Personnel Sub-Committee Minutes of Regular Meeting - November 24, 2014

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Personnel Sub-Committee – Regular Meeting

Monday, November 24, 2014

6:00 PM – Simsbury Town Offices – Conference Room 103

MINUTES

1.         Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.  Sub-Committee Chair Lisa Heavner and Sub-Committee members Cheryl Cook and Sean Askham were present.  Also present were Director of Administrative Services Thomas Cooke, Deputy Director of Administrative Services Sean Kimball and Town Counsel Robert M. DeCrescenzo, Esq.

2.         Pledge of Allegiance

3.         Public Audience

Joan Coe objected to Personnel Sub-Committee members running for First Selectmen voting on what could be their potential salary.  She stated that the decision should be made after the 2015 election.

4.         Approval of Minutes

• October 15, 2014 Special Meeting

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on October 15, 2014.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

5.   Review and possible action on Proposed Adjustment to Compensation for Position of First Selectman

The Sub-Committee reviewed a submission from the First Selectman proposing changes to the compensation and benefits established for the position of First Selectman effective December 7, 2015.  Mr. Cooke reviewed a chart setting forth the current compensation and benefits, the compensation and benefits currently available to newly hired non-union employees and the proposed compensation and benefits for the First Selectman position.  The Sub-Committee discussed the impact of the proposed changes on the Town’s budget and the impact of previously enacted changes as well.  The Sub-Committee concluded that the recommended changes were appropriate and discussion ensued concerning the timing of the implementation of the changes.

Ms. Heavner stated that it had been the Personnel Sub-Committee’s policy not to make compensation and benefit changes for elected officials mid-term and that this was the approach recommended by the First Selectman and Lee Erdmann, the consultant who prepared the Personnel Study on delegation of human resources duties by the First Selectman.  Ms. Cook stated that the change in compensation related to a change in job duties that had already occurred.  Mr. DeCrescenzo stated that the First Selectman’s compensation are established by the budget process in accordance with §501 of the Charter and that no change could be made to compensation prior to passage of a new budget.  Further discussion ensued concerning the timing of implementation of the changes.  Mr. Askham stated that the timing of implementation should be decided by the full Board of Selectman.

Mr. Askham made a motion to accept the proposed changes to the First Selectman’s compensation and benefits as outlined without determining a start date and Ms. Cook seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously. 

Ms. Heavner made a motion to implement the proposed changes at the beginning of the next term as recommended by the First Selectman and the consultant.  The motion was not seconded and therefore failed.

Mr. DeCrescenzo recommended that Mr. Askham’s motion be amended to include a statement that the changes were being made in accordance with §501 of the Charter.

Mr. Askham made a motion to amend his prior motion to add a reference to §501 of the Charter.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Askham made a motion to accept the proposed changes to the First Selectman’s compensation and benefits as outlined in accordance with §501 of the Charter and without determining a start date and Ms. Cook seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously. 

6.         Adjourn

Mr. Askham made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Cook seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:31 pm.