HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-28 RMLD Policy Subcommittee MinutesReading Municipal Light Department
Policy Subcommittee Meeting
230 Ash Street, Reading, MA 01867
May 28, 2003
6:30 p.m.
Attendees. r4,.
Vin Cameron - General Manager
Robert Soli - Commissioner
Andrew Herlihy - Commissioner
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Daniel Ensminger - guest t > rm
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Meeting called to Order r
Mr. Soli called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. cn "
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Motion
Mr. Soli motioned that the Policy Subcommittee approve the following changes to Policy #19.
• Under section III D 2, delete the words "an annual".
• Under section III D 3 wording should read: "Selects and approves all
professional services associated with the Pension Trust other than the annual
audit". Delete the second sentence.
• Under section III D 4 Delete the sentence and replace it with, "Performs any
other responsibilities as specified in RMLD Policy #22, Pension Trust
Investments.
Motion was seconded by Andrew Herlihy
Motion carried 2-0
Mr. Ensminger presented some language changes that he would like to see made to Policy #19 in
incorporating Article 7 into it. Mr. Soli and Mr. Cameron remarked that the voters of the town
had not approved the changes yet and wouldn't until next year.
Mr. Ensminger's first proposed change is in Policy #19 III C 2. Mr. Soli said that is the law.
Dan said that he doesn't want a contract like the last General Manager had which was two years.
He put in serve at the pleasure of board. He referenced that similar to what Peter Heckenbleikner
has.
Mr. Cameron said if it is at the pleasure of the board why can't he have a contract. Dan said that
he didn't remember what the Task Force survey showed of manager's contracts. Vinnie stated
that he could get 10 contracts to Dan from General Managers. Dan stated that the ex General
Manager had a 2 year contract with incentives. His desire is to track Article 7, that was voted by
town meeting on 4/28/03 and that is why he put these changes in.
Next proposed change was to III C 4 - Mr. Ensminger asked whether language needs to be put
in. He stated that it would be nice to see the types of legal work broken out as some other
accounts break out into projects their costs. Mr. Herlihy said good to have subcategories.
Mr. Cameron stated sometimes you just don't know what issues are going to come up during a
year. Decision was to leave the change out.
Next proposed change was to III C 7 - Decision was to leave it alone. No change.
Proposed change was to III 10 G - Mr. Ensminger asked whether the Board should vote to
approve or ratify the selection of the Accounting Manager. Asked whether it should be an
instructional motion - non-binding. He is looking for ratification by the Board to solidify Article
7.
Mr. Cameron stated he would like to wait for next year before taking this apart. The town hasn't
even voted. Mr. Soli stated that he made peace with himself on the Accounting Manager
appointment. He talked about each year Foley goes before the Board of Selectmen and if he gets
3 votes he is in. Now you would have Mr. Fournier, a regular employee, who Mr. Soli thinks
does an adequate job getting appointed or not. He thinks it opens us up to lawsuits if we do what
the town does and would see Mr. Fournier filing suit. Mr. Ensminger said this doesn't even
speak to annual reviews. "If Article 7 passes, the whole thing has to be put in place." Mr.
Cameron stated that he put into place a lot of the items from the town meeting. Our quarterly
meetings with Town accountant has already started. Mr. Ensminger said that it hasn't gone far
enough.
Brief discussion on the legal side. Mr. Cameron reported that it is hard to put some of the legal
work out to bid because of time constraints. Mr. Ensminger suggested that we strike 11 11 OG.
- Discussion went on to III 10 H where Mr. Ensminger reported that it is fairly without
controversy and suggested that H will become G.
Next item was on page 4 where the committees are listed the recommendation was made to
delete the Task Force Subcommittee and change the GM Committee/Search with responsibilities
to Review GM Evaluation process and search to read GM Subcommittee with responsibilities to
Review GM and evaluation process.
Motion
Mr. Soli motioned that the Task Force Subcommittee be stricken from the policy on page 4 and
on page 3, III 10 H becomes III 10 G.
Motion was seconded by Andrew Herlihy
Motion carried 2-0
Vinnie - Soli started to make a third motion here that he started as "Move to advertise l OG,
Items 3 + 4 on Page 4 but I don't have a finish here. Do you.
Motion to Adjourn