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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-07-15 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting of July 1 :, 19 Pe 1. A meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened in the Executive Offices of the Reading Town Hall at . :00 P.M. Present were Chairman t =aide s, Vice-Chairman Ziegler, Secretary Nigro and Board Members R2tzrsi"ll and Graham. The € urpose of the sheeting was the interview of •n Town Manager Candidate. Chairman Landers opened the meeting by welcoming Mr. Randolph wax Forrester -10 the Town of Reading. Each of the Selectmen introduced themselves by Waiving a brief history of their personal and professional backgrounds. Chairman Landers next asked Mr. Forrester to share information about himself with the Board. Mr. Forrester explained that his education includes a Bachelor of Arty: Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri, and a Master of Arts in Government and Politics (Public Administration and Urban Affairs) from the University of Maryland. Professionally, lir. Forresters` career began in 1969 as a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army. His find duty assignment was that of an S-2/Security Officer, Sth Transportation IscSmmand, Da Nang, Vietnam. "There; as a tst Lieutenant, he was responsible for the security and military intelligence operations of the * th Transportation Command. From 1971-•1974 lir# Forrester worked as a Research Analyst for the City of Middletown, Ohio. Some of his accomplishments included; Management of Public Employment Program, which received recognition as outstanding 1-A ?err;grasp in Butler County and assistance in establishing the Butler County f..•Ct.{nc::r.l. on Aging and ctcrsis.an.,.m in establishing rrs:#.nt. a Group I"ICslrfe for Girls. From 1975 - 1976 lir. Forrester was employed as an Administrative Board of Selectmen Meeting of July 155 1986 Page €ssi.stant for the City of Bowie, Maryland, assisting the Public Mork' „;irC'r;•i;or. While in that position, a SEta,ior accomplishment was the implementation of an effective Absentee Control Program. From 1976-1977 Mr. Forrester worked k ed as an Assistant to the City Manager in Bowie, Maryland. In ....Ei capacity, a€"€{oT'€g other accomplishments, he established aMulti-Purpose Senior Citizens center at no cost to the cit= From 1978 .1980 Mr. Forrester was the Director of Administrative Services and t`e€"•scir•€nee for the City of Bowie, Maryland. While there he was responsible for personnel, central services, intergovernmental relations, credo enforcement, licenses and permits, housing inspection, safety and animal control. He chaired the City Negotiating "foam and Grants € ordi.nati.ng Committee; and served as staff liaison of City Human Resources Committee. From : 980 to present Mr. Forrester has been the :maty Manager at the City of Wyoming, Ohio. He has been the Manager of this full-service r'vice City, which includes police, fire, public € orks, water works, building and housing inspection, life :quad and paramedic:, recreation and carr€rr€€ nity development services. Mr. Forrester was selected as Public Administrator of the Year, Cincinnati Chapter, by the American Society of Public Administration in 1984. Chairman Landers nest asked why did you respond to the advertisement, and why do you want to come to Reading? 1'r. Forrester replied 1 foresee this job as a challenge, which is one of the criteria 1 look for in a job as well as 'fun and remuneration. 1 would also lire to help the own mare its transition with the new Char=ter and help in the reorganization: 1 am also attracted to the Boston area Board of Selectmen Meeting of July 15y 1986 Page 3 because of its: universities, sports teams and the Arts. 1 also i€a'•> .- brother and sister who are relocating to the State of Maine. ine. C1'ic:€:f.e'mrn Landers asked wt"€at CICS you consider the €e€ost significant accomplishments you have made in your professional career? I Mr. Forrester replied I have 13 years experience in City Government, a strong personnel b>m9C»kgroE.nd and c:€ strong 1"iY'€ante and Budgeting background. One of my significant accomplishments was the establishment of a Won€ens Intern Program which provided training for women coming back inti., the work force. Chairman Landers next asked what are some of the difference= you have noticed in this community and the one you are at nog? Do you have initial impressions on how to approach these differences? [ern Forrester replied I see nidi€y similarities in duality of life and sophistication. You :also Have some industry and the opportunity for attracting more, which will broaden your tax base. I presently have 3 budget of $4,000,000. excluding schools. Chairman Lander: stated one of the obvious changes is our "Gown Meeting form of government. What are your thoughts on this? What kinds of experience have you had in dealing with ea large legislative body? Mr. Forrester replied there are pros and cons to this type of direct CCtCCr: „Y: it can be a slow and cumbersome Y �rrc „m„ ”?^^„ but it hasn't scared me away. Mr. Forrester also informed the Board that he instituted a "Dog Patrol" in Wyoming, operating 20 hours per week. He contracted the work out to kennel operators at a cost of approximately $13,000/year and the project worked out very well. Chairman Landers asked do you plan to live in Rei-ding' Board of Selectmen Meeting of July :15, 1986 gage 4 Mr. Forrester replied that is mi; preference, but housing :3.s very expensive here. 1. think that it is very imoctant, however, to be accessible to the Town. Jack ussel.l stated rine of the major issues in Town is the John Street area and landfill. development. How would you handle these issues? Mr. Forrester replied that in Wyoming he helped to rewrite the "Master Plan" and felt that should he done here as well.. Ire Wyoming w paid a consultant as a planner. 1-1e added that zoning should be dictated by the residents. Russ Grc::as##=am asked how would you deal with fiscal problems under Proposition 2 1/2 and t::rantol.o y? Mr. Forrester replied presently I hold an rannual goal setting session with Department Heads and would continue that process, and rely on the priorities established,, t have accumulated street, sidewalk and landscaping grants. 