HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-04-12 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
April 12, 1994
The meeting was convened at 7 : 30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman
George Hines, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt, Secretary Sally Hoyt,
Selectmen Dan Ensminger and Camille Anthony, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel H Theodore Cohen, Coolidge Middle
School Science Coaches John Doherty and Debby Reinemann, the
Coolidge Middle School Science Team and their parents.
Certificate of Appreciation - Coolidge Middle School Science Team
- Following a "photo opportunity" the Board of Selectmen approved
a certificate of appreciation and congratulations to the Coolidge
Middle School Science Team which will be representing the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts in the National Competition.
Certificate of Appreciation - Eagle Scout Chris Lucas - On motion
by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board approved a certificate
of appreciation for Chris Lucas upon the attainment of his Eagle
Scout Award by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to go
into Executive Session for the purpose of the discussion of
litigation, to come back into open session at 8 :40 p.m. All five
members were polled and voted in the affirmative and the motion
was carried.
Discussion/Action items
Public Hearing - PaylClassification Plan - The Board returned to
open session at approximately 8: 35 p.m. The Board continued the
hearing on the Non-Union Pay and Classification Plan. The Town
Manager indicated there were several positions he had reviewed
and based on the review had made changes to the Meals on Wheels
Coordinator, the Volunteer Coordinator, and the Elder Services
Director. , The Town Manager indicated that the program would be
reviewed every two years so that the Town would not again "fall
behind" in pay and classification.
Ms. Anthony asked how the Town dealt with long term employees,
and the Town Manager indicated that they would be placed in the
appropriate step in their grade and that unless they are promoted
they would at some point reach the top step and be eligible at
that point only for "cost of living" salary increases. The title
for the Health Director was discussed, and the Town Manager indi-
cated that we should be consistent and either give the broad
title or compound titles. George Hines asked if the Town could,
with the 10% increase as the limiting factor, provide for a
mechanism to move in steps in future years. The Town Manager in-
dicated that this would be a possibility. Hines noted that with
the 2 . 5% increase for FY94 , a projected 4 . 5% in FY95 and a 10%
maximum increase as part of the classification that some of the
salary increases could be as high as 17%
Board of Selectmen Meeting - April 12, 1994 - page 2
Camille Anthony asked why the Building Inspector position is
rated higher than the Conservation Administrator's, and the Town
Manager indicated that it was because in the labor market the
Building Inspectors were paid at higher rates.
Bill Burditt noted that there were no 17% salary increases being
given out. The base salary increases are 2.5% for 194 and 4. 5%
for 195. The maximum adjustment based on classification would be
0
100.
Don Nadeau presented material indicating his classification vis-
a-vis other Inspectors and other Conservation Administrators.
Jonathan Edwards felt that department head positions should be no
less than Division Head positions. Ted McIntire indicated that
the Department of Public Works' non-union employees feel that the
classification plan is a fair one and should be adopted.
Elia Marnik, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, felt that
the Library staff is properly rated; that the pay and classifica-
tion study has been thoroughly reviewed; and the staff and
Trustees support implementation of the program at least for the
Library staff.
John Silvaggi, Chairman of the Cemetery Board of Trustees, spoke
in favor of the plan although they have some long-term concerns
about the Director's position.
Lois Bond, Elder Services Administrator, asked the Board to again
look at the Outreach Worker position, and noted that most Council
on Aging heads have the title Director.
Faye Meehl, Administrative Assistant in the Department of
Finance, reiterated her comments from the previous evening about
the equity between union and non-union positions.
Bill Burditt felt the Pay and Classification Plan should be ap-
proved as is and that other issues may be dealt with in the near
future. Sally Hoyt indicated that workers should be given the
opportunity to air their concerns. She indicated that she hoped
that no one would be afraid to come forward.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to
close the Public Hearing on the Amendments to the Personnel
Policy constituting Non-Union Pay and Classification Plan and re-
lated elements by a vote of 5-0-0.
George Hines congratulated the Board and all affected staff for
their professionalism in conducting themselves at these hearings.
Camille Anthony moved to raise the Conservation Administrator's
position to Grade 13 . Following concern about modifying one
position without having done a full review, the motion was
withdrawn.
Board of Selectmen Meeting - April 12, 1994 - page 3
On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to ap-
prove the amendments to the Personnel Policies of the Town of
- Reading constituting the revisions to the Pay and Classification
Plan for FY94 shown as schedules Al dated April 12, 1994, and B1
dated March 29, 1994, including the elimination of Section lON of
the Personnel Policy; such schedule to be in effect effective
January 1, 1994, for all applicable persons currently employed by
the Town of Reading as of April 4, 1994; that all commitments
previously made as to step increases on the six-month anniversary
of employment should be met even if they do not conform to these
policies, but that future step increases on the six-month an-
niversary date shall be one-step increases; and the implementa-
tion of this program is subject to funding. The motion was ap-
proved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Board discussed additional review
for specific positions. On motion by Anthony seconded by
€ Ensminger the Board agreed to review the Conservation
E
Administrator's position by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony the Board agreed to review
the Outreach Worker position by a vote of 3-2-0 with Ensminger
and Burditt opposed.
On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the the Board voted to review
the Elder Services Administrator position (both the grade and the
title) by a vote of 3-2-0 with Ensminger and Burditt opposed.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board voted to review the
Animal Control Officer's position by a vote of 3-2-0 with Anthony
and Ensminger opposed.
The Town Manager talked about funding for FY94 and FY95 to imple-
ment the program. The Town Manager indicated that in 94 within
the previously set guidelines for use of free cash and other
resources, that we ought to be able to fund the program in the
amount of approximately $40,000.
The Town Manager reviewed FY95 cash reserves and felt that
reserves are at an excellent level and he would recommend the use
of free cash to fund the program for FY95.
On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board voted to
recommend funding the Pay and Classification Plan in accordance
with the Non-Union Pay and Classification Study as approved, and
the Board supports the funding in accordance with the Town
Manager's recommendation by a vote of 5-0-0.
The Board of Selectmen talked about the Town Manager's position.
Selectmen Hines indicated that the Board had dialogue in Execu-
tive Session regarding strategy for negotiating a salary increase
for the Town Manager, as part of the overall Pay and Classifica-
tion Study for Non-Union Personnel. An evaluation of the
material indicated that the Town Manager is severely under paid.
He indicated that, using a 10% guideline of the Pay and Clas-
sification Study, the Board would like to apply a 5% increase for
FY94 and a 5% increase for FY95. Burditt indicated that he was
Board of Selectmen Meeting - April 12, 1994 - page 4
not prepared to address it tonight since he did not bring his
material. The Board discussed alternatives, and agreed to post a
meeting for April 19, 1994 , at 7 : 30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meet- -- -
ing Room for this issue only.
Ron Wood indicated that the Board should consider eliminating the
vehicle allowance and give the Town Manager a Town vehicle. The
Chairman responded that the Board was well able to review the en-
tire compensation package.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Burditt the Board voted to ad-
journ at 9:53 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretay
f