The central focus of the committee’s deliberations was the approval of a revised policy that grants the town manager the discretion to assign additional responsibilities to municipal employees and provide supplemental temporary compensation when necessary. This policy change aims to streamline the process of managing extended or temporary job duties without the need to create new job titles or job descriptions every time a change occurs. The policy emphasizes extenuating circumstances, not the everyday occurrences of job roles, and includes language adjustments to terms such as “temporary additional job duties” to reflect unique situations accurately.

In the context of this policy revision, the discussion spotlighted the temporary assignment of additional duties to the Building Commissioner role as a case study in the need for flexibility. The committee explored the possibility of modifying existing language to permit temporary changes in job responsibilities without the need for new job descriptions. The dialog included considerations about appropriate compensation for employees who assume extra duties, particularly when an employee is already at the highest grade. Opinions varied on whether a step increase was necessary and whether the Personnel Committee should be involved in decision-making regarding compensation for temporary duties. The outcome was a consensus on finding a balance between giving flexibility for temporary changes and ensuring fair compensation.

Concurrently, the Personnel Committee took action on the grading and approval of job descriptions for a newly approved position, settling on a grade eight level after a discussion about the role’s qualifications and responsibilities. The meeting also resulted in the approval of a new hire for the lifeguard position, with the candidate set to start at a grade four step two level, a decision based on the individual’s experience and references.

Another aspect of the meeting involved the committee’s examination of the need to create temporary titles for Section 70 to accommodate employees taking on duties outside of their standard positions. This was especially relevant for the land use director’s responsibilities, which were being assumed by the Building Commissioner. The committee aimed to clarify the language in the existing section to include temporary or interim positions, although there was some uncertainty about the existence of such provisions in contracts and past practices. The implications of temporary positions on job titles and compensation were also debated, with concerns raised about the duration and scope of these roles.

The committee then proceeded to review and approve a list of revised job descriptions from the past year, including administrative assistants, coordinators, directors, librarians, and managers. A motion to approve the submission of these descriptions was unanimously passed after a brief evaluation of the consistency of job titles within the Council on Aging department.

The meeting concluded with a public comment from a community member expressing gratitude to the committee for their dedication and the progress achieved, particularly given the demanding meeting schedule. The session adjourned with recognition of the committee’s work and contributions to the town’s operations.