Members of Beverly's City Council and School Committee can show they're serious about saving money by endorsing the suggestion that the Department of Public Services take over the maintenance of school buildings.
With budgets already stretched thin, there are not a lot of savings to be had in the short term. But over time, there have to be efficiencies created by having a single department responsible for the upkeep of all municipal grounds and buildings.
A small savings that could be had right off the bat would come from not replacing the schools' director of grounds and buildings who left recently. His duties could be assumed by a new assistant to Public Services Director Michael Collins at a lower salary.
The consolidation was recommended by a study committee chaired by City Council President Timothy Flaherty that included representation from both the council and the school board. No layoffs are anticipated, though the day may come when Beverly will want to join other communities in contracting out custodial services.
Given the fact municipal costs continue to outpace the willingness of voters to pay for them — witness last month's 2-1 tally against the school override in Beverly — any duplication of effort is no longer acceptable. Indeed, Flaherty's committee should continue to study the possibility of consolidating other functions now performed separately at City Hall and school headquarters, such as financial oversight and personnel administration.
Collins makes a good case for his department taking over school maintenance, noting that at the least, it would allow for the more efficient deployment of specialized equipment and labor and encourage the sharing of resources. It's worked well in Danvers and Lynnfield for many years and is certainly worth trying in Beverly.
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