Meeting Minutes
General Bylaw Review Committee
August 11, 2005
Members Present: Jack Clayton, Deb Woods, and Linda Hathaway
Members Absent: George Cormier, Kathleen Pavelchek
Visitor: Susan Hosier
Jack called meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Minutes from the July 28th meeting were reviewed. We had some corrections on dates and members attending. Linda will let George know where we found discrepancies and the committee can vote on the minutes when we are all in attendance.
We discussed the grievance process within Article 11, Personnel Administration bylaw with Susan. Susan commented on four topics for us to consider:
1. Confidentiality of personnel records in a grievance
2. Employee discipline/performance: define appropriate setting
to discuss employee discipline/performance.
3. Specify no retribution for filing a grievance
4. Define workplace bullying
Discussed confidentiality of records. There is statement in current bylaw. May need to be defined more clearly and a new section added. It was suggested that we check with Ethics Commission, Attorney General and with the local union on its process and procedure. There appears there is no penalty for violating the confidentiality provision.
Discussed retribution and workplace bullying. Could add a new subsection e) to section 17 and include language from the grievance statement in the bylaw.
The committee members discussed defining the Department Head for the Board of Selectmen since it isn’t clear who the department head is for the Selectmen. The Charter defines the whole board as the chief executive officer. One member doesn’t have authority to act individually. There are other boards where it isn’t clear who the department head is when an employee works for a board, i.e. Planning, ConCom, Board of Health, and even Town Clerk etc. In the case of a grievance, we suggested that the Department Head be the chairman. Insert into Section 17 (d)
Further research needed. We will continue to work on gathering info.
Next meeting August 25, 2005, 7 p.m., Town Building.
Motion to adjourn meeting made by Deb. Seconded by Linda. Adjourned 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hathaway, Scribe
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