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Date of Meeting: Friday, December 10, 2010
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
Regional Dispatch: (Town Administrator reporting on progress.)
- Fire and Police Chiefs and Nancy Puff met several times; they are comm8unicating with Worcester officials. The Police Chief is concerned about losing administrative functions of dispatchers; Fire Chief is in full support.
- The current annual cost for dispatchers is $271K
- Worcester Regional Dispatch estimated cost: $81 - $42K grant (likely repetitive) annually.
- We still need to carry $11K in other dispatcher expenses. This is estimated cost to replace administrative duties of dispatchers (24 hours a day, Monday through Friday and 12:00 to 8:00 weekend days).
- Cost of centralized dispatch would average $58K, with a potential savings still of $162K.
- Unknown costs = average $30K/year (T-1 line, phone forwarding, etc.). Still a potential savings of $132K
- One-time costs: security cameras in lobby, parking area, etc. Buzzer door to a “safe room,” etc.
- Jim Stanton asked how many walk-ins the PD gets during the day and after hours. Town Administrator stated that Chief said they do not log those statistics.
- Ken asked why they have 24/7 building coverage. The Town Administrator suggested the Chief speak with the Board regarding his concerns.
- Total potential savings for the first year is $114K; subsequent years: $132K.
- Ken said he would feel better staffing ambulance service 24/7; then some money is recovered with ambulance fees. Why not focus on staffing the ambulance?
- Ms. Puff said the Chief does not feel Regional Dispatch is a benefit to the community.
- Inter-municipal agreements can be approved by the Board of Selectmen without Town Meeting approval.
Salary Surveys:
- Fire Captain (Deputy Chief comparable)
- Boylston: $52K
- Average: $65K (of Fire Dept Chief and Lieutenant)
- Captain Don Mackenzie also does the majority of the equipment maintenance.
- Chief Flanagan recommends an average salary of $60K would be more reasonable.
- A brief discussion was held regarding hours of positions, titles, etc.
- The Board of Selectmen would like to discuss this with Fire Chief Flanagan.
- Fire Chief
- Deputy Chief All paid in comparable bracket
- Firefighters
- Accountant: Average of 832 hours regularly exceeded this year due to Treasurer transition.
- Ken Sydow asked what the Town Administrator would feel to be fair compensation. She said $1K, possibly? Jim Stanton said that doesn’t cover the many extra hours and Ken Sydow agreed.
- Roger asked why not pay the actual extra hours worked. im explained that she is a salaried, contracted employee.
- The Board of Selectmen agreed to process a $3K stipend for the Accountant’s extra work incurred during the Treasurer transitions.
- Treasurer: The annual salary of $51K is below the average of $59K:
- Town Clerk, Health Agent, Highway Superintendent and Executive Administrative Assistant to the Board: The hourly rate is in line with other communities.
- Town Administrator: The Town Administrator maintains the average salary is $101K.
At 4:00 PM motion was made to adjourn. Motion seconded and voted all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant
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