HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-31 ad Hoc - Reading ARPA Advisory Committee Minutes0 �p orq
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - commission - Council:
Date: 2022-08-31
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
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2022 SEP -7 AM 8: 25
Reading Arpa Advisory Committee
Time: 7:00 PM
Location:
Community Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Marianne Downing, Shawn Brandt, Geoffrey Coram, Andrew Grimes
(remote), Chris Haley, Joe McDonagh, Tom Wise
Members - Not Present:
Vice Chair Mark Dockser
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom (remote),
Mike Florentino, Alex Rozycki, Steve Bohannon, Maureen, Maria, Paul
Forsey, Jamie Eulle, Jack (remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held In-person in the Select Board Meeting Room of Town Hall and
remotely via Zoom.
Chair Marianne Downing called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm and noted that some items
on the agenda that would be tabled to the next meeting.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Reverend Emelia Attridge was unable to attend this evening's meeting and will either
attend, or send a representative to present to the Committee at the September 6'h meeting.
As members of AFSCME were expecting to present later in the meeting, the Committee
began its review of the premium pay models suggested by members Tom Wise and Shawn
Brandt. Mr. Wise presented two models. The first model considers employees who worked
from March 2020 through June 2021. This Includes retirees who were employed during that
time frame, but not after retirement, and does not Include employees who have left
employment with the Town, but did not retire. The model uses Pay Bands of high, medium,
and low, and includes a differential to focus on lower paid employees, which is consistent
with the original ARPA guidance. Model 2 is based on Model 1, but adds a consideration for
risk level, or amount of community contact. Both models address the key points that the
Committee has discussed for premium pay: salary, in-person, and risk factor.
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Michael Fiorentino, representative for AFSCME, was joined by many members of various
bargaining units, and thanked the Committee for the seriousness with which they have
approached hazard pay. AFSCME has seven bargaining units in Reading including: Facilities,
School Custodial, Cafeteria workers, Engineers, DPW Workers, and others. He explained
that much of the work performed by many of the union members could not be done
remotely, and they worked in-person to ensure that everything continued to run smoothly.
Senior Civil Engineer Alex Rozycki noted that everyone is essential, and everyone did their
jobs in a time when it was difficult to do so. Cafeteria workers, Maureen from the Parker
Middle School, and Maria from one of the elementary schools, shared their experiences
preparing meals for Reading families, including over the summer. Jamie Eulie of the Water
Department explained that water department staff had to enter peoples' homes to replace
valves, or to handle sewer backups.
John Feudo of the Burbank YMCA was unable to attend this evening's meeting and will come
back before the Committee at the September 6'h meeting.
The Committee reviewed the list of requests, and Andrew Grimes shared some of his
suggested allocations. Marianne Downing tried to gauge whether members would like to
approach the next discussion by voting on recommendations for small requests first, or
large requests. As there have been changes, such as the Community Garden receiving
state funding, and the Maillet Sommes project receiving the MVP grant, and other revisions
to requested amounts, some Committee members requested an updated spreadsheet so
everyone could update their suggested allocations.
(Continued from earlier) PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION - RAAC members Shawn
Brandt and Thomas Wise to present possible premium Pay approaches and
discussion by RAAC on same:
The Committee continued a lengthy discussion on the models for premium pay, and
expressed concerns about creating divisiveness in premium pay awards. Marianne Downing
polled the Committee members present on which model they preferred. Four favored Model
2 and three favored Model 1. She noted that everyone who supports Model 2 inherently
supports Model 1, as it is the basis for Model 2. The Committee still needs to determine an
amount, and further data is needed on the number of eligible employees.
Discuss future agenda items:
Marianne Downing stated that she would make sure the Committee receives a revised,
accurate spreadsheet with Andrew Grimes's numbers.
Review/Approve minutes from 8/3/2022 meeting:
On a motion by Shawn Brandt, and seconded by Tom Wise, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted 7-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of August 3,
2022.
Roll call vote: Andrew Grimes — Yes, Shawn Brandt — Yes, Tom Wise — Yes, Chris
Haley — Yes, Joe McDonagh — Yes, Geoffrey Coram — Yes, Marianne Downing — Yes.
On a motion by Tom Wise, and seconded by Shawn Brandt, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted 7-0-0 to adjourn at 9:18 pm.
Roll call vote: Andrew Grimes — Yes, Shawn Brandt — Yes, Tom Wise — Yes, Chris
Haley — Yes, Joe McDonagh — Yes, Geoffrey Coram — Yes, Marianne Downing — Yes.
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