Selectmen Appoint Takashi Tada Conservation Administrator [with Video]

Selectmen ratified appointment of Takashi Tada to the position of Conservation Administrator to replace Barbara Ganem who is retiring from that position. Tada is a member of the Ayer Conservation Commission and has been working as a wetlands scientist and working part-time in Shirley. Tada was unanimously selected from a group of six finalists, narrowed down from the 40 applications received by the town.

Selectman Josh Degen asked Tada whether or not he would "recommend a wet and swampy" large acreage to the ConCom to purchase by the town, one that was already restricted because of the nature of the wetland. Tada responded that he would need more information to see if it would work for the town. "It depends on the intent. We would need to look at similar purchases....I believe strongly in protection," of this type of property. He cited rare species habitat and passive recreation as reasons for additional protection as well as for trails that fall within the 100-foot buffer zone. He told Degen that he was not coming into the job with any agenda, but was open and flexible.

Personnel Bylaw Policies

Town Manager Mark Haddad asked the Board to approve vacation days, holiday pay, sick days, personal time and longevity in order to be consistent with the unions in town. Essentially this policy would affect three employees that are non-union.

Selectman Degen reminded the Board that most holidays fall on a Monday, a day when Town Hall is open for 11 hours, and recommended that only eight hours be considered for calculation of pay when a holiday falls on a Monday. "My opinion is that we need to look at this...It sets the table for union negotiations," he said.

While he voted against the holiday pay policy, Degen supported, along with the other selectmen, vacation, sick days, personal days and longevity components of the policy.

In other business, the Board voted that Selectman Anna Eliot would represent them on the Superintendent Screening Committee that will be chaired by Jeanne Mitchell, Human Resource Manager for the school district.