BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Special Meeting
Monday, July 16, 2007
10:00 a.m.
First Floor Conference Room
Town Hall
MINUTES
Board of Selectmen met in Special Session on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., First Floor Conference Room Town Hall.
PRESENT: Selectman William Peace, Selectman Velma Thomas, Attorney Lisa Lazarek, Sam Barnes, Tim Oppenheimer, Wayne Wysocki, Suzanne Pascoe.
I. CALL TO ORDER – Selectman Peace called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.
II. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN
III. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
A. Informational meeting and STEP II with respect to pending grievances at Youth & Family Service.
Selectman Peace states that Suzanne Pascoe to address a Youth & Family Service Staff Meeting at which her supervisor, Larry Freundlich, targeted, harassed and humiliated her in front of the entire staff. Suzanne is looking to cease and desist and make employee whole.
Tim Oppenheimer confirmed to make whole to try to change supervisory structure so this does not occur again and suggested mental anguish and stress this caused with proposed damages to equal leave with pay. Selectmen Peace questioned remove supervisor from position, asking for supervisor’s termination? Tim Oppenheimer responded, “No”, believes a different supervisory structure. Wayne Wysocki stated that Union is certainly not asking the Board of Selectmen to terminate Larry’s employment. Selectman Peace stated that in the beginning Union did ask for his termination. Wayne Wysocki replied, “I believe so.” Selectman Peace stated the arrangement is a contractual arrangement and no interest in changing and is pleased with the Agency. Suzanne
Pascoe responded that she was under the impression she was removed from supervisor prior to this and that Sal Bruzzese could stand in and that she received supervision from Kathy Long. Lisa Lazarek asked if there was clinical supervision at the meeting referenced and/or any allegations to clinical supervision. Suzanne Pascoe responded, “No.” Suzanne commented that Sal Bruzzese, a psychiatrist at ACE’s, would be a logical solution to the supervisory structure and is willing to change her schedule to meet with him once a week or twice a month. Selectman Thomas asks if Larry sits in on clinicals. Suzanne Pascoe responds that at times he and Linda assign cases to the staff and if feedback is needed she will go to Sal or Kathy.
Selectman Peace asks to go over the harassment portion of the grievance. Suzanne Pascoe stated she attended a mandatory Staff Meeting (June 27, 2007) and the Board of Selectmen and Sam Barnes (vacation) not available to attend. Larry Freundlich asked if anyone at the meeting was uncomfortable but she remained at the meeting. The meeting is 2 ½ hours long with a lot of Healthy Community Healthy Youth discussions. Suzanne stated she had let everyone know she was on vacation and returning early from Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday, June 24th to attend the Wilderness Hike. She had agreed with Brenda Partyka to be back on Sunday. On June 12th Larry Freundlich sent a memo changing the schedule for the Wilderness Trip to Saturday, June 23rd.
Suzanne noted that she told Larry Freundlich she spoke to him about not being there on the 23rd and Larry stated he did not recall the conversation with her and received nothing in writing about not attending. Suzanne said at that point she felt she was being disciplined and tried to disengaged from the conversation but Larry was coming at her and demanded Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. Suzanne noted she finally said “you’re welcome” and that she felt humiliated in front of her peers and Larry made it seem that she was not doing her job, that she abandoned Brenda. A copy of the Staff Meeting minutes will be provided. Sam Barnes asks why the day changed. Suzanne Pascoe said, he (Larry Freundlich) wanted them to go to the Wilderness School vs. Hike. Tim Oppenheimer interjected to clarify with Selectman Peace the statement made that Larry Freundlich be terminated. Selectman Peace responded that he did not
recall ever making that request. Suzanne Pascoe exits the meeting at 10:50 AM.
