CIVIL SERVICE STUDY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
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7th Meeting
November 17, 2009 @ 7:00 PM
Selectmen's Room, 1204 Main Street, Starbard Building
Members Present: Sheila Bachant, Cynthia Bazinet, Al Ferron, Anthony Gribbons, James Jumonville, Otto Lies
Members Absent: Dawn Torres-Gale
Staff: Johannah Adams, Computer Project Coordinator - Police Department
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Called to Order: 7:05 PM
• A. Ferron moved and A. Gribbons seconded to approve minutes of 10/15 meeting. Yes: 3 No: 0 Abstain: 3. Minutes approved as submitted.
• A. Ferron submitted report (available upon request) based on research done by the Committee. Report includes Introduction, Composition of the Committee, Background of Civil Service, Methods of Selecting Chiefs for both Civil Service ("CS") and Non-Civil Service ("NCS"), Types of Police Chiefs (i.e. "strong" vs. "weak") and Advantages and Disadvantages of both CS and NCS. In addition, some newspaper articles found on the Internet are included for additional perspective.
• Review/discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of CS and NCS (handout pp 3-5). Under CS Advantages: Change word "technique" to "process" in item d) and combine items a) and f).
• Discussion of differences between CS and NCS as relates to item g) under NCS Disadvantages. ["This system can sometimes cause problems if the appointing authority has in mind an internal policeman it wants as chief and puts all the applicants for the position knowing that the job is already filled. It gives the citizens the appearance that the choice was on the up and up. This 'method' could cause the community money depending on the system used".]
• Discussion regarding the use of the raw data from A. Ferron's anonymous interviews with various Massachusetts police chiefs as opposed to compiling a list of the Committee's authorship.
> Goal for next meeting: Send A. Ferron individual lists of pros/cons for both CS and NCS, to allow the construction of a proposal for the Board of Selectmen.
> A. Ferron proposed using page 1 of his report (Introduction, Composition of Committee, Background of CS), followed by pros/cons list as the final proposal/report.
• Citizen's Address: Maureen Floryan, Sterling Road, Jefferson
> The following is a brief summary. (Complete statement available upon request).
- Committee has been efficiently run; members have taken their task seriously.
- Questions why the current system [Chief is CS] needs changing.
- Appears to be a lack of momentum from the public for pressing such a change.
- Urge the Committee to make that point strongly in its recommendations and report.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 @ 7:00 PM, Selectman's Room, Starbard Building
Adjourned: 8:00 PM
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