T o w n o f C h i l m a r k P e r s o n n e l B o a r d
M i n u t e s
Thursday March 19th, 2009
Chilmark Town Hall
08:00
Present: Max McCreery (Chair), Jennie Greene, Susan Heilbron, Steve Lewenberg
Also present: Marina Lent (Personnel Board Secretary), J.B. Riggs Parker (Selectmen Liaison), John Flender (Chair, Cemetery Commission)
Minutes of March 5, 2009 adopted as amended
Compensation Policy for Seasonal Hires:
Polly McDowell began presenting results of her inquiries with the other Island Towns regarding compensation policies for seasonal workers.
Members noted that the Board of Selectmen had voted to award a 3% COLA to all Town employees, including seasonal workers. They recognized that the COLA for seasonal workers is part of the current compensation plan. However, they felt that significant changes in the compensation plan for seasonal employees are overdue.
Jennie Greene made a MOTION to eliminate the current seasonal compensation plan and to develop a new seasonal compensation plan that is not bound to the compensation classification plan of the Chilmark Personnel Bylaw. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Members then discussed how to organize the work around development of a new seasonal compensation plan. It was suggested to organize the work around three main questions:
1. Should there be steps for seasonal positions?
2. What should be the base rate(s) of pay and how should these be determined?
3. What should be the grades assigned to specific positions?
Initial discussion of the issues involved revealed that there is not necessarily one simple answer for each question: the nature and demands of the different seasonal positions vary widely, and it may thus be extremely difficult to find one formula that will do justice to all seasonal positions.
Members then discussed whether to form a subcommittee to develop some specific proposals, or to meet first with Department heads. It was decided to meet with Department heads at the next Personnel Board meeting on April 2nd. Jennie Greene offered to draft a letter inviting Department heads who hire seasonal workers to meet with the Personnel Board at 8:30am on April 2nd.
Cemetery Superintendent:
Cemetery Commission Chair John Flender presented the revised position description for the Cemetery Superintendent. Polly McDowell pointed out that the role of the Town Clerk in assigning plot lot numbers was not reflected. Jennie Greene moved to add the words “in conjunction with the Town Clerk” to the end of paragraph D. She also confirmed that these duties are adequately reflected in the Town Clerk’s position description.
The Cemetery Superintendent’s position description was unanimously approved as amended, and will be forwarded to the BOS for signature.
Police Chief:
Max McCreery reported that the BOS has decided to readvertise the position after receiving only three applications and that candidates already interviewed will be encouraged to keep their applications in. The position will be advertised in off-Island newspapers and the Beacon, the newsletter of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Susan Heilbron stated that Personnel Board members are prepared to assist the Selectmen in the event of large numbers of applicants.
Recruitment of Personnel Board Member:
The Board discussed the need to find a new Personnel Board member. The suggestion was made to ask John Flender to serve, and members enthusiastically responded to the suggestion. Max McCreery expressed concern that John might be too busy with other commitments to the Town. He agreed to speak to John Flender about becoming a member of the Personnel Board.
Performance Evaluation:
The Board requested that Executive Secretary Tim Carroll follow up on the meetings held by Steven Lewenberg and Susan Heilbron with all the relevant parties with a memo summarizing the Performance Evaluation process and presenting the timeline for evaluations requested by the BOS.
Bylaw Revision and Procedure Manual:
Susan Heilbron updated members on the drafting and revisions underway, and suggested that the Board could take up this issue at its meeting on April 16.
The meeting adjourned at 9:26am.
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