Date of Meeting: Monday, July 14, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:10 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Ken Sydow, Roger Deal, Sue Olsen
Others Present: As noted on attached sheet
Warrants signed and approved.
Meeting convened at 6:30PM.
Neil Norum (6:30 PM) -- West Boylston Veterans’ Agent since 2004. Lives in West Boylston (see information attached. Mr. Norum presented responsibilities of an intermediary between veterans and government. Responsibilities of reporting to state and federal governments were reviewed. Currently, he has weekly office hours and visits those in need. He can work to provide assistance to Boylston. Selectmen will discuss with West Boylston Selectmen.
Chief Sahagian (7:00 PM) -- Presented his report to the Selectmen (attached).
Joe Connelly (7:10 PM) -- Discussion regarding interim Town Administrator. Dr. Connelly has worked with administrators and managers in the past, as well as in a leadership capacity as Superintendent of Schools. His current retirement limits his earnings in any government position. He can work 990 hours per year (six months). The restriction on his earnings would be $72,000 in 2008 and 2009. He could work four days a week with travel.
He views night meetings as part of the job, rather than as extra hours. Need to discuss: vacation and holiday hours based on four-day week.
He can support the search for candidates based on past experience on search committees. He worked extensively in municipal government and has a network of town managers and administrators in addition to MMA contacts.
Roger: Wants to provide specific assignments, in addition to the day-to-day. Roger wants Interim to have full authority to observe, recommend changes and pursue solutions, forming teams within the Town.
The Board is to review alternatives and get back to Mr. Connelly regarding a potential offer of employment through Board Chair and Town Counsel.
Roger made a motion, seconded by Ken Sydow, to proceed as above. Voted All in Favor.
Don Parker, Highway Superintendent (7:35 PM) -- Don provided an update on current projects. He has requested residents of Carol Drive to upgrade the private road prior to the plowing season or they will not be plowed by the Town.
He has received additional requests from Parks and Recreation for mowing and maintenance. The cost of fuel is becoming an issue.
One employee quit and he is down to four employees, including himself, plus an additional summer position.
Mark Bertonassi, Building Inspector (7:45 PM) -- Discussion regarding 30 Stockton Street. Mark suggests it go to auction “as is” or, if the Town wants to put it into affordable housing stock, it needs some major work. The property has been taken by tax title.
Don Jutton of Mass. Municipal Resources (8:00 PM) -- Advised there is one viable candidate who is local. The candidate from Michigan withdrew. We need to determine if we should interview the candidate and then possibly expand the search.
Don defined the experience of the potential candidate: The new mayor brought in a new chief administrative officer. The candidate was solicited by Don from a pool of candidates for another community. The candidate is very knowledgeable with Massachusetts management experience.
Ken asked that Don focus on the economic development and planner community with the ability to run a municipal organization, in order to expand the pool of candidates.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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