestling coach building again

DANCERS, 15
Lily White, 3, of Dedham, helps her mom, Tracey, unload toys during Sunday evenings Toys for Tots fundraiser at the American Legion in Dedham.

For the rest of the month and a bit into the new year, the main branch of the Dedham Public Library will remain closed on Sundays. But Library Director Patricia Lambert told the Board of Library Trustees on Monday night that she will work with the help of volunteers on Sundays. All she needs is their approval. People here know I worked every Sunday, the last fiscal year, Lambert, said at the monthly trustees meeting on Dec. 13 at the Endicott branch. Ive spoken with the Friends (of the Dedham Public Library) and with their help I am will-

PHOTOS BY SEAN BROWNE

LIBRARY, PAGE 6

Stars shine in Dedham

SANTA SPOTTING, 14

We spent more than we had. We made a mistake.

- Library Trustee Mike Chalifoux

ALLERGIES

Left, Director of the Youth Commission, Tom Clinton, left, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Toys for Tots co-organizer, Sarah MacDonald, center, and Toys for Tots co-organizer, Mike Humphrey, pose for a photo in front of this years collection, right.

Hundreds turn out for Holiday Stroll

Spada funeral Friday

DA says daughter is still in hospital
By Edward B. Colby
STAFF WRITER

Winter Song

Board delays vote on policy

By Edward B. Colby
STAFF WRITER

WHATS HAPPENING, 2

Check out the Square Scoop

NUMBER TO KNOW
Average amount of years it takes a Christmas tree to grow to cutable height, according to www.christmastree.org.

7:

INDEX
Around Dedham 19-20 Christmas Services 19 News 4, 10, 14-15 Opinion 8 Sports 11-12 Police News 17-18

Deirdre Spada remained hospitalized Tuesday, a week after she was gravely wounded in a family tragedy on Carmichael Circle that ended the lives of her parents, William and Patricia. Norfolk County District Attorneys Office spokesman David Traub said on Dec. 14 that Deirdre Spada, 26, was still alive, and that the investigation continues into the shootings that took place at the Spada home, 2 Carmichael Circle, during the early-morning hours of Dec. 7. William Spada, 53, killed his wife and shot his daughter before shooting himself, authorities said last week, relying on the account of Deirdre Spadas 27-year-old boyfriend, who was home at the time and called for help. Police said they found him in the driveway when they arrived on the scene. Deirdre Spada, who was shot in the head, was rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess MedSPADA, PAGE 7

The School Committee again delayed voting on a new lifethreatening allergies policy, after a Greenlodge School parent told the policy subcommittee how her first-grade son was accidentally exposed to peanut products through a PTO fundraiser and pushed to end candy and bake sales. As the subcommittees meeting began late Monday after-

ALLERGIES, PAGE 3

More School News

STAFF PHOTO BY ERIN PRAWOKO

From left, Dedham Troubadours Bill Parelli, Claire Pauley, Catherine Litchfield, and Sam Celata, sing holiday songs during their Winter Medley Variety Show at the Endicott Estate on Dec. 7.

Negotiations: Unit B contract approved/ Page 3 Building: New Avery budget set at $18.17M/Page 3

GREATER BOSTON FOOD PANTRY

Keeping the shelves full

In one day, volunteers sort 11,695 pounds of groceries
By Edward B. Colby
STAFF WRITER

BOSTON On the first Saturday in December, Nancy Smith of Needham stood in front of a conveyor belt at the Greater Boston Food Bank, sorting four categories of items: protein, breakfast food, pet food and cleaning agents.

Sounds simple but Smith had peered far more than just a few feet down the line as she planned her return to the Food Bank. I actually signed up in July of 09 for this date, she said, and brought along a group of eight friends and family, including her mom. The Greater Boston Food Banks work is propelled by its volunteers, who come in great numbers from
GIFTS, PAGE 5

PHOTO BY MARK THOMSON

Peter Russo has volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank for almost 5 years and in 2008 he won the organizations Volunteer of the Year award for the time he put in, his loyalty, and hard work.

Thursday, December 16, 2010 Dedham Transcript wickedlocaldedham.com

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

FOR BREAKING NEWS during the week visit wickedlocaldedham.com.

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ing to open the main library every single Sunday 1 to 5 on my own time again. I am willing to do that again. This announcement comes after a Dec. 7 letter posted on the librarys website from Lambert announcing that because the library has exhausted its funds, Dec. 12 was the last Sunday open for the fiscal year. In an interview on Thursday, Dec. 9, Lambert explained that she has about $4,000 left to pay for snow overtime paying custodians to clear the walkways around the two buildings and salary overtime for this fiscal year. At some point the money runs out, she said. And the money that I have left I need to save for snow overtime. Lambert emphasized at the trustees meeting on Dec. 13, that her offer to work on Sundays is a management decision to keep the library open and does not fall under the union contract. Concern was

raised about the possible violation of the custodial contract. Trustee Mike Chalifoux said because volunteers would work Sundays, he doesnt believe there would be a violation of the custodial contract. We are not talking about anyone being paid because there isnt any money, he said. It may be not unfair, but I dont know. Town Administrator William Keegan agreed and added that Lamberts current offer is different than the previous situation, where librarians were working and the custodial staff wasnt. This is a little different scenario and I dont think any of us know the correct answer at this point, Keegan said. The board decided to seek legal counsel before making a decision. If everything goes according to plan, Jan. 23 is the first Sunday the library would be open. Keegan said that the library has a budget of $940,170 for fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2009 the total library budget was

