1980/10/20 · 5iiNuTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD
October 20, 1980
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Orlando P. Ragazzi at 7:30 p.m.
Deputy Mayors William F. McKeon and Robert A. Argazzi were present.
Also present were: James D'Errico, Personnel Director; Charles Davis,
Director of Social S~rvices; John Heenehan representing the Hartford
Courant; Thomas Shiel representing The Herald; Paul Burton representing
the Berlin Eagle.
Mayor Ragazzi presented the October 9, 1980 letter from Gerald Charamut,
Vice Chairman of the Youth Services Advisory Board, requesting that
Peter Middlemass be appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy created
by the resignation of Michael Klien.~ On motion by Mr. McKeon, seconded
by }{r. Argazzi, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Youth
Services Advisory Board and to appoint Mr. Peter Middlemass of 100 Wilcox
Avenue, East Berlin, to the Board. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Ragazzi presented the Budget Request of Nunzio Rosso in the amount
of $70.00 to Account #1S02, Dues and Conferences. Mayor Ragazzi reported
that these monies are needed to cover the cost of dinners for the
Planning Commission members at the annual meeting of the Connecticut
Federation of Planning and Zoning Agencies. He reported that during the
budget process, these monies were cut from the Planning Commission budget,
but were not cut from the Zoning Commission budget. The Planning Commissionl
members would like to have this paid, as Zoning members did have this paid.
On motion by Mr. McKeon, seconded by Mr. Argazzi, it was voted to approve
the Budget Request of Nunzio Rosso, Chairman of the Planning Commission,
in the amount of $70.00 to Account #1502. MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Davis was present to report on the Energy Programs of last winter.
He reported that the Loan Fund program monies that.were not spent must
be returned to the State on November 1, 1980. Total received from the
State for this program totaled $14,015, total spent totaled $28S.§9,
leaving a balance of $15,7S1.S1. Of this, $12,613.S0 is to be returned
to the state, and $1,117.81 is retained by the Town as administrative
costs. The interest earned on this fund totaled $600 as of September,
1980.
The total amount received on the Grant Fund was $11,954. Of this,
$11,035.38 was spent with a breakdown of $230.30 Administratively,
$3,280 in the Private Sector, and $7,S25.00 in the Public Sector.
Total interest earned on this program as of September 1980 was $300.
Mr. Davis reported that the Energy Committee is currently considering
converting Mr. Russell's truck to propane gas. He stated that this has
been-discussed with Mr. Haber, Chief Mechanic, and he is still looking
into the possibilities.
Mr. Argazzi asked what the plans are for the next winter season. Mr. Davis
reported that the emergency legislature set these programs up last year.
To date nothing has been allocated for this coming winter. He stated he
feels the grant monies will not be there this year but the loan program
will. '
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October 20, 1980
Mayor Ragazzi presented the October 15, 1980 letter from Mr. George
Lubin, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission, regarding the
pay scale of the Public Grounds Department and the Timberlin Golf
Course. It was the general consensus of the Executive Board to refer
the matter to Mr. D'Errico, Personnel Director.
Mr. D'Errico presented the draft of the Rules and Regulations for Town
Employees. He reported that these will not apply to the Board of
Education, .the Police Department, or the 'Public Health Nursing Staff.
Mr. D'Errico pointed out the following areas where he feels decisions
will tmve to be made by the Executive Board:
Pg. 2, Item C. It was felt that consideration, should be given
to deleting this section which reads: "Familial or marital
relationships will provide neither advantage nor disadvantage
regarding Town employment."
Mr. D'Errico asked if the Executive Board would like to
consider negotiating with the Public Health Nursing Board
in an~ attempt to include them in this proposal· Mayor
Ragazzi pointed out that they now do their own hiring,
their work schedule and vacation schedules are different,
etc. He stated that.he feels this should remain the way
it is now. Mr. McKeon stated it has been working well.
~tr. Argazzi stated he feels the Executive Board should
watch the hiring of the Public Health Nursing Board. Mayor
Ragazzi stated there is control through the budget process.
Pg. 3. Selection. Mr. D'Errico reported the way this has
been written, the Executive Board has the option of selecting
from the top three candidates. He asked if they would like
to be restricted to just the top candidate. Mr. Argazzi
stated there could be a problem where the Executive Board,
in reviewing the resumes, feels someone has been left out of
the list of the top three. Mr. D'Errico stated the burden
of proof then falls on the Executive Board and not the
Examining Panel. Mr. Argazzi asked what is meant by
competitive and non-competitive positions. Mr. D'Errico
stated he feels a decision needs to be made regarding all
positions in Town. Top Management positions should be filled
by one process, with positions such as Maintainer I being
classified as non-competitive and filled by another process.
Mr. Argazzi stated this would call for a panel of three experts
being set up every time a top position has to be filled. He
asked if the Executive Board would really want to restrict
itself in that way, as they may want to fill a position
immediately. Mr. D'Errico stated if you don't have a process
where the work is done for you and presented to you, then the
whole burden falls on the Executive Board. Mr. Argazzi stated
maybe the Executive Board would want the Personnel Director to
do that work instead of three experts. Mayor Ragazzi stated
he feels the panel of experts'should be implemented in the filling
of top positions. Mr. Argazzi stated Mr. D'Errico could do
the screening involved, etc., it is part of his job. He stated
he can see this process being very cumbersome. Mr. D'Errico
stated another reason for hiring in this manner would be to
Executive Board ~.~inutes
October 20, 1980
¸3-
meet the requirements of Affirmative Action. He stated by
using this process, by having a number of inputs, you would
be better able to defend yourself if something does arise.
