Inadvertent Theft?

Inadvertent Theft?

Cambridge City Manager Robert "Healy said the city would not take back the
extra money and would instead try to treat all employees equally." (Janice
O'Leary, "One way to support the troops: full pay," Boston Globe, City Weekly,
May 13, 2007) The Manager has a generous way with taxpayer funds. Isn't that
called theft?
Councilor Decker declared at the council meeting, "It is only a handful of
employees." Oh? If only a handful of people commit a crime it is not a
violation? Not many people commit murder in Cambridge. It is only a handful. If
they are military veterans who need money for food shall we approve?
Councilor Galluccio shut off all debate saying, "No one would disagree with
this." If the handful of police officers did not demand equal treatment would
the "inadvertent illegal pay" be revealed?
These city officials wonder why young people refuse to cooperate with the
police. Well, duh.

Roy Bercaw, Editor ENOUGH ROOM
Cambridge MA USA

CAMBRIDGE
One way to support the troops: full pay
Firefighter Stephan Jeffres received full pay from the city when he served in
Iraq with the Air National Guard. Firefighter Stephan Jeffres received full pay
from the city when he served in Iraq with the Air National Guard. (Christina
Caturano FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE)

One way to support the troops: full pay
By Janice O'Leary,
Boston Globe Correspondent
May 13, 2007

City employees called up to serve in combat would get their full salaries in
addition to military pay, under a home rule petition sponsored by the Cambridge
City Council.

The council voted unanimously last Monday to endorse the bill, which now must go
before the state Legislature because it differs from state law.

Councilors recently discovered a disparity between several city departments in
how military personnel were being paid. The Fire Department, for instance, paid
full salary to a firefighter while he was deployed in Iraq.

However, the Police Department was paying its enlisted officers the difference
between their normal salaries and their military pay, which is what state law
dictates. Twenty officers appealed to the council this month for equal
treatment.

"If you have a family, it's beneficial for spouses, especially those with kids,"
said Stephan Jeffres, the firefighter who received full pay in addition to his
military salary. "Military pay, even with special allowances, is usually less
than you normally make. It keeps you from detail and overtime pay, which you
count on."

City Councilor Marjorie C. Decker, who chairs the council's Veterans Committee,
said she learned of the inequity when she was putting together a welcome home
package for returning soldiers.

At last week's meeting, the council approved the language for the petition
presented by City Manager Robert W. Healy, who said the city has no authority to
institute the policy without approval from the state, despite any urgency
councilors may feel.

"I am not authorized to make such a payment unless the home rule petition goes
through," he said.

While noting that the Fire Department "inadvertently" paid Jeffres his full
salary, Healy said the city would not take back the extra money and would
instead try to treat all employees equally.
[...]