“I’m very happy with the fact that we’re moving forward and giving them something,” said Commissioner James “Zeke” Przygocki at the Monday, Oct. 26 council meeting. “They’re overworked and underpaid.”

The $250 year-end gift, to be included as a line item in the yearly budget, will be delivered to nonseasonal employees Dec. 1. If the fiscal year ends with a balanced budget, nonseasonal employees will receive an additional $250, to be paid after commissioners ratify the audited financial report in the spring. If the town ends the fiscal year with a surplus of more than $100,000, workers get 5 percent of the overage.

Bonuses sparked controversy last December when former Mayor Dell Tush awarded $250 to workers at a private party. Commissioner Diane Hanson and former Commissioner Rich Hanewinckel questioned Tush’s ability to unilaterally award bonuses. The ensuing fray prompted council to task the budget and finance committee with formulating an agreeable bonus policy.

Committee members faced tough questions, but after several discussions, the committee recommended both a gift and an incentive bonus. Commissioner and budget and finance Chairman Marc Appelbaum said having a policy in writing was invaluable.

“Last year, we had a very thorny situation. We now have a formalized process. That’s good,” he said.

Mayor Rick Solloway said the new policy should prove uncontroversial.

“At this point, I’m quite confident that it addressed most everyone’s concerns,” he said. Solloway said the town might consider added incentive for department heads in the future.

Town Manager Gordon Elliott said employees are relieved knowing they will continue to receive the holiday gift.

“They won’t have to go through what they went through last year,” he said. “That was just ridiculous.”

Elliott also said many employees say surplus-contingent bonuses are beyond their control. Budget surplus and shortfall is decided by big-budget line items such as transfer tax revenue and legal fees, which are beyond the control of most employees, he said.

“If the legal fees go over, the bottom line goes over,” Elliott said. “It’s all a gamble. It all depends on the revenue side.”

Appelbaum disagrees. Every employee owns a part of the budget’s success, he said.

Speaking of town clerk Mike Koston, Appelbaum said, “I’d like to think Mike thinks we’re all working hard to hit our budget,” he said. “If he gets a check for $500, I hope he feels like he’s a part of that.”

Appelbaum said because bonuses were not included as a line item in the 2009 calendar-year budget, commissioners must vote to authorize the expenditure.

He said he feels confident that employees will get something extra to warm their holiday stockings.