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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Selectmen
Date: 2016-01-26 Time: 8:45 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Executive Session
Purpose: Labor Negotiations Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chairman Daniel Ensminger, Vice Chairman John Halsey, Secretary Kevin
Sexton, and Barry Berman
Members - Not Present:
John Arena
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Kevin Sexton
Topics of Discussion:
The Town Manager described the proposed collective bargaining settlement with the new DPW
Supervisory Union (AFSCME). For wages, during the period 4/3/15 and 6/30/17 following are the
annualized increases:
Town Engineer 2.0%(expected retirement 6/30/16)
Water/Sewer Supervisor 4.3%
Highway/Equipment Supervisor 3.6%
Parks/Forestry/Cemetery Supervisor 3.3%
TOTAL 3.3%which is comparable to all other town unions and non-union personnel.
Each position has been set up so the top step is equal to the top step in the recently conducted non-
union Pay & Class survey for these positions. Because Reading's range of pay (entry level through top
step) is lower, the entry level steps are above peer averages. That study did show that the water/sewer
position was below median and thus is the largest increase. Below are the findings of the study,
comparing the mid-range in Reading versus peer communities. The P/F/C position reflects only the P/F
from most other towns:
Town Engineer+3.7%
Water/Sewer-3.1%
Highway/Equipment Supervisor+3.7%
Parks/Forestry/Cemetery Supervisor+7.3%
In response to discussion and questions from the Board, the Town Manager was never certain why this
union formed as the pay was equitable. One possible reason was that members now formally received a
paid six-hour break after working for 18 consecutive hours during a snowstorm. While this was not
formally codified it was common sense to apply that policy which was found explicitly written in the
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Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes—January 26 2016—page 2
DPW union. Another was a pattern of poor communications within the department with the DPW
Director. It is noteworthy that two recently former members from that union stared this new union.
On a motion by Ensminger seconded by Halsey, the Selectmen voted to approve the collective
bargaining agreement by a vote of Halsey:yes; Berman:yes;Sexton:yes; Ensminger•yes
On a motion by Ensminger seconded by Halsey, the Selectmen voted to adjourn Executive Session to
return.to Open Session at 9:OSpm by a vote of Halsey:yes; Berman:yes•Sexton:yes; Ensminger•yes
Respectfully submitted, ,
Secretary
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