Selectmen's Timetable for Town Manager Performance Review Delayed by Many Months

Because of last winter's conflict between members of the Board of Selectmen, and because the town Manager called for an investigation of a member of the Board of Selectmen, it is perhaps understandable that Selectmen were unable to complete their review of the Town Manager performance on the timetable outlined in their own procedures. However, it is hard to understand why the Board has been unable to complete the review process - now many months late - when voters have a legitimate interest in having all information available as they make suggestions and comments for changes to the Charter.

Below is the Board of Selectmen's policy for conducting the Town Manger's Performance Review.

REVIEW PROCEDURES:

1. The Town Manager's performance review shall commence in January and will be prepared on the form attached hereto, entitled "Town of Groton Annual Performance Evaluation - Department Heads".

2. In January, following discussion on the subject at a public meeting, the Chair shall meet with the Town Manager and prepare an initial draft evaluation.

3. The time period in which the Town Manager and Chair shall complete the evaluation shall be thirty (30) calendar days. The time period may be extended by mutual agreement of the Board and the Town Manager.

4. At the next practical public meeting of the Board following the Town Manager's and Chair's completion of the initial draft evaluation, and following the forwarding of the draft evaluation to the Board members by the Town Manager, each member shall provide written comments back to the Chair. Individual Board members are encouraged to meet with the Town Manager to review their comments prior to submission. The timeline for returning the evaluations to the Chair shall be twenty-one (21) calendar days following delivery of the self-evaluations to the Board members. The timeline may be extended by a subsequent majority vote of the Board.

5. All Board discussions and deliberations as to the evaluation procedure and completion of the evaluation document are to be held in public session. Board members are not to share their comments with other members of the Board outside of a properly posted public meeting of the Board.

6. Following receipt of each Board member's individual evaluation, the Chair shall prepare an evaluation that will include a summary of each section of the performance evaluation of the Town Manager using the form: Town of Groton Annual Performance Evaluation - Department Heads. The ratings of each Board member shall be reflected in the summary evaluation.

7. The Town Manager will then be afforded the opportunity to complete Section 3 of the performance evaluation document. The time limit for completing Section 3 shall be ten (10) calendar days.

8. Within twenty-one (21) days following the Town Manager's completing Section 3 of the performance evaluation document, the Chair shall present the summary evaluation to the full Board for discussion and approval at a posted public meeting. Any amendments to the summary evaluation shall be done by majority vote.

9. The completed summary evaluation shall be signed by the Town Manager, and the Chair, and placed in the Town Manager's personnel file.

10. A copy of the signed summary performance evaluation shall be delivered to the Town Clerk for release when requested. A copy of the summary shall also be placed in the Town Manager's personnel file. Individual Board member evaluations will be placed in a separate file and are not be destroyed. Unless an individual member's evaluation is discussed during a public meeting, the individual evaluation is not subject to release to the public.