HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN MANAGER INTERVIEW
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
6:00PM Memorial Hall
Present: Chairman Kimberly Ferguson, James Jumonville, Anthony Renzoni, David White, Kenneth O’Brien
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, D. M. Moschos, Labor Counsel, Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Ferguson opened the meeting at 6:00PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. Tax Classification Public Hearing
Ms. Beverly Kenniston, Principal Assessor, introduced Jim Dillon, a member of the Board of Assessors.
Ms. Kenniston made a FY2010 Tax Classification presentation to the Board. She said new growth numbers declined during 2009 and will continue to decline into FY2011. She recommended that the Town continue to tax all classes of property at a single tax rate. She recommended the single tax rate of $14.80 for FY2010, an increase of $1.16 from FY2009. The average homeowner with an assessed home of $277,000 can expect a tax bill of $4,102.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO OPEN THE TAX CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:20PM.
Mr. Gordon Macphee, with the Chamber of Commerce spoke in favor of a single tax classification.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. White, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE TAX CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:22PM.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SET THE FY2010 SINGLE TAX RATE AS $14.80.
The Board signed the tax documents into record.
The Town Manager left the meeting at 6:25PM.
2. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 30, 2009 MEETING AT 6:26PM.
3. Reconvene Meeting of November 23, 2009
The Chairman reconvened the meeting of November 23, 2009. The Board recessed this meeting in order to continue to discuss candidates for the position of Town Manager.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Jumonville, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RECONVENE THE NOVEMBER 23, 2009 MEETING AT 6:27PM.
Labor Counsel cautioned the Board that since they have three qualified candidates, in order to allow for flexibility, he requested that the Board not eliminate any candidate from consideration until a successful candidate is hired.
He recommended that the Board adopt a motion to designate a candidate for the position of Town Manager.
A motion was made by Sel. White and seconded by Sel. O’Brien to nominate Nancy Galkowski as a candidate for Town Manager and direct labor counsel to negotiate with Ms. Galkowski.
Sel. White said that all candidates were well qualified for the position. He said that Ms. Galkowski’s financial expertise and budgeting skills made her an outstanding candidate and the strongest candidate for the position of Town Manager.
Sel. O’Brien said Ms. Galkowski was head and shoulders above the other well-qualified candidates. Ms. Galkowski served as the interim Town Manager for the Town of Arlington, MA for 14 months. Her development of five and ten year financial plans make her a strong choice for the position of Town Manager. She is a long time resident of Holden who is aware of the ins and outs of living in the region. She will work collaboratively and bring a new set of management and leadership skills to the town.
Sel. Renzoni thanked all the candidates for participating in the interview process. He said Ms. Galkowski was not his top choice – his original top choice was Blythe Robinson from Avon CT, but felt that she fell short on the financial end. Ms. Galkowski is team oriented. However, Sel. Renzoni expressed concerns regarding Ms. Galkowski making the transition from a large town to a small town. He said she contradicted her management philosophy several times during her one on one interview with him. He said that his number one choice for the position was Jacquie Kelly.
Sel. Jumonville said that his first choice was Jacquie Kelly. She would make a smooth transition for the Town. She has all the experience that Ms. Galkowski has, plus has 10 years experience as the Assistant Town Manager in Holden working with Department heads and the community. He said that he had heard from many residents and business people who overwhelming support the choice of Ms. Kelly as the Town Manager.
Sel. Ferguson said that feedback she received was split 50/50 between Ms. Kelly and Ms. Galkowski: Either one will do a fantastic job running the Town. Sel. Ferguson said she met with all the candidates on four separate occasions, and in the end, she chose to nominate Ms. Nancy Galkowski.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was VOTED 4-1 WITH 1 OPPOSED TO NOMINATE MS. NANCY GALKOWSKI AS A CANDIDATE FOR TOWN MANAGER AND DIRECT LABOR COUNSEL TO NEGOTIATE WITH MS. GALKOWSKI. ROLL CALL VOTE: Renzoni: yes; Jumonville: no; O’Brien: yes; White: yes; Ferguson: yes.
Labor Counsel asked if the Board could make a unanimous vote.
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. Renzoni it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TAKE A RECONSIDERATION VOTE TO NOMINATE NANCY GALKOWSKI AS THE CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF TOWN MANAGER AND DIRECT LABOR COUNSEL TO BEGIN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NOMINATE MS. NANCY GALKOWSKI AS A CANDIDATE FOR TOWN MANAGER AND DIRECT LABOR COUNSEL TO NEGOTIATE WITH MS. GALKOWSKI. ROLL CALL VOTE: Renzoni: yes; Jumonville: yes; O’Brien: yes; White: yes; Ferguson: yes.
4. Executive Session
Labor Counsel requested the Selectmen vote to move into Executive Session to discuss non-union contract negotiations.
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:50PM TO DISCUSS NON-UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT PURPOSES ONLY. ROLL CALL VOTE: Renzoni: yes; Jumonville: yes; O’Brien: yes; White: yes; Ferguson: yes.
5. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. White, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 30, 2009 MEETING AT 8:17PM.
APPROVED: December 7, 2009 as amended
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