$933,399. Working with the budget they thought they had, Chalifoux said the board voted to open for 25 Sundays, hire three pages, which total roughly $21,000, and provide $3,000 in overtime. He said they also hired a part-time page. The total cost was just under $40,000, he explained. Chalifoux said they initially estimated the budget line item as $36,000 and we said $40,000. We cant add or subtract properly. Im sorry. Thats the honest truth. He also admitted that the board was under the assumption that funds could be moved around and that they didnt factor in the cost of having Sundays open. This is one of the reasons why we went back to see where did we make a mistake, he said. And the mistake is we used an estimated number (that didnt count for pay raises) We spent more than we had. We made a mistake. The trustees have requested more money to cover Sundays and overtime. The Finance Committee plans to meet Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 to hear the librarys request.
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Trustees agreed Monday on a plan to craft a policy to give guidance to the director on when to close the library when staffing becomes an issue. Lambert has explained that two full-time librarians must be at the Endicott branch and three at the main library during open hours for the Dedham Public Library to meet the terms of its union contract. Keeping the library open is objective number one, trustee Joe DAmico argued. The board then agreed on three steps the director should follow if the problem of staffing arises: The director should first, move staff around, at her discretion, to keep the library open. Then she has the option to offer overtime to bring an employee in. The last resort would be to close the library. This decision followed a heated exchange between residents and members of the board regarding the initial, unapproved, version of this policy listed in the November minutes. The line read: Ms. Lambert was directed to develop the staffing schedule such that all personnel would be assigned to their respective work areas. Trustee chairman Robert Desmond questioned the part: all personnel would be assigned to their respective work areas. I just think we are making it even harder now on the staff, or making it easier to go below minimum staffing, Desmond said and Chalifoux quickly answered, We were told that,

that would not occur. We were told that the staff would step up. One resident asked if there was a staff shortage at the Endicott branch, and they needed to shift someone from the main library, could that person be moved from tech services to cover the circulation desk at the Endicott branch. Circulation would be the only one that could come down here (to the branch library), Chalifoux quickly answered. From the audience, several librarians could be heard disagreeing with Chalifouxs assumption. If we needed someone, instead of going into overtime, then why cant we?, trustee Rebecca Peluso asked Chalifoux about shifting staff from different departments. He said he was looking at the situation from a business perspective and argued that when someone is paid to do a specific job, then the employee should do that specific job. He used tech services as an example because they are one of the people hiding in the back and you never see them. But they are ordering books and repairing books. They need to do their job and they are being pulled out of their job (to cover somewhere else), he argued. This is what we talked about beforehand, that we were stretched too thin and we needed to cut back on the hours the staff said they would stand up and we wouldnt have that problem. The agreement on that is the jobs need to get done. Peluso argued that if the library closes because it is below minimum staffing, then no one can do their job. No, Chalifoux retorted, the agreement was that they would step up, so we would not close. I understand, Peluso interrupted. But if we were in a bind and you have to think out of the box, then you will have to do that (shift between jobs). At his first board meeting, newly appointed trustee Brad Bauer questioned the idea of even offering overtime this fiscal year, because there isnt any in the budget and encouraged the board to offer the director flexibility in staffing. The director knows what the hours of the library are, and it is her job to make sure that both those libraries are open as well as she can, Bauer said. Ultimately, the board agreed to give the director the flexibility to move staff as she sees fit, to keep the libraries open. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at the main library on Church Street.
Dedham Transcript editor Andrea Salisbury can be reached at asalisbu@cnc.com and 781-433-8322. Reporter Edward B. Colby contributed to this article.

DEDHAM CHURCH DIRECTORY

Allin Congregational Church: 683 High St. Phone number: 781-3265050. Sunday service starts at 9:45 a.m. Nursery is provided during the service for children under 4. Website: www.allinchurch.org E-mail: allincongregation@rcn.com. Calvary Baptist Church of Dedham: 42 Needham St. Phone number: 781-329-9264. Sunday School for all ages starts at 10 a.m. Sunday service starts at 11 a.m. Childrens junior church for children ages 4 through 9 is offered during the service. Website: www.calvarybaptistchurchonline.com. Church of the Good Shepherd of Dedham: 62 Cedar St. Phone number: 781-326-3052. Sunday Holy communion service starts at 9 a.m. Website: goodshepherd-dedham.org. Dedham Temple Haitian Seventh-day Adventist Church: 410 Washington St. Phone number: 857-891-9564. Sunday school starts at 9 a.m. Sunday service starts at 11 a.m. Website: mountgolgothahaitian22.adventistchurchconnect.org. Fellowship Bible Church: 47 Milton St. Phone number: 781-326-3033. Sunday service starts at 10 a.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m. a Bible study is held at the church. Website: www.fellowshipindedham.org. First Church in Dedham: 670 High St. Phone number: 781-326-7463. Sunday service starts at 10 a.m. Website: www.dedhamuu.org. Church of St. John of Damascus: 300 West St. Phone number: 781326-3046. Sunday service starts at 10 a.m. (September-May) and 9:30 a.m. (June-August). Church school follows communion. Website: www.stjohnd.org.

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