THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL AT THE NEXT BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Suzanne

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THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL AT THE NEXT BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING Board of Selectmen Special Meeting April 8, 2008 CALL TO ORDER The Chester Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the Chester Town Hall, Chester, CT. In attendance were First Selectman Tom Marsh, Selectmen Martin Heft and Bruce Watrous. First Selectman Marsh called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. MINUTES Martin Heft moved to approve the minutes from the April 1, 2008 meeting, with corrections. Bruce Watrous seconded the motion. The motion passed. Correction: The proper spelling for Mr. Horner ’s first name is Errol, the proper spelling is Netsch, not Netche as reported and Nilsson is the last name of the Volunteer of the month. Page 2 – Mr. Myers is the DEP officer. Page 3 – Hoop Pole is the road referenced. Page 4 – Under Camp Hazen request – Tom Marsh seconded the motion. BUSINESS Position Review Human Services Director Tom Marsh reported that several town employees have requested position reviews. These job descriptions and requests were distributed to BOS members. Martin Heft referenced a 1997 pay study and matrix and compared same to the employee ’s request. The job descriptions include educational qualifications. The higher the degree, the higher grade level the individual would be hired at. Exactly how many points an individual is given relates to their degree. The point level ...

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• managers

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• Publié par: Ofte
• Nombre de lectures: 26
• Langue: English

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THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL AT THE NEXT BOARD

OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Board of Selectmen Special Meeting

April 8, 2008

CALL TO ORDER

The Chester Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the

Chester Town Hall, Chester, CT.

In attendance were First Selectman Tom Marsh,

Selectmen Martin Heft and Bruce Watrous.

First Selectman Marsh called the meeting to

order at 8:10 a.m.

MINUTES

Martin Heft moved to approve the minutes from the April 1, 2008 meeting, with

corrections. Bruce Watrous seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

Correction:

The proper spelling for Mr. Horner’s first name is Errol,

t

he proper spelling

is Netsch, not Netche as reported and Nilsson is the last name of the Volunteer of the

month.

Page 2 – Mr. Myers is the DEP officer.

Page 3 – Hoop Pole is the road referenced.

Page 4 – Under Camp Hazen request – Tom Marsh seconded the motion.

BUSINESS

Position Review

Human Services Director

Tom Marsh reported that several town employees have requested position reviews.

These job descriptions and requests were distributed to BOS members.

Martin Heft referenced a 1997 pay study and matrix and compared same to the

employee’s request.

The job descriptions include educational qualifications.

The higher the degree, the higher

grade level the individual would be hired at.

Exactly how many points an individual is

given relates to their degree.

The point level determines the grade level/pay.

Point ranges for different categories and charts illustrating same were discussed.

Tom

reported that he was unable to locate the charts.

He reported that consultants devised

these charts but possibly did not include explanations of how the information on the

charts was determined.

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Pay Scale – Tom reported that he did not include pay scale information.

This would

allow the BOS to make their decisions based on the quality of the employees not on the

finances.

He did inform the personnel of this fact.

Martin reported that in a past situation, we did not require the assistant assessor to be

certified as an inspector and the position was not upgraded.

However, the particular job

description in question states that we do prefer the individual to have a Master’s Degree.

Tom continued that the additional qualifications would allow for additional services be

provided or a higher degree of expertise.

Bruce was in favor of “rewarding” the Master’s Degree.

Tom Marsh moved to increase the pay grade by one for the Human Services Director

based on the anticipated attainment of the Master’s Degree.

Once that is completed the

pay grade increase would go into effect.

Martin Heft seconded the motion.

The motion

passed.

Account’s Manager

Tom Marsh reported that the duties required (taken on) for this position have changed the

scope of the responsibility for the position.

Martin Heft reported that all of the job descriptions were updated in the past.

The

committee sent out the job descriptions and had employees make changes and clarify

their jobs.

Martin reviewed the responsibilities and felt that some are covered under the job

description.

This included supervising the general ledger for all funds.

Martin was

unsure how reducing the town clerk’s hours related to this job description.

Tom reported

that this implied that because of the Account Manager’s higher level of expertise, the

o

ffice is able to operate more efficiently.

Martin continued that part of the job

description is to maintain the fixed asset inventory.

The individual has been more active

with the pension responsibili

t

ies and the GASB requirements have added responsibilities

as well.

Other aspects of the job were discussed such as budget responsibilities.

The

expertise needed to work with the software and generate various reports was discussed.

Tom reported that the position should be changed from hourly to salary.

He continued

t

hat he has been hesitant to request Peter attend a BOF meeting due to financing.

Martin

added that this aspect needs to be looked at separately along with other positions.

Tom

agreed that we do need to set parameters for salary vs. hourly positions.

Bruce Watrous moved to increase the pay grade of the Accounting Manager position by 1

grade.

Martin Heft seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

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Fire Marshall

Martin requested back up information/log on how many hours are actually worked.

This

information was not included when their budget was presented.

Tom reported that with

the information provided to the BOS, the decision cannot be made at this time.

Martin continued that we should request that the Board of Fire Commissioners provide

back-up information such as scope of work, duties performed, and work load.

This request will be sent back to the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Tom will draft a

letter and after Selectmen review, will forward same to the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Assessor

Martin Heft reported that the request is for additional work for the revaluation.

In the

past 8 years, we’ve had several revaluations and this is part of the job description.

He

questioned what duties have changed since the past two revaluations that would call for a

step increase.

A retirement package is not a reason for a step increase.

Bruce Watrous reported that in discussing the position in the past, it was determined to be

a salaried position.

Tom Marsh reported that there has been the opportunity to provide back-up yet none has

been given.

The rationale for this request does not support the need for an increase.

Tom Marsh moved to increase the Assessor’s position by one step based on the

submissions provided.

There was no second to this motion.

Martin Heft moved that the request for a step upgrade for the Assessor based upon the

information provided to the BOS is denied.

Bruce Watrous seconded the motion.

The

motion passed.

Assistant Town Clerk

Tom reported that there has been no formal request.

OTHER BUSINESS

Bruce Watrous moved the resolution allowing the Town Clerk to obtain the Historic

Preservation Grant.

Martin Heft seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

Tom reported that she is planning on using the funds for an assessment of the town hall

documents/records.

Glacial Energy

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Tom reported that this is only a small commitment he does not feel we need a motion at

this time.

He continued that there was an article in the newspaper about the Connecticut

Clean Energy Fund and the Attorney General is looking into the use of funds.

Tom

hopes to have clarification of the program.

Executive Session – Discussions with the Union regarding the Assess

o

r’s position

Tom reported that he did not notify Pat that this was on the agenda; however, if the BOS

can discuss, in general terms, negotiations with the union regarding the position, he

would like to do so.

Martin Heft moved to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel negotiation issues

at 8:55 a.m.

Bruce Watrous seconded the motion.

Martin Heft moved to come out of Executive Session at 9:15 a.m.

Bruce Watrous

seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Bruce Watrous moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 a.m.

Martin Heft seconded the

motion.

The motion passed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Suzanne Helchowski

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