Incentive offered for money-saving ideas

Residents and most town employees can share in the savings that result from efficiency measures they propose in the town of Mansfield.

The new policy, approved by the Board of Selectmen on March 9 by a 3-2 vote, would entitle the person to 1 percent of all future savings resulting from his or her proposal. If an idea led to $20,000 in annual savings for the town, for example, its creator would receive $200 each year.

Incentives for employees’ money-saving ideas have been used in other Massachusetts cities and towns, but typically the programs have offered a single cash award rather than a share of the overall savings.

Olivier Kozlowski, the Mansfield selectman who proposed the program, said he modeled it in part on a program used by the U.S. Air Force. He also noted that Rep. Daniel Winslow of Norfolk has proposed an amendment that would change a state program that in some years has provided cash awards to state employees who propose useful money-saving ideas. Winslow’s amendment would make all state residents eligible for the award, with the person receiving 1 percent of the annual savings, up to $10,000.

One of the selectmen who voted against the proposal in Mansfield raised concerns about the difficulty of tracking the savings resulting from a person’s idea. Kozlowski acknowledged that “we won’t know how difficult it is until we try it.”

But, he added, “The payment will come after the realization of the savings. We’re not paying for ideas; we’re paying for results.”

Kozlowski said he was informed by town counsel that Town Meeting will need to approve any cash awards, even though the full amount of the award already will have been budgeted.

“I’d be very happy to get up and announce the winner and advocate for the person getting payment through the program,” Kozlowski said. “I’ll have the tangible results to show.”