Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-03 Board of Selectmen Executive Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN EXECUTIVE MINUTES AUGUST 3,2009 EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Executive Session convened at 7:00 p.m. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Chairman Tracy M.Watson;Vice Chair Daniel Laren;Clerk Rosemary Connelly Smedile;William F.Gordon; Richard Nardella;Town Manager Mark Rees;Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Vote approved 5-0. Note: Daniel Laren mused Note: Police Chief Richard Stanley was present Negotiations with Non-union Employees Police Chief Richard Stanley came to the Town Manager a couple of weeks ago and said he was approached by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Executive Director about a possible opportunity to assist another community during a management transition. He was informed that the Town of Wareham Police Chief retired rather suddenly with no real transition plan in place. The Town Manager informed the Chief that the final decision must be made by the Board of Selectmen. Tonight Chief Stanley is requesting permission to accept a temporary,part-time,consulting position as the interim Police Chief for the Town of Wareham. He expressed his interest in this opportunity and assured the Town Manager that he would be able to handle the added responsibility without shirking any of his duties to his department or community and intends to use vacation time or work on weekends to perform these additional duties. The Chief said that he is currently the Control Chief for the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Regional Response Team and SWAT element. If approved, he would relinquish his title as Control Chief of NEMLEC after a transition to new leadership. ^ The Board asked questions regarding the responsibilities and time involved and the negative aspects of how this would affect the Town of North Andover and its residents. The Board also said that the policemen under Chief Stanley, Detective Gallagher and Lt.Carney are quite able to take control of all situations and keep the Chief informed if needed. Richard Nardella made a MOTION,seconded by Rosemary Smedile,to endorse the Chiefs petition to take a temporary 20-24 hour a week position in the Town of Wareham as interim Police Chief which would be an administrative/consulting position with the proviso that the Town Manager write a letter of conditions and expectations of the Chief and a 50 day review with the Board. Vote approved 3-1-0. William Gordon opposed. The Town Manager said that a statement needs to be made to the public during Open Session in a positive light about the Chiefs added position. Also the Town Manager would draw up a memo with conditions and regulations for the Police Chief while being away from North Andover. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION,seconded by Richard Nardella,to move into Open Session and reconvene Executive Session later in the evening. Vote approved 4-0. Note: Selectmen returned to Executive Session at 10:15 p.m. Note: Daniel Lanen returned The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Vote approved 5-0. Collective Bargaining Note: Mark Rees and Ray Santilli mused Negotiations with non-union employees Tracy Watson requested that Labor Counsel address a number of questions about what can be discussed during Executive Session about personnel management and procedures which must be observed under state law. A draft memorandum was passed to members of the Board. There were still questions and Rosemary Smedile suggested that perhaps Labor Counsel attend the Board's next meeting. The sub-committee met with Mark Rees and he said that he took no raise in FY09 from his last contract, he will take no raise in FYI 0,but he would like a 5%raise in FYI and 5%in FY12 and a consideration of a merit increase if appropriate and that the current car allowance of$450 be rolled into the base pay and counted towards his retirement. Selectman Nardella and Lanen said they would re-evaluate the car allowance whether this should be a taxable item. The car allowance could be reconsidered on a percentage of use rate or miles rather than a gat rate dollar amount. Also the Town Manager attends conferences throughout the year this could be reconsidered by a possible cut of 10%. Selectman Smedile said that if the rest of the non-union Town employees are given only a 2%-21/2%raise then the Town Manager would receive the same. It would not be fair for him to receive more in this unstable economy especially g FYI is predicted to be even worse than FYI 0. But rf the Town Manager accomplished above and beyond the Board's goals and expectations then there could be a reason for a bonus incentive or merit raise. For example: 'rf he keeps the Town fully staffed,there are no service cutbacks in a tough budget year or cuts the budget or rate of increase by a substantial dollar amount then a merit or bonus is deserved. Selectmen agreed that they would like to complete the Town Managers annual performance evaluation before negotiating a new contract. Selectman Gordon suggested that Board members write their concems and comments as to how the Town Manager has managed the Town to date and if there are any issues that need improvement, such as communications to the Board on important issues,these should be addressed and subjective in a portion of the performance evaluation. Selectmen directed the Chair to work with the Town Manager on developing an updated performance evaluation and give copies to the Selectmen for their review. Once all evaluations are completed they would be turned over to the Chair to be tallied and scored. The Chair would then report back to the Board with results and then the negotiations would resume. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION,seconded by Richard Nardella,to complete the performance evaluation and review of the Town Manager before deliberation of his contract negotiations resume. Vote approved 5-0. ADJOURMENT: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen,to adjourn Executive Session at 11:15 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Adele J.Johnson,Administrative Secretary