The board’s session opened with an unexpected item concerning an open meeting law violation. The issue stemmed from a past Select Board meeting where a quorum of the Personnel Board was present without proper agenda posting, raising compliance concerns. The board acknowledged the necessity of responding to the Attorney General’s office within ten business days and reviewed a draft letter addressing the violation.

Further examination revealed that the attendance of multiple members at the Select Board meeting had not been planned. One member suggested the rule of “when in doubt just post the meeting” to prevent future confusion. There was recognition that the Personnel Board members had not been aware of their presence on the Select Board agenda and that the timing had been too tight to post a separate meeting agenda. The consensus was to acknowledge the oversight in the response letter, emphasizing that it was unintentional and due to a misunderstanding.

The board agreed on the need to improve communication and manage attendance better. Becky, presumably a board member, detailed the subsequent steps, including preparing a letter to clarify the situation and apologize for the oversight. The letter would explain that the failure to post was not out of malice but rather a misunderstanding of the requirements surrounding agenda postings. They also highlighted the voluntary nature of their work, noting that while they strive for compliance, unintentional lapses can occur.

The meeting then transitioned to the appointment of a Personnel Board member to represent them in discussions with the Select Board. Kathy Salvador was nominated for this role, and her appointment was supported by other members, who expressed confidence in her background in human relations. One member emphasized the need for professionalism and objectivity in the upcoming contract negotiations for the Town Administrator, Rebecca Torres, urging respectfulness and a desire to avoid political influences in the discussions.

The board also addressed the administrative secretary position, with updates provided by Becky on job postings made on various platforms, including “jobsinthevalley.com” and the local elementary school newsletter. The aim was to attract local applicants, and temporary agencies were also being considered for temporary hires or temp-to-hire scenarios due to concerns about training and continuity. There was brainstorming of additional advertising avenues, such as Indeed and LinkedIn, with members noting the effectiveness of these platforms for office positions.

A significant portion of the meeting also covered the status of the land use clerk position. Previous recruitment efforts had fallen short, with one candidate stepping away due to discomfort with the technology involved. This led to renewed discussions about effective recruitment strategies for both the administrative secretary and land use clerk positions.

The discussion then moved to the implications of recent articles forwarded by a community member regarding the potential establishment of an assistant to the Town Administrator role. It was suggested that this consideration be postponed during the ongoing contract negotiations to avoid political ramifications. One member remarked on the need to set aside discussions of this role while contract negotiations were ongoing, emphasizing the importance of focusing on more matters.

The meeting also touched on the authority of the police and fire department chiefs to make appointments, which led to some confusion. Clarification was sought on whether these chiefs could make appointments without Select Board approval, and it was noted that legal counsel would be consulted to ensure proper adherence to protocols.

The session concluded with updates on the classification schedule and employee contract negotiations. Future meeting dates were confirmed, and it was noted that the police chief’s contract was a primary concern for the year’s negotiations. Additionally, there was an expectation that the teachers’ agreement would be signed within the week.