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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-18 RMLD General Manager Committee MinutesReading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners General Manager Committee Minutes December 18, 2008 R C E M f Y"O CLER C A D ; ^t . MASS. Start Time of Committee Meeting. 7:40 p.m. End Time of Committee Meeting: 8:30 p.m. Attendees: Commissioners: Messrs. Hahn, and Soli, Ms. Kearns RMLD Staff. Mr. Cameron Mr. Hahn called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Mr. Hahn began the meeting by noting that the General Manager's (GM) Committee usually performs an evaluation of the General Manager in early February. Ms. Kearns said that she wanted the committee to review the GM evaluation form, because she does not believe that the form adequately evaluates the full spectrum of duties to be performed by the General Manager. [Mr. Cameron noted that Mr. Soli was at the RMLD at 7:00 p.m. for this meeting, however, he left at 7:20 p.m.] [Ms. Kearns said that due to an accident on Route 93 that she was late coming from Boston.] Ms Kearns asked if the GM Committee had to do anything with respect to the General Manager's salary or job continuation before the end of December. Mr. Cameron replied, "no." Mr. Hahn stated that the GM Committee also meets in August to do a mid year review of the GM. Ms. Kearns then stated that she did not think it is reasonable to do nothing with the GM evaluation from February through August. Mr. Hahn pointed out that the GM agreement includes a six-month notice period if the Board decides not to renew the GM's contract moreover, he stated, the RMLD is going to need at least six months to replace the GM if they have to. Ms. Kearns stated that her problem with the evaluation form is that it does not include the more subjective issues like leadership, employee relations, and relationship with the Board. Ms. Kearns said that she had contacted APPA and NEPPA and received some evaluation forms that other companies use and said that she had e-mailed copies of these forms to members of the General Manager Committee. Ms. Kearns then went on to explain that she had taken one of the APPA evaluation forms and included on it performance items that were taken from the Strategic Plan. Mr. Hahn pointed out that the present evaluation form is objective because the goals are all quantifiable. The committee as a whole had to vote on meeting the form's criteria. With subjective, qualitative goals, it is possible for one Board Member didn't like the GM to create an adverse outcome. Mr. Kearns said that a measurement of leadership is not on the present evaluation form. Mr. Cameron asked Ms. Kearns how would she measure leadership? Mr. Hahn said that he thought leadership is shown through getting things done like the budgets, customer service, and reliability. Ms. Kearns pointed out that she has served on other Boards of non-profits and educational entities and the evaluation of the General Manager or Director is very important and she doesn't believe such a task-oriented evaluation form, as the one used at the RMLD is useful. The GM is only penalized for not meeting milestones, and there is nothing about his relationship with the Board or his leadership qualities. Mr. Hahn asked how the Board would use a subjective evaluation of the GM without it being affected by one Board member who might not like the GM. Reading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners General Manager Committee Minutes December 18, 2008 RECEIVED TOWN CLERK U "k S S. READING. M.4 Start Time of Committee Meeting: 7:40 p.m. _;9 F , 08 End Time of Committee Meeting: 8:30 p.m. i Attendees: Commissioners: Messrs. Hahn, and Soli, Ms. Kearns RMLD Staff: Mr. Cameron Mr. Hahn called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Mr. Hahn began the meeting by noting that the General Manager's (GM) Committee usually performs an evaluation of the General Manager in early February. Ms. Kearns said that she wanted the committee to review the GM evaluation form, because she does not believe that the form adequately evaluates the full spectrum of duties to be performed by the General Manager. [Mr. Cameron noted that Mr. Soli was at the RMLD at 7:00 p.m. for this meeting, however, he left at 7:20 p.m.] [Ms. Kearns said that due to an accident on Route 93 that she was late coming from Boston.] Ms Kearns asked if the GM Committee had to do anything with respect to the General Manager's salary or job continuation before the end of December. Mr. Cameron replied, "no." Mr. Hahn stated that the GM Committee also meets in August to do a mid year review of the GM. Ms. Kearns then stated that she did not think it is reasonable to do nothing with the GM evaluation from February through August. Mr. Hahn pointed out that the GM agreement includes a six-month notice period if the Board decides not to renew the GM's contract moreover, he stated, the RMLD is going to need at least six months to replace the GM if they have to. Ms. Kearns stated that her problem with the evaluation form is that it does not include the more subjective issues like leadership, employee relations, and relationship with the Board. Ms. Kearns said that she had contacted APPA and NEPPA and received some evaluation forms that other companies use and said that she had e-mailed copies of these forms to members of the General Manager Committee. Ms. Kearns then went on to explain that she had taken one of the APPA evaluation forms and included on it performance items that were taken from the Strategic Plan. Mr. Hahn pointed out that the present evaluation form is objective because the goals are all quantifiable. The committee as a whole had to vote on meeting the form's criteria. With subjective, qualitative goals, it is possible for one Board Member didn't like the GM to create an adverse outcome. Mr. Kearns said that a measurement of leadership is not on the present evaluation form. Mr. Cameron asked Ms. Kearns how would she measure leadership? Mr. Hahn said that he thought leadership is shown through getting things done like the budgets, customer service, and reliability. Ms. Kearns pointed out that she has served on other Boards of non-profits and educational entities and the evaluation of the General Manager or Director is very important and she doesn't believe such a task-oriented evaluation form, as the one used at the RMLD is useful. The GM is only penalized for not meeting milestones, and there is nothing about his relationship with the Board or his leadership qualities. Mr. Hahn asked how the Board would use a subjective evaluation of the GM without it being affected by one Board member who might not like the GM. General Manager Committee Meeting 2 December 18, 2008 Ms. Kearns said that she thinks that a task-oriented evaluation form diminishes the creativity of the Board. Mr. Hahn responded that the Board had accepted this evaluation. Mr. Hahn went on to say that the expectations of the GM are understood and measurable. Ms. Kearns did not agree,-, She said that the present evaluation is narrowly drafted and only addresses the GM's pay raise. Mr. Hahn disagreed and said that the evaluation represents the Board and the GM's common understanding of goals and the measurement of performance. Ms. Kearns pointed out that in reviewing the forms she received from APPA and NEPPA, there is nothing that looks like the RMLD's evaluation form. Mr. Hahn said that the committee should take some time to review the forms and meet in 2009. Ms. Kearns agreed. Mr. Hahn instructed the GM to make a copy of the forms for Mr. Soli. Motion to Adjourn At 8:40 p.m. Ms. Kearns made a motion seconded by Mr. Hahn to adjourn the General Manager Committee Meeting. Motion carried 2:0:0.