PROVIDENCE, R.I. �� In the face of criticism from a state lawmaker, Governor Chafee on Monday defended the raises of up to 12.5 percent he is seeking for 11 �supervisors� at the Division of Motor Vehicles.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. �� In the face of criticism from a state lawmaker, Governor Chafee on Monday defended the raises of up to 12.5 percent he is seeking for 11 �supervisors� at the Division of Motor Vehicles.

After reading about the burst of job postings and proposed raises in the Journal�s Monday Political Scene column, state Rep. John Lombardi, D-Providence, called for a halt.

�When state departments were notified earlier this year to hold off on any non-urgent hirings, it was for a very good reason � Rhode Island is still facing major budget problems,� Lombardi said. �We do not need to exacerbate our fiscal problems by adding more state employees and more salaries, and certainly not at this time of year or this last month of the current governor�s term.�

Chafee responded with an explanation of the rationale for the proposed pay raises that will be considered at a public hearing on Tuesday morning:

�We examined how other states (particularly Massachusetts) are working to reduce wait times at DMVs. The takeaway from the conversations was to increase �resources.� I am willing to put the resources into our DMV to ensure that Rhode Islanders can accomplish their needs at the DMV in a timely manner.

�As you know, this is one of my top initiatives,� he said. And �we�re following what was outlined in the DMV�s strategic plan, which was supported by [a] Special Senate Commission.

�The DMV plan examined �time management� and determined that reducing wait times depends on the following two factors:

� Providing an opportunity for job and salary growth for Consumer Service Representatives (CSRs) to decrease what has been seen as a high level of turnover for these critical positions; and

�Create an opportunity for part-time CSRs to fill the critical 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. time slot. This is when morning and afternoon breaks and lunches afforded to the full-time CSRs lead to back up of wait times for Rhode Islanders,��Chafee said.

�The raise in supervisors� salaries for 11 employees is a byproduct of these efforts and is necessary to ensure that supervisors continue to get paid at a slightly higher salary than those they supervise,� he said.

The administration has not yet identified the 11 employees who would benefit from the proposed raises of up to 12.5 percent for supervisors of both �customer services� and �branch office services� at the DMV who happen to be members of Local 808, of the Laborers International Union of North America.

If approved, a job that paid up to $49,856 a year would pay $56,073 instead, plus whatever longevity may have already been earned. The effective date: June 28, 2015.

Lombardi said: �The new administration should be allowed to decide which, if any, state employment positions are critical to the proper function of state government and therefore need to be filled. �

Beyond that, he said the hirings �just reinforce the impression many residents have of state government � it does whatever it wants, spends taxpayer money however it wants and turns a blind eye to the kinds of fiscal difficulties most Rhode Islanders are having, especially at this time of year.�

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