Mr. Argazzi stated he feels that would make no difference,
and questioned why a panel of three experts would' make a
difference. Mr. D'Errico stated, consider the Town Engineer
position, I am not a Civil Engineer. Mr. Argazzi replied that
for a position such as that he can see the panel, but what
about the position of Highway Superintendent. Mayor Ragazzi
stated that is also a technical job, and feels it would be
beneficial to have a panel of.experts in the field to assist
in the hiring.
Mr. Argazzi stated it may be better if the wording was changed
t~ read the Personnel Director shall convene an examination
panel instead of will convene an examination panel, as the
process may not be---~asible for every position, mayor Ragazzi
stated his only concern is whatever is done for one position
should be done for another of the same classification. The
process should be standard, otherwise the Executive Board is
leaving itself open to criticism. Mr. D'Errico stated that
such a panel would be formed for individual .hiring of
Department Heads, approximately 2S positions. He stated what
he has tried to do is to have someone else doing the initial
work, and retain the final authority with the Executive Board.
Mr. McKeon stated this would almost kill moving up the ladder.
Mr. D'Errico stated no, the Executive Board could limit the
applications to current Town employees and have them go through
the examination process.
Pg. 4. Appointments. .It was pointed out that "Personnel
Director" should be changed to "Executive Board".
Pg. S. Probationary Period. Mr. D'Errico stated he feels
the Executive Board needs to make a decision on the length
of probationary periods. He pointed out that currently
different probationary periods exist for different positions.
Mayor Ragazzi stated he feels the probationary period for
management positions should be a minimum of six months.
Pg. 9. Entrance Salary Rates· Mr. D'Errico stated this was
written to provide flexibility for the Executive Board to hire
above the minimum rate. Mayor. Ragazzi stated he feels this
is necessary, as you may want to hire someone who is highly
qualified at a competitive salary.
Pg. 10. Rate of Pay on Promotion. "B". Mr. Argazzi stated
this may raise some problems. You may no~ want to keep the
person'at the same step. You may want some flexibility,
possibly raise him to a higher scale but not the same step.
Mr. D'Errico stated it is possible for someone getting a
promotion, if they start at the beginning of the next higher
scale, step 1, they would be.making less money. He stated
if the Town goes to another system of pay scales, a percentage
increase could be utilized.
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, . October 20, 1980
-4-
Pg. 12. Overtime. "B". Mr. Argazzi stated it is his under-
standing that this is how it presently works. Mr. McKeon
noted, with the exceptions that the Executive Board agreed
upon.
Vacation Pay. Mr. D'Errico'~asked if the .Executive Board
would like the option of paying a Department Head for vacation
time that is not taken during the course of the year.
Currently, a person has to take his vacation or lose it.
Mayor Ragazzi stated he £eels it is a good idea, but it would
have to be voluntary.
10.
Pg. 17. Emergency Leave. Mr. McKeon stated if someone is
on salary, this section is not needed.
11. Pg.'Ig. Conference/Workshop. It was the general consensus
of the Board that this section is not needed. Conference
time is not considered leave, bUt part o£ the job.
12. Pg. 2.0. First sentence. It was the general ~onsensus of the
Board to eliminate this sentence.
13.
Pg 22. Disciplinary Action. Mr. D'Errico reported that
there'is nothing spelled out for management at the present
time regarding diciplinary action or termination. They have
no recourse for appeal except through civil action. Be stated
he feels this is a real problem. Mayor Ragazzi stated it has
been suggested that he take the action as Mayor, and i£ it is
appealed, it would come back to the £ull Executive Board.
Mr. D'Errico stated some towns do it that way, and others
have a Management Appeals Board. Mr. lrgazzi stated he doesn't
see the need £or such a process. Mr. D'Errico stated there
is a string o£ benefits £or labor. Management does not have
the'same bene£its. Mr. Argazzi stated that the argument on
the legal level is that this is the di££erence between labor
and management.
Pg. 21. "C". Maximum Years of Service. Mr. Argazzi asked
Mr. D'Errico to review this section to make certain that this
con£orms to the new labor laws regarding retirement.
Mr. D'Errico reported that the disability insurance for the Town provides
payments of $50 per week, for a maximum of 20 weeks, to an employee
who has completed his eighth calendar sick day. He recommended tha~ this
policy be revised to read ~hat this disability payment begin upon the
completion o£ all sick pay benefits. .It was._the general consensus of
the Board to authorize Mr. D'Errico to make the necessary-adjustments
in the-disability.insurance policy to reflect the above.
Mr. D'Errico reported on the present-situation regarding: the Thomas Gerdis
matter.
Mayor Ragazzi presented the October 17, 19.80 letter from Mrs. Joanne
~ard, Town Clerk, for information purposes.
Executive Board Minutes
~ctober 20, 1980
There being no further business to come before the Executive Board, the
meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen
Secretary'