11:00AM Joanne Messner enters the meeting. Selectman Peace notes that the grievant is looking for compensation for call-in hours under Section 5.3, immediate cease of continued harassment; make employee whole and Social Services a stand alone department. Wayne Wysocki stated employee, Joanne Messner was called into work on May 5th from an ambulance call to a Town resident; the Police Department requested assistance from Youth & Family Services. Joanne Messner responded and mitigated the situation through her department and put in for 3 hours call-in. Supervisor, Larry Freundlich questioned the hours. Correspondence was then retuned to Larry with the 5.3 Call-in Policy. Wayne Wysocki will provide a copy. Selectman Peace questioned if the employee
makes out the timesheet. Joanne Messner replied, “Yes.” Selectman Peace questioned if Joanne put in for overtime and Larry Freundlich changed. Joanne Messner replied that Larry asked for clarification and attached an overtime request form. Selectman Peace asks if Call-in hours happened in the past. Joanne Messner replied, “Yes.” Selectman Peace asks if she had been paid in the past. Joanne Messner replies, “Comp time.” Selectman Thomas stated that normally compensatory time is applied for, but this time overtime (money) was. Wayne Wysocki notes that employee has the option to choose comp time. Tim Oppenheimer states that 5.3 indicates Call-in situations shall be paid 3.0 hours. Wayne stated that the Town’s position is if an employee is building up too much comp time an employee is entitled to the money. Larry Freundlich changed her overtime to comp time with no
communication to the employee. Lisa Lazarek shows a copy of Joanne Messner’s timesheet indicating the overtime. Wayne Wysocki stated that Larry Freundlich continues to harass Joanne. Joanne read a note attached to the timesheet from Larry Freundlich, “Joanne, I signed your overtime request. No one has ever used this contract clause in the past, thus the questions. Please provide me with a report of the situation you dealt with and the time spent on the call.” Lisa Lazarek asks, “Standard overtime sheet for compensatory time too? Wayne Wysocki responds, “Yes.” Sam Barnes asks, “Don’t want comp time?” Joanne Messner responds, “No.” Selectman Thomas asks, “With your cases what is the average time frame to resolve. Joanne Messner responds that most clients are repeats.some 10 minutes, some 2 days. Selectman Thomas asks, “Are we supplying the Town’s piggybank as year round. Joanne Messner responds that cases are not always financial support. Selectman Thomas, “You can say
for the record that clients are not a burden on the Town. Joanne Messner responds, “Yes.” Selectman Thomas asks, “Do you follow up with the counselors? Joanne Messner responds, “Yes.” Selectman Thomas asks, “How do you keep updated?” Joanne Messner responds, “Statewide organization.”
Selectman Peace asks, “If made stand alone department who would you report to?” Wayne Wysocki responds, the Board of Selectmen or YFS Commission.
Selectman Peace states, “Looking for compensation to immediately make whole and social services stand alone..anthything more to add. Wayne Wysocki adds, “most logical to report to the Board of Selectmen but open to discuss option(s) that will be workable. Joanne Messner exits meeting.
11:35 AM Diane Patterson enters meeting. Selectman Peace reads statement of her grievance and asks “to place under supervision of school Principal, Sal Bruzzese or Kathy Long or reassigning someone within Youth & Family or Park & Recreation?” Selectman Peace states that the school principal has no interest at assuming that position and that option was explored. Selectman Peace asks if service ratings are done. Diane Patterson responds, “Yes, we’re suppose to but it is not occurring.”
Selectman Peace asks for detail on the harassment over sick leave/flex time. Diane Patterson explains she works evenings/weekend program and her hours are “all over” and has been using flex time all along. The last day of school, 6/20/07, she flexed hours and Larry Freundlich said “no” to the flex hours until he receives a written request and told her not to use unless pre-approved. Diane checked with other employees in the agency (Jan Briscoe, Wendy Mills, Joanne Messner, Paula Palmieri, Suzanne Pascoe and Joan Zimmerman) and they were not asked to put in a written request. Lisa Lazarek responds, per approval of her supervisor she is allowed to use flex. Wayne Wysocki stated that Larry seems to be targeting certain employees. Lisa Lazarek asks
Diane, “Do you believe this is retaliatory towards you?” Diane responds, “Yes, he did not bring up the new flex time procedure at the next Staff Meeting on June 22nd.” Lisa Lazarek noted flex remains inter department and comp time is approved through the Board of Selectmen’s Office. Sam Barnes and Selectman Thomas agreed that it is important to keep the Supervisor informed. Diane Patterson responded that she could “guesstimate” in writing a week ahead. Wayne Wysocki stated that this is another example of targeting by Larry Freundlich. Selectman Peace stated he was not sure about that and he expects the supervisor to know. Sam Barnes agrees with Selectman Peace.
