Wellfleet Personnel Board
Minutes of Meeting of May 25, 2004
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Present: John Makely, Chair; Sue Peters, Ken Kimball
Also Present: Rex Peterson, Assistant Town Administrator; Andy Koch,
Shellfish Constable
Chair Makely called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
Request for Revision of Job Description of Deputy Shellfish Constable. Shellfish Constable Andy Koch attended the meeting to explain his request for this job description revision, which involves the combining of two part-time constable positions into one full-time position including benefits. Koch explained that one constable had left his part-time job in December and the other had picked up the hours of the additional position (signing off on benefits); this action has been satisfactory for both the employee and the department. Major discussion points follow:
Since the job works around the tides, the job hours constantly change; it is difficult to find another part-time job to work in around such hours, and the wages deriving from the current part-time constable's position are not sufficient for living expenses here.
The incumbent in the job is a real professional who loves his job. The combination of the two positions, with benefits, would be better for both the incumbent and the department and would insure continuity in the position.
The Shellfish Department needs this additional help--it has been very busy, incorporating extra duties such as educational talks and school visits into the regular schedule, including the upwelling system, raising 1 million clams. Koch noted that clams for residents and visitors to dig will not be there if he is reduced to a 2-person department--the level of service will necessarily suffer.
Koch concluded his presentation by noting that the department is a contributor to the local economy.
Chair Makely inquired concerning the additional financial implication of adding benefits to the salary. Rex Peterson stated that it had been computed as costing about $2500 additional; he added that the Town Administrator felt he could cover this under the budget as it exists. Koch, noting that this figure had been derived from the Town Clerk, added that it could be offset by the fact that his own salary was less than that of the previous Shellfish Constable.
The Board considered the revised job description:
Rex Peterson explained that the new job description had been prepared by the consulting firm of Bennett Associates as part of their Classification and Compensation Study last year; these new descriptions were based upon the qualities of the jobs rather than simply listing the tasks associated with them. He described the process used to create the new job descriptions, adding that the Town would be bringing all job descriptions to the Personnel Board for review after the union negotiations with the W.E.A. were concluded.
Ken Kimball inquired whether the Personnel Board would be grading any positions in the coming year; Peterson replied this would happen only in response to a specific request for regrading. He pointed out that the Board was being asked only to review the job description for Deputy Shellfish Constable, not to change the grade. Kimball asked Koch for his opinion of the revised description; Koch noted that he approved.
Sue Peters stated that, conceptually, she liked the idea of combining the two positions into one and paying benefits; she asked, if the Board approved the revision, whether, legally, the position would have to be advertised or whether the incumbent would automatically receive the position. Peterson stated that he would bring this question to the Town Administrator's attention. Ken Kimball noted that the union contract might provide that the present employee be hired.
Kimball asked whether a "catch-all" clause existed in the job description to insure that the employee would be expected to perform any reasonable duties in addition to those cited. Peterson pointed out that the section entitled Position Functions in the description covered this area.
Ken Kimball moved and Sue Peters seconded that the Personnel Board approve the revised job description of 10-9-03 for the Deputy Shellfish Position; the motion carried, 3-0. Taking into consideration the charges which will be assigned to the full-time position, consensus agreed that the benefits accrued to the employee and the department were worth the additional $2500. Chair Makely inquired whether Tim Smith would present this revision of job description to the Finance Committee; Peterson will check this.
Minutes of March 16, 2004. Sue Peters moved and Ken Kimball seconded that the minutes of 3-16-04 be approved as written; the motion carried, 3-0.
Lisa Benson's Retirement from the Board. The members noted that Lisa would be much missed, citing her many contributions, including the revision and printing of the Personnel Board Position Grading Manual. Sue Peters will write Lisa a letter expressing the Board's regret at her leaving. Suggestion was made that Board members should look for two more people to fill the empty positions.
Next Agenda. Chair Makely stated that the first meeting to occur after 6-30 should include reorganization of the Board.
Ken Kimball moved for adjournment; Sue Peters seconded; the meeting closed at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Frances J. Castillo, Committee Secretary John Makely, Chair
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