Haverhill City Councilor Robert H. Scatamacchia has been hired by the Haverhill Public Schools as its new transportation supervisor. However, he told WHAV he will forego his salary as city council vice president while working for the school district.
“I am not going to take my city council salary. That’s one of the things I promised myself if I was fortunate enough to get this position. I promised the taxpayers there’s only going to be one city salary that I’m going to take, and that is the transportation supervisor’s salary,” Scatamacchia said.
Scatamacchia was selected for the $60,000-per-year position from a field of six applicants to fill a vacancy created earlier this year by the passing of longtime Transportation Supervisor Kevin Eldridge.
Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent James F. Scully told WHAV Scatamacchia is the right person for the job.
“I wanted someone that knew the city well. I wanted someone that had a little basic experience moving vehicles around, fleet experience. And someone that had the ability to articulate the issues. Transportation is a huge part of our budget. And Bob’s degree is in finance,” Scully said.
Scully insists the choice of Scatamacchia was not politically motivated.
“I recognize fully well when you appoint someone that’s a political figure in the city, you’re going to be subject to criticism. But no one pressured me, no one came near me to pressure me politically about Bob. And I think those that know me in the city know that every appointment I’ve made, I’ve made for the best interests of the children,” Scully said.
Scatamacchia, a former funeral director, begins his new position in the Haverhill Public Schools on Monday.