Selectman Peace asks for details on the sick leave harassment portion of the grievance. Diane Patterson stated she had knee surgery with a 6-8 week recovery period by her doctor. She chose to come back to work early but needed to follow through with physical therapy. Selectman Peace asks, “What is the process according to contract for time away?” Diane Patterson noted that she was using sick time correctly in hour increments and Larry Freundlich was trying to make her use ½ day increments and feels she is being singled out. Wayne Wysocki noted, Larry Freundlich stated she had to take time away according to contract, and was confused on the increments. The issue has been clarified with Larry Freundlich. Selectman Peace noted that Larry Freundlich
has been sent numerous memos that he is under restriction to discipline.
Diane Patterson stated that Larry Freundlich made a statement at a Y&F Commission meeting that “We may not get United Way funding renewed.” Also, a conversation was overheard by her co-worker between Larry Freundlich and Eileen Breslin, DCF Regional Director and United Way Board Member about cutting the grant free and felt it was important to further discuss the personnel issue with the Commission and was at no time being insubordinate to the chain of command and cannot see what she was doing wrong. Lisa Lazarek stated, “it was not a reprimand but a warning not to go to the YFS Commission.
Selectman Thomas requested a copy of minutes to the May 1st Commission meeting and Diane’s documentation of overheard phone conversation.
12:40 PM Jan Briscoe enters meeting. Selectman Peace reads statement of grievant. Grievant denied payment foe medical exam for required license, denied grant hours received in the past, bargaining unit work of grievant transferred to non bargaining unit employee and grievant is looking to make whole, remove supervisor from supervisory position as to grievant.
Jan Briscoe stated she would like to be supervised by someone else as she feels continual retaliated against for example the SAMSHA grant and hours taken away and suggested supervision by Kathy Long or Sal Bruzzese.
Lisa Lazarek stated that 1-2 years ago a law was passed to be in effect in 2006 to drive a passenger van, A-endorsement CDL is now required. Jan Briscoe noted that she received a note from Larry Freundlich, dated 3/12/07 to get the license. The van is a 12 passenger. She applied for the A-Endorsement and took a hearing, eyesight, medical and fingerprint test and insurance will not reimburse.
Jan stated that for eleven years as Youth Coordinator she ran the Asset Team and this year at a Staff Meeting it was announced that Paula Palmieri was running the Asset Team to help transition the Program. Jan stated she was surprised as she is the Community Builder and trained has experience to run the program. She expressed concern for the children on the overnight without an experienced supervision and that she is hurt and felt excluded.
Selectman Thomas stated that Paula Palmieri is the Healthy Community Healthy Youth Coordinator and that Jan is the original person for the one day Introduction to freshman and that Larry Freundlich is talking about an overnight for Freshman Orientation. Selectman Thomas drew concern as far as Paula’s qualifications and why not take Jan from the one day experience and expand to an overnight; take the one with most expertise and make that person the leader to organize this program.
Jan Briscoe stated her concerns about Asset Builders and specifically brought to Kathy Long’s attention a students behavior and Asset Builder’s role as mentoring and an intern was going to write case notes. Selectman Thomas asked who was in charge of selecting the High School students for mentoring. Jan stated that it is the philosophy for students to be mentors to other youth and that Larry Freundlich, Scott Schoonmaker and Paula Palmieri select the students.
Lisa Lazarek asks if Paula is in the bargaining unit. Jan Briscoe answered that “Yes, she is now.” and that she (Jan) was written in the grant for additional hours and has 18 ½ hours and in previous years written in the grant to get up to 26 hours; the time period is during the school year. She feels this is retaliatory as contracted for 24 hours a week and always was adjusted up the extra two hours to 26 hours during the school year. She is expected to complete media/campaign, many additional community based reach out work; what is written in the grant but never paid.
Wayne Wysocki stated that each year Jan works a certain number of hours and the adjustment with the grant approved the additional hours. This year she did not receive the extra hours and is expected to do extra work. Additionally, hours or work by Jan is not being compensated for through pay.
Lisa Lazarek asks “why so much compensatory time accumulated and does Larry approve the extra hours?”
Jan Briscoe stated that Larry approves and it she has always been allowed to use comp time during the Christmas break.
Tim Oppenheimer asks that certain hours were transferred to non-bargaining unit person for certain functions. Jan Briscoe responded that Wendy Mills a volunteer Coordinator hired in March 07’ and Paula Palmieri.
B. Enter back into open session.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE SELETMEN – None were made at this time.
V. QUESTIONS BY THE PRESS – None were asked.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
THOMAS/PEACE
Motion to adjourn at 1:50 PM
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Respectfully submitted,
Georgiann Neri, Administrative Assistant
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