Jim Williamson, the Budget Director for the City of Boston, addressed the Council regarding the appropriations. He explained that the total collective bargaining reserve would decrease to approximately $95.8 million after the proposed reductions. Williamson noted that the current budget already accounted for over $96.8 million to cover outstanding collective bargaining contracts. He emphasized that while the economic framework of the new agreement mirrored previous contracts, it included significant adjustments for part-time employees such as school traffic supervisors, who work approximately 15 hours a week.

The Director of Labor Relations elaborated on the contract terms, stating that while the increases were lower for part-time employees compared to full-time workers, some part-time employees would receive raises of up to 20% for the first step over four years. Enhancements to sick time and bereavement leave were also highlighted. The labor director expressed optimism that the contract would help fill existing vacancies within the unit, a issue brought to light during the meeting.

One councilor inquired about the number of vacant crossing guard positions, revealing that 52 out of 205 positions were unfilled. This concern led to a deeper discussion on how crossing guards were assigned and the impact of their roles on community safety. The labor director responded that many crossing guards lived in the neighborhoods they served and often held other part-time positions within the school department.

The councilor also raised concerns about specific intersections lacking crossing guards due to vacancies, confirming that individual crossings, rather than schools, were assigned to guards. This approach aims to ensure that high-traffic areas receive the necessary coverage, although it also highlighted the ongoing challenge of maintaining adequate staffing levels.

Further discussions focused on the contract’s pay structure, particularly the 2% annual base wage increases and additional flat amounts added to annual salaries. The starting salary for newly hired crossing guards was confirmed to be $13,468 annually, based on a nine-month working period at 15 hours per week. The Council questioned whether this salary level was sufficient given the residency requirements for city employees, and it was noted that all city employees, including crossing guards, are subject to these requirements as they are considered part of the neighborhoods they serve.

Safety concerns for crossing guards were also a prominent topic. It was noted that a school traffic supervisor had recently reported a malfunctioning walk beacon, which was promptly addressed by the Boston Transportation Department. The labor director assured the Council that community service officers are well-informed about their districts and expected to advocate for safety issues. However, the low wages and part-time nature of the job were identified as significant barriers to recruitment, contributing to ongoing vacancies and coverage challenges.

The Council emphasized the need for improved recruitment efforts. The importance of ensuring that shifts are adequately filled, especially in emergency situations, was underscored to maintain public safety for children and pedestrians. A request for data on the frequency of unfilled shifts over the past year was acknowledged as necessary for understanding the extent of coverage issues.

Additionally, questions regarding the total number of allocated positions for crossing guards and the intersections they are meant to cover were raised. Although specific figures were not readily available during the meeting, the existence of a list of uncovered intersections was confirmed.

The Council also touched on potential administrative shifts regarding traffic enforcement officers and the coordination between crossing guards and the civilian flagger program for additional income opportunities. However, no discussions on this had yet taken place.