Selectmen Support Bylaw Amendments Clarifying Personnel Board's Role

Town Clerk Michael Bouchard, who serves as the Chairman of the Town Bylaw Review Committee presented the Selectmen with the proposed amendments to the Personnel Bylaw that were developed in collaboration with the Personnel Board, bylaw employees and members of the public. Bouchard said that there were six Bylaw Review Committee public meetings for gathering comments.

He pointed out that since the first charge by the Selectmen to the Bylaw Review Committee, a full Personnel Board was appointed and the remaining bylaw employees, with the exception of three employees, formed a union.

The push for the appointment of a Personnel Board came from Selectman Jack Petropoulos after the first of the year, claiming that the Selectmen failed to appoint a Personnel Board, even though the majority of Selectmen felt that there was not a need for a Personnel Board as the Charter and a full time human resource manager were sufficient. The bylaw employees agreed with the Selectmen and made it very clear that they did not want a Personnel Board appointed, but preferred to work out issues through the Town Manager. When the Selectmen finally agreed to Petropoulos' insistence that a Personnel Board be appointed, the bylaw employees moved forward and formed a union.

Selectmen charged the Bylaw Review Committee with reviewing the Personnel Board's charge and making recommendations for adjustments.

The Bylaw Review Committee and Personnel Board worked on making recommendations that placed the Personnel Board in an advisory capacity. Under the changes from their former charge, the Personnel Board will now advise in the preparation of the wage and salary classification schedule, and participate in the grievance procedure in an advisory capacity if requested; Bouchard noted that "It is a significant change, as it (the Personnel Board) is advisory."

Personnel Board Chairman Bud Robertson told the Selectmen, "This is a good process ....The Personnel Board is advisory for both employees and the Board of Selectmen." He stressed that he along with other members Dolores Alberghini and Mary Jennings support best practices in governance and bring 50to 60 years of experience in this field. "The Selectmen should know what happens in personnel outside of the walls of Town Hall," he said.

Selectmen supported the recommendations of the Bylaw Review Committee and these changes will be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting Oct. 21.