1 have converted a landfi.l.l into a major recreation site. Molly Ziegler stated we have five independent unions, what de ;you think your role might he? Also, would you plan to use Labor Counsel? € . Forrester replied l have 13 years experience in labor, negotiations and would play a direct role in negotiations. I don't feel sire need a .tabor counsel, but I qac{€.old consult with own Counsel. Eugene Nigro stated our ;school Department is a fairly autonomous entity with separate union issues, what is your experience with this? Mr. Forrester replied presently we do some joint purchasing and r share facilities and crews. We try to share resources. Our School. Board was completely involved in the rewrite of the Master Plan. f. have not done collective bargaining with them. Board of Selectmen Meeting of July 15' 1986 Page S ' Eugene Nigro stated there are 16 Department Heads that will �--/ report to you, what organization and communication skills would you use to stay on top of things? Mr. Forrester replied I keep an "open door" policy' for one-half hour every day I take no phone calls and am completely accessible to staff.~ I hold monthly staff meetings, and every Friday write an update memo with copies to all Department Meads. Chm. Landers asked have you read the Charter, do you like it? What are some of the challenges you foresee? Mr. Forrester replied there is a real professional aspect to your, Charter and it is set up similar to most governments. The challenges I foresee in working with the Town are the impacts of Prop 2 1/2v and the establishment of priorities. '-' Mr. Nigro stated in checking one of your references' I called the Town Hall in Wyoming and was informed that you no longer were employed there. Could you explain? Mr. Forrester replied I am on a months' paid leave through July 31 and am still technically employed by the City until that date. The Board next discussed tbeConditiuns of Employment and Fringe Benefits. Mr. Forrester requested a salary of $50v000.00 and asked for an Employment Agreement Contract. He informed the Board that he wishes to attend the Annual Conference of Inter-City Management. He presently receives $100/mooth car allowance, life insurancer health and dental insurance are fully paid. i -/ Mrs. Ziegler explained all the benefits currently offered by the Town of Reading. Mr. Forrester next asked the Board what traits they were looking Board of Selectmen Meeting of July 15, 1986 Page 6 for in a Town Manager' the major problems facing Reading and Readings' �--� strengths. After a discussion of these issues, Chairman Landers thanked Mr. Forrester for coming. ' (Attached are Mr. Forrester's written responses to the questions asked by the Search Committee). The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Secretary | | ' ' ` � ! jL 1 . Thereareelected officials who will remain in office until their term expires. It is the intent of the Charter and the Board of Selectmen that there be a strong Town Manager. How will you make that desire compatible with dealing with those much-needed ex-elected officials and 5 independent unions? With regard to the elected officials I would be very sensitive to the change and lose which they will experience. I would recognize, utilize and appreciate their knowledge, skill and service to Reading. I would involve them, particularly in the establishment of a transition plan. I would, however, keep as my operating and managerial base the desire of the residents to have a strong Town Manager. In regard to the unions, one of the first things I would do would be to get to know the union representatives. I would let them know of my management and collective bargaining styles. I would involve them and make them part of the action. I would also review with them the transition plan and explain the change of government, if necessary. Since there are already a number of Town Managers in Massachusetts, the union representatives will likely already have dealt with Town Managers and this form of local goverment. In summary, I would be sensitive to the changes taking place, utilize the resources represented in the elected officials and unions by involving them, but at the same time making sure that they were aware that as Town Manager I was in charge of the day to day operations of the Town. 2. Prior to passage of the Charter a number of Departments were governed by elected Boards, each having the responsibility of preparing its budget and presenting it to the Town Meeting. Generally the result was that the Finance Committee would recommend a percentage across the board increase to all Departments. Under the Charter the Town Manager has the responsibility for the budget preparation for all Departments, except for the Schools. What methods, processes and criteria would you employ during the budget development process that would better reflect the needs of the community? Prior to the budget development process I would determine the needs of the community through the locally elected representatives. I would begin this with the Board of Selectmen, by reviewing with them the International City Management Association film on Goal Setting. I would then work with the Selectmen to develop the Town's goals and priorities. I would then take the goals established by the Selectmen to the Town Meeting for modifications, additions, deletions or reprior- itization. After the Town Meeting had adopted the Town Goals I would use these as the touchstone reflecting the needs of the community. I would distribute and discuss with the Department Leads these Goals. They would form the base upon which we would operate in terms of putting together the capital and operating budgets. i i During the budget development process I would work with the Town financial staff and the Finance Committee in developing revenue and expenditure projections. While I am responsible for preparing the Budget, I would delegate to my Department Heads the task of putting together the first draft of their operating and capital budget requests for the coming year. I would then review these requests with them, taking into acccount past expenditures, projected revenues and expenditures and the Town Goals. These requests would then be amended, as necessary, so that the Budget I presented to the Selectmen would reflect the Town Goals which they and the Town Meeting had. developed.