MADAWASKA, Maine – The town is scrambling to replace half of its public works employees after three workers, including the public works director, quit last month.
Two other workers had left previously and their jobs have not been filled. The five vacancies resulted in town officials on Tuesday approving a $5 an hour raise throughout the department to retain the remaining five full-time workers while attracting new employees to fill the vacant positions. The board also approved providing workers with an additional $3 night shift differential.
Public Works Director Kevin Dube and two full-time employees resigned in late November. Town Manager Gary Picard declined to comment on the reasons they left. It could not immediately be determined under what circumstances the previous two workers left.
Picard said he sat with workers, including former director Dube, before the meeting to assess their concerns and “stop the bleeding.”
He said employees weren’t just concerned about wages, but also benefits for full-time seasonal workers, who currently do not get paid holidays or vacations. He said employees would also like to see town officials visit the department and show appreciation more often.
“It means a lot to them,” he said. “And I’m guilty as charged.”
The town manager first suggested providing workers with a $3 overall raise and a $5 night shift differential. But selectman Christopher Braley later suggested switching it to a $5 raise and $3 night shift bump.
Braley said the extra $3 an hour would match wages offered elsewhere, but $5 would incentivize more workers to join and show the remaining employees that they’re worth more to the town.
He said that, in his two years on the board, they have consistently invested money back into the town through equipment purchases, putting money into reserve accounts, and updating the municipal website.
“So as we’re trying to address those things to get you better equipment, the wages are sneaking up behind us on the backside,” he said. “And it moves a lot faster than we anticipated.”
Dube thanked the board for taking action and said he thinks the crew will appreciate it. He said that times, and the workforce overall, have changed significantly, particularly over the past three years.
“Nobody wants to pay more taxes,” he said, “but you have to remember that you get what you pay for. And everything is so expensive today.”
Dube said he agreed with Braley’s sentiment for increasing the raises to $5 an hour.
“Either we’re at the beginning of the pack and lead everyone else, or we’re going to drag behind and suffer and just get through,” he said. “It’s not a good deal. And it’s a hard pill to swallow because everyone’s taxes went up.”
He said he believed the board’s actions were a step in the right direction, as long as all departments are able to move forward and nobody is left behind.
Corey Morin, a seasonal public works employee, also spoke about workers’ concerns during the meeting Tuesday night.
“I don’t think it’s just money,” he said. “I think it’s money backed with action and appreciation. If somebody comes up and says ‘I see you. I appreciate you. Thank you for coming in.’ That’s all it is. I don’t need donuts or pizza. I don’t need a pat on that back. Just ‘thanks for coming in.’ We all get lost in our work, but it’s just nice to hear.”
Morin said afterward that the board’s decision was a step in the right direction.
“Obviously nothing’s perfect,” he said, “but it was nice to see people working together instead of being divided.”
There are now openings for a shop foreman, two openings for a mechanic and equipment operator, one opening for equipment operator, and an opening for the public works director.
Picard said after the meeting that he has never seen anything like this happen in Madawaska, and though the town has invested in the department and increased wages over the years, the market has been moving faster than the town.
“I don’t think municipalities are unique to the problem,” he said. “I think all employers are struggling to find more talent. And it creates hardship for the staff that stays. You have to fill the void until those positions can be filled, and it can take months.”
Although the town has already set the budget and mill rate, it is legally able to spend an additional 15 percent if the amount appropriated is not enough to repair or maintain the roads, according to state law. Picard said, given the current situation, failing to spend additional money on the department could result in more resignations and also make it harder to recruit new workers.
The raises are effective immediately and will affect the latter half of the 2023-24 budget.
This story was updated to add new information and comments.
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