Personnel Sub-Committee Minutes of Regular Meeting - January 13, 2014 - DRAFT

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Personnel Sub-Committee – Regular Meeting

Monday, January 13, 2014

6:00 P.M. – Simsbury Town Offices – Board of Education Conference Room

MINUTES OF MEETING

DRAFT

1.         Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.  Committee Chair Lisa Heavner and Committee members Sean Askham and Cheryl Cook were present.  Tom Cooke, Director of Administrative Services and Lee Erdmann, a respondent to the Town of Simsbury’s request for proposal on the potential delegation of personnel functions by the First Selectman, were also present.

2.         Pledge of Allegiance

All stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

3.         Public Audience

After the pledge of allegiance, Ms. Heavner offered the opportunity for public audience – no member of the public spoke.

4.         Approval of minutes of meetings on December 9, 2013

Mr. Askham moved for the approval of the minutes of the December 9, 2013 meeting.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion.  There were no changes to the draft minutes and the motion passed unanimously.

5.         Approval of proposed market reference range salary adjustment for Director of Public Works

Ms. Heavner explained that the Personnel Sub-Committee had previously approved use of a market reference range system to ensure that unaffiliated management employees are paid a competitive rate for their positions based on comparable rates of pay from a list of designated Towns.  Mr. Cooke reviewed information provided to the Sub-Committee concerning the market reference range for the Director of Public Works position and Mr. Roy’s position within that range.  He stated that most of the Town’s director-level employees were at or above the 80% mark in the high/low range for their positions.  Mr. Roy, who has been approached by other Towns, is only at the 62% point.  Mr. Cooke noted that Mr. Roy had taken on additional responsibilities (oversight of the Water Pollution Control Authority and oversight of the energy management for the Town) and that he has consistently been an excellent performer.  After further discussion concerning updating the market reference range information and use of the market reference range in general, Mr. Askham made a motion to increase Mr. Roy’s salary from $106,600 to $116,000 annually.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

6.  Interview and possible selection of Lee Erdmann as consultant for study of potential delegation of human resources function by the First Selectman

At Ms. Heavner’s request, Mr. Cooke introduced Mr. Erdmann.  Mr. Erdmann previously conducted a study for the Town of Simsbury on the possible reorganization of the Engineering function upon the retirement of Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke.  Mr. Cooke stated that Mr. Erdmann’s study was very helpful to the transition planning process.  He noted that Mr. Erdmann had served as Town Manager in Wethersfield and had worked in top-level management positions for the Cities of Hartford and Springfield.  Mr. Erdmann accordingly was very familiar with the nature and operation of the human resources function in municipal government.  Mr. Erdmann provided additional detail about his background and his experience with municipal human resources.  Upon questioning by the Sub-Committee, Mr. Erdmann described his proposed approach to the study, which includes data-gathering from Town personnel and the First Selectman as well as data gathering from other Towns with respect to their organization and operation of human resources.  He stated that his study would be fact based and that he had no preconceived notions concerning the final recommendations or the impact of any recommendations on employee compensation.  He also responded to the Sub-Committee that his goal was to complete the study in sixty (60) days or less.  He confirmed that his fee for the study would be a maximum of $4,000 (based on $100 per hour) and that if the study took less time, the cost would be reduced accordingly.  Mr. Cooke confirmed that Mr. Erdmann’s proposal was the lowest cost of the four proposals received.

Mr. Askham made a motion that Mr. Erdmann be retained to conduct the study.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

8.         Adjourn

Mr. Askham made a motion to adjourn at 6:36 p.m.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion to adjourn passed unanimously.