To the Editor:
First, I do not know Damariscotta’s Town Manager, Mr. Lutkus, nor do I know Administrative Assistant, Ms. Jodi Prior.
As an Edgecomb resident, I don’t have knowledge of, or a voice in, Damariscotta politics. However, I was surprised to read that Mr. Lutkus proposes cutting Ms. Prior’s hours by 25 percent, thereby taking away her benefits. Her new salary of $24,071 would put her about $5000 over the U.S. poverty level. She would undoubtedly have a hard time supporting herself and her children on that salary, especially without health insurance.
There was no indication that Ms. Prior’s work is in any way substandard, so it seems especially cruel to throw her to the wolves.
The time to change the hours and salary for her position is when that position becomes vacant. Extreme efficiency is for fine-tuned machines, not for people.
Mr. Lutkus received a $2000 bonus on top of his $80,000 annual salary. He may very well deserve the bonus, but if cutting the town salary budget is esssential, I think a more equitable solution could be found. I would suggest the amount needed be garnered from all of the town employees, on a sliding scale. Mr. Lutkus can certainly afford belt-tightening more than Ms. Prior can.
