A primary focus of the meeting was the recommendation to implement a 2.59% COLA for town employees. This proposal was put forward as part of an analysis that revealed discrepancies between the alignment study and actual budget figures. The decision to pause further salary alignment discussions until a special town meeting in the fall was also reached. This pause aims to allow for accurate data collection regarding employee hours and compensation, as it was noted that some employees were not working the hours reflected in their roles, leading to potential underpayment.

The board emphasized the importance of ensuring that Personnel Action Forms (PAFs) for fiscal year 2027 accurately represent employee work hours and pay rates. There was an acknowledgment of a potential oversight from the previous fiscal year concerning the completion and accuracy of these forms. Digitizing documents to streamline processes was highlighted as a key goal, with a member expressing a desire to reduce reliance on paper.

In addition to the COLA discussions, the board scrutinized proposed changes to the town’s personnel bylaw, which include a new remote work policy and revisions to bereavement leave. Among the suggestions was the addition of two floating holidays for employees, particularly for those in departments such as police and public works who might work during traditional holidays or may not celebrate them. There was also a proposal to amend the vacation policy, which had been perceived as outdated and uncompetitive compared to other communities. The current policy allows one additional vacation day per year for up to 20 years, a provision critiqued as insufficient. A tiered vacation system was proposed, adjusting the accrual rates based on years of service to better reflect the competitive landscape of employee benefits.

The board’s discussion delved into the practical implications of vacation and holiday policy revisions. Questions arose about the significance of vacation day differences for employees with varying lengths of service. The current vacation policy stipulates that employees earn five days of vacation after six months of work, with no changes for the first two increments of employment. This policy applies to employees working at least 20 hours per week. Concerns were also expressed about the potential financial burden on the town’s budget if employees accrued significant amounts of comp time, leading to an acknowledgment of the importance of establishing cut-off points for vacation rollover.

Furthermore, the board clarified the distinction between vacation days and sick days, confirming that while vacation days must be paid out, sick and personal days do not require such compensation by law. The town currently offers 11 holidays annually, with proposals to increase this to 15, including additional holidays around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. These changes aim to provide better planning opportunities for employees.

Another notable point of discussion involved the board’s preparations for the upcoming annual town meeting. A motion was made to include the proposed bylaw revisions in the meeting warrant, which was unanimously approved following a roll call vote. Anticipating potential questions during the town meeting, the board considered preparing for inquiries regarding the hybrid remote work proposal, recognizing possible misunderstandings about the extent of remote work for town employees.

The meeting also touched upon the need for accurate and updated job descriptions, with some descriptions reportedly not reviewed in many years. Plans were made to ensure that alignment study numbers would be accurate for budget discussions, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough understanding of employee roles and compensation.

As the meeting drew to a close, logistical matters concerning future meetings were addressed. The board confirmed their next meeting for May 16th and discussed potential adjustments to the meeting time due to a member’s scheduling conflict. Additionally, the board considered appointing a new member to the committee, as one member would be stepping down, to facilitate smoother meetings in the future.