BOARD MEETING AGENDA
May 29, 2007
Selectmen Present: Mr. Methe, Mr. Parker and Mr. Yon
At 9:00am, Mr. Methe convened the meeting.
PRIMARY:
*** DISCUSS POLICE CHIEF CONTRACT
Mr. Yon said that he had no problems with resolution of conduct for Chief of Police. He feels that perhaps it should be incorporated into the contract. Mr. Methe said that one of the two police chief contracts from other towns has a 45-hour workweek with no overtime. The other has an average 40-hour workweek without overtime. Mr. Methe said that when a person is in a position to generate and approve overtime, it can create a problem. Mr. Parker stated that he feels a salaried position person’s pay is based on 45-hour workweek. He stated that to prevent problems with overtime, the board could require that all overtime must be submitted to them for approval and that overtime would come into play with unusual situations that are not the norm. Mr. Yon said that he feels 40 hours should be mandatory
with occasional overtime needed. Mr. Parker said a salaried position works whatever hours are necessary to get the job done. Mr. Methe agrees. Mr. Methe said that in his work, the salary was budgeted for 45 hours per week. Mr. Yon feels that it should be 40 hours, understanding that the Chief should realize that it is expected that he will work the amount of hours to get the job done. If the Chief needs extra time – he does it without overtime pay. Mr. Parker and Mr. Methe agreed that 40 hours per week are expected with additional time in order to get the job done if necessary without overtime pay.
Mr Yon felt that there were a few sections regarding the Chief’s duties in the Swanzey contract that wouldn’t hurt to have in ours. The Swanzey contract says the Chief meets with the Selectmen to discuss goals and objectives not less than quarterly. Right now we meet with the Chief monthly and receive reports weekly. He said that the rest of the duties are in accordance with the RSA’s. We will add the language that Swanzey uses regarding overtime.
The contract will read that it is tied to the personnel policy of the town at the time of the signing of the contract and is not changed until/unless the contract is renewed at the end of the three-year period.
We will describe the vehicle as a “fully equipped police vehicle and state that cell phones can’t be used for personal use.
We will include “current personnel policy” in effect at the time of signing the agreement.
We will add a line that says an appropriate amount for professional dues/professional organizations will be budgeted.
Mr. Parker said that the board should make it clear that the Police Chief job in Fitzwilliam is part administrative and part patrolman. This is stated in the current job description we have (#10) for the Chief. We will include the job description as part of the agreement at the time of signing.
Mr. Parker asked when are we going to advise Chief Newton that we are negotiating. Mr. Methe said that we need to make sure that Sargent DiSalvo gets the information at the same time as Chief Newton does. Mr. Methe can meet both at the police station and hand them each a letter. Mrs. Thompson will put together a letter for both of them as well as the other applicants.
Mr. Methe will be out of town the 4th to the 11th of June.
The selectmen would like to meet with the applicant around 8pm at their regular meeting tomorrow night.
Mrs. Thompson said that Debbie, Lenny and she have been thinking about having an open house for Chief Newton so people can come and say goodbye. The selectmen think this is a great idea. Mrs. Thompson said that we could ask some of the employees to bring desserts and we could have coffee and punch. Mr. Parker would like invitations sent to the chiefs in surrounding towns – Rindge, Troy, Jaffrey, Richmond.
There being no further business, at 11:43am, Mr. Yon made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Parker and passed 3-0.
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