Selectmen's executive session minutes
Jackson Board of Selectmen
Executive Session #2
May 5, 2011
The Board went into Executive Session in accordance with RSA 91-A3, II at 5:46 p.m. to discuss a personnel issue.
Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (b): Public employee hire Office Administrator Falcey joined the Board. It was noted that if the person discussed is hired that needs to be done in Public Session whether the minutes are released or not. This discussion is not about the person proposed for hire; it is a review of how the Board got to today’s discussion.
Chairman Davis noted that the new person’s recommended hire rate is $18; Town Clerk Heidmann wanted to offer $20.
She feels it was inappropriate for Selectman Dougherty to discuss pay with folks like Jay and Dick; Selectman Dougherty disagrees; these are public employees and their rates of pay are public information. Chairman Davis doesn’t think it was necessary to ask these folks their opinions; Selectman Dougherty agrees he jumped the gun on that. Chairman Davis noted certain things should stay with the Board members; we are a three man board;we should discuss concerns with each other before talking to this one and that one. If Chairman Davis finds out anything she calls her fellow Selectmen; the members should be working together.
Selectman Dougherty agreed he was out of step and should have considered this before he spoke with others. He was trying to facilitate spin control; the Board made a bad decision. Chairman Davis noted there needs to be a policy for pay structure; the Board understands that the proposed new hire won’t be trained until July so all she can do is write out dog licenses and answer the phone. Office Administrator Falcey noted she didn’t hear the discussion but the proposed new hire went to Office Assistant Cressey and mentioned in casual conversation what she was doing and stated that she can only issue dog licenses because the training won’t occur until July. It was noted that Town Clerk Heidmann can train the proposed new hire; there’s no need to be certified to run the Town Clerk’s
Office.
It was noted the proposed new hire has an MBA; but one doesn’t need an MBA to do this job; it just requires training; the proposed new hire can’t do the functions of the job she is being hired to do and to pay her $18 an hour is absurd. Chairman Davis noted the Board went with what the Town Clerk presented; Selectman Dougherty noted that doesn’t matter; the Board dropped the ball on this; if Dave Mason was on the Board he would have stopped this right away and said it’s wrong.
There needs to be a hiring policy; this is nothing to do with the people we hire; the Board was looking at the budgetary side only and there was no due diligence to the taxpayers and other employees. It was noted the rate was based on what Town Clerk Heidmann was paid in the Deputy’s position; it was noted that rate was $13.50 hour which translated to $16.50 with fees; it is close to the proposed rate. Town Clerk Heidmann had told the Board that $20 per hour was what she was making; Office Administrator Falcey noted there’s disparity there; the Board needs to consider that the former Deputy Clerk also had over $2400 in training by the time she was making that figure.
The Board recognizes it should have a policy in place; the spreadsheet created will provide a hiring base to go by. Selectman Dougherty talked with Office Administrator Falcey on how to move forward on this; the town employee handbook should have job descriptions for all the positions the town hires and to put a hiring process in place. $14 to $17 per hour is a good starting rate that is based on the job not a degree; once this policy is developed it will come to the Board to approve. A Subcommittee will work on this as the Board members already have a lot on our plate. The Board recognizes it should have done this prior to the current hiring situation.
The Board will need to come out of Non-Public session to hire this person. This has been a discussion over policy and Selectman Dougherty feels if the Board releases this discussion that does enough to satisfy any public input. This is no reflection of the people involved. The Board didn’t start this person at this rate because the members thought it was a fair rate for the job; the rate was based on the previous budget.
Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Allen, made a motion to release the records of this Non-Public Session within seventy-two hours, and upon review, in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, II. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board returned to Public Session at 6:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Martha D. Tobin, Recording Secretary
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