PITTSFIELD – Town councilors had high praise Tuesday night for municipal employees, saying that the council needed to look at wage increases during the coming budget process.

“I think the public works department is vastly underpaid for what they do,” Councilor Louise Baker said. “They aren’t just leaning on shovels. They work, and I want to thank them.”

Councilor Michael Cianchette concurred and added that the staff at the transfer station and recycling center is helpful and top-notch.

Councilor Donna Chale said that she was shocked when she went to a recent event in Augusta honoring Pittsfield with a Community Development Block Grant Spirit Award to find that every other town present – large and small – had a full-time economic director.

“It is incredible that our town has received so many grants without one,” she said. “It reflects how hard everyone is working.”

The budget process for 2008 will be “very interesting,” Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said. In 2008, municipal expenditures were more than $155,000 – or 1 mill – less than the previous year.

“We’ve been very fortunate to be able to hold the taxes over the past few years,” Ruth said. “We may not be able to save that much next year.”

Ruth said she would like to see the town’s operating budget remain the same as this year’s with the exception of fuel costs.

Ruth told the councilors that they should begin thinking of budget goals, specific projects or items that should be considered during the process, and suggested they review the 113 strategies and goals in the town’s Comprehensive Plan before the budget assessment begins.

Budgets from the individual department heads are due by the end of this month with councilors to begin the budget workshops in early November. Workshops will be held after regular council meetings with a special workshop set for Nov. 25, if needed.

The budget’s public hearing will be held Dec. 16 with adoption of the final budget to be done by Dec. 31.

The CDBG Spirit Award was formally presented by Mayor Timothy Nichols to members of the Pittsfield Public Library’s fundraising and building committees at the start of Tuesday night’s meeting.

The award honored their dedication to a massive renovation project, for which the town was given a $150,000 CDBG grant, slated to start this week.

“This award is really for the whole community,” Chairwoman Ann McGowan said. “We have had such participation from the whole community.”

In other business the council approved bid specifications for 10.7 acres of brush clearing at the Ron Curtis Municipal Airport. The project must be completed by hand, Ruth explained, since it is considered wetland. “No equipment can be brought in there. It will be done in the winter because it is too wet in the summer,” Ruth said.

The following events and activity dates also were announced:

. Second annual Pittsfield Area Energy Forum, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Vickery School gymnasium.

. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Pittsfield Transfer Station.

. Work on the Summer Street and Summer Court sewer separation project will commence Monday, Sept. 8.

. Work on the Main Street, West Street and Hamilton Cross Country sewer projects will begin Monday, Sept. 8.

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