HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-07-14 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Executive Session
July 14, 1992
Part A
The Executive Session was convened at 7:05 p.m. in the Conference
Room, Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts.
Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt,
Selectmen Bill Burditt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner. Later joining the meeting were Police Lieutenant
Robert Silva, Police Sargeant Peter Garchinski, and Police Chief
Edward Marchand.
Prior to being joined by the Police Officers and the Chief, the
consensus of the members of the Board of Selectmen after review-
ing a memo by the Town Manager was to hold the line on any in-
creases and not agree to include the holiday pay in the base pay.
After Lt. Silva, Sargeant Garchinski and Chief Marchand joined
the Board, Dan Ensminger indicated that the Board had decided not
to go ahead and grant the increase through including the holiday
pay in the base pay. He noted that the Town has had a long col-
lective bargaining process with the other unions and felt that
granting a salary increase in this manner would be setting a
precedent. Bill Burditt indicated that looking from the private
industry perspective, the base salary does not include the
holiday pay. The defense industry doesn't do it; it is not stan-
dard procedure and that this should be looked at similar to in-
dustry.
Sally Hoyt indicated that she certainly supports police and fire
employees of the Town. She was concerned that including the
holiday pay in the base pay would have a negative effect on other
contracts settled including the clerical and firefighters. She
indicated that we still don't have a final state budget and from
numbers, was concerned about the effect on other employees. She
noted that Police Superior Officers will continue to receive
their holiday pay and the Town may be in a position to be able to
revisit this at a later date.
Eugene Nigro indicated that he was interested in parity with the
Police Officers. He felt that the total effect of the holiday
pay in the base pay for the Police Superior Officers and Police
Officers would be around $24 , 000. He noted that the teachers
have held the line on increases this year. He noted that includ-
ing the holiday pay in the base pay would not hold the line and
that this would be a salary increase..
Lt. Silva indicated that the RMLD has the holiday pay in the base
pay and they are a Town Department. He felt that the cost for
the contract for the Fire Department was as high as what the Su-
perior Officers are asking. He indicated that the Superior Of-
ficers will continue to bargain and will try very hard to get a
contract signed but noted that there have been losses in health
insurance.
Minutes of the Executive Session - 7/14/92 - page 2
Dan Ensminger indicated that the Board was somewhat disappointed
that resolving the bouncing issue did not resolve the contract.
Lt Silva indicated that this was not truly "no bouncing, " Lt.
Cloonan and Sargeant Mark O'Brien will still be working split --
shifts, although it will be a steady split shift. He also indi-
cated that the holiday pay in the base pay would cost $1, 500.
The Town Manager explained how he had done his calculations using
1991 actual expenses and not assuming that anyone would not "take
the holiday pay in the base pay. " Bill Burditt asked why the
situation with Cloonan and O'Brien was taking place, and it was
pointed out that it was because we are still one Superior Officer
short. Burditt asked if there was ever dollars available whether
they would add a Superior Officer or an additional Patrol Of-
ficer. Lt. Silva indicated that they didn't have much
flexibility and that he was representing the Superior Officers.
Lt. Silva, Sargeant Garchinski and Chief Marchand left the meet-
ing.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Minutes of June 16,
1992 were approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Minutes of June 30,
1992 were approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board voted to ad-
journ the Executive Session at 7 : 32 p.m. All four members
present voted in the affirmative and the meeting was adjourned.
Part B
The Board reconvened in Executive Session at approximately 11: 10
p.m. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman George
Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Bill Bur-
ditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.
The Board discussed the negotiations for the Ice Rink. They
agreed to a methodology whereby the full Board would start the
negotiations but they might defer to a subcommittee if the nego-
tiations take a long time.
At their meeting on Tuesday the 21st Ted Cohen will be present
and they will meet for approximately half an hour as a group and
then at about 9: 00 p.m. meet with Mr. Burbank.
The Town Manager will bring the Board up to date on the status of
the filing for incorporation. The Board reviewed areas of the
term of the lease, and agreed to the 10 years with options for
renewal. The Town Manager will specifically review the issue of
ownership with Town Counsel. Coordination with other neigh-
borhood events was felt to be a reasonable issue. The Town
Manager pointed out that the roadway will not be a public street
and therefore the Board has greater flexibiltiy over dealing with
these issues. The Board asked that if Mr. Burbank has proposals
in advance that they be submitted to the Board in their packets.
The Board will meet at 7:00 for their regular session on Tuesday.
Minutes of the Executive Session - 7/14/92 - page 3
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to adjourn
the Executive Session at 11:40 p.m. All members voted in the af-
firmative and the motion was carried.
Respe tfully submitted,
Screta
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