HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-24 Board of Selectmen Executive Minutes ^ BOARD OF SELECTMEN EXECUTIVE MINUTES FEBRUARY 24, 2003
EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Executive Session convened at 7:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman; James Xenakis;
Wendy Wakeman; Donald Stewart; Susan Haltmaier; Mark Rees, Town Manager;Thomas Urbelis,Town
Counsel.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted unanimously to move into Executive
Session. Vote approved 5-0.
Pendino Litigation: Rocket Entertainment.
Thomas Urbelis,Town Counsel gave an update of a recent conversation with the Thomson family
attorney, Tom Mackie. Attorney Mackie said the Thomson family was encouraged that members of the
Board of Health were willing to take a trip to view the New Bedford trash/transfer station. The trip will take
place on Saturday, March 1, 2003. They also referred to a letter from the Board of Selectmen as a
positive step in the right direction to continue with dialogue with representatives of the Board. He said the
Thomson family had received a letter from"People for the Environment". There were some
misconceptions as to who sponsored this letter. The Thomson family is still going to file with the Board of
Appeals for the Adult Entertainment facility in case the trash/transfer station falls through. A new
application is very costly about$200,000 and before this kind of money is spent, they want to have a
preliminary public hearing.
Negotiations with Non-union employees.
Two by-law positions, the police chief and the deputy fire chief, had been removed from the wage and
classification study for further analysis because it was determined that in looking at comparable pay
^ packages in other communifies, compensation not only included base pay but also differentials such as
longevity, holiday, etc. Additional survey work was completed and Mr. Mullett, consultant, from Howard
Tabor Associates has provided the Town Manager with comments and recommendations.
For the police chief position, the consultant recommended "an incremental amount of$7,779 to bring the
current chiefs direct compensation to the level of the average of surveyed communities." Taking into
consideration the structure of the education incentive payment, this recommendation would result in
increasing the base salary by$6,200 from$77,870 to$84,070. For the deputy fire chief position, he
recommended that the base salary be increased by$4,090 from $70,554 to$74,644"which will bring this
position to the average base pay for the municipalities providing data."
The Board suggested that the Town Manager discuss clothing allowance and uniform dress code with the
chief of police especially at formal events. Selectman Xenakis asked when compensation with
comparable communities was done for the deputy fire chiefs, did they factor in for a municipal vehicle for
full-time use? This benefit is worth at least$6,000 to$7,000. The Town Manager will ask consultant for
additional information on the vehicle use. The Town Manager will meet with the Chief of Police and the
Deputy Fire Chief to discuss the findings.
ADJOURNMENT:
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move out of Executive Session.
Vote approved 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Adele J. Johnson,Administrative Secretary