With a full three members for the first time since Tom Ulrich resigned in February, the Select Board got down to business last night.
First, the board reorganized, electing Dave DeHerdt, the only returning member from last year’s board, as chair. They then chose which of them would represent the board with various town departments. Member Norm Russell will be liaison to Town Hall and the Town Hall Building Committee. Member Doug Field will work with the Highway Department and town committees and boards. DeHerdt will liaise with Emergency Services (the Police and Fire Departments) and the FRCOG.
The Police Chief Search Committee required a little shuffling. Field is currently its chairman and will be resigning that position, but will remain on the committee as the Select Board’s representative. He said he will not take part in the initial review of candidates for the chief’s position, but will only review the final four candidates recommended by the committee. DeHerdt, who was the former Select Board’s representative to the committee, resigned from that position.
The newly reorganized Select Board’s first vote was to sign the contract for another year’s liability and workman’s compensation insurance. At Town Meeting, the town voted for an anticipated increase of about 14% in light of the litigation the town currently faces. But the premiums rose only 3 ½ % for the coming year, a savings of a little less than $3000. There was some discussion of putting the insurance out to bid to try to find a better price, but DeHerdt pointed out the risk that a new insurer might not cover the lawsuits currently pending against the town.
The board also set e-mail policy. All town officials are to be asked to send copies of any e-mails relating to town business to Town Clerk Maryellen Cranston by June 30. The e-mails should be either on paper or in PDF format.
While the board will be holding its next regular meeting next Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m., before its budgetary meeting with the Finance Committee, future meetings will be scheduled for Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.
DeHerdt said the May 20, 10 a.m. meeting will be open only long enough to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation.
David King
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Why would the board have someone who lost several important email be the keeper of other important emails. I think they should re-think that one.
ReplyDeleteJohn Svoboda
Point of Information: It is the Massachusetts General Laws that designates the person (by position) who is the official public records custodian - The Town Clerk. The statute does not grant the Select Board any discretion to appoint someone else.
ReplyDelete