MOVED that the Town vote to amend the Classification and Standard Rates of Compensation Schedule in its entirety by substituting therefore a new Classification and Standard Rates of Compensation Schedule.

Article 15 Explanation: In accordance with M.G.L. c.41 Section 108, the Town must annually adopt a classification and compensation schedule for general government employees other than employees covered by labor contracts. The Personnel Board recommends classification and compensation levels for non-represented employees, as well as classification levels for employees whose titles are contained in a bargaining unit. The rates of pay for the latter are set during the collective bargaining process and are incorporated into the classification and compensation schedule. All revisions to the Classification and Standard Rates of Compensation Schedule will be provided to Town Meeting Members before May 4, 1998.

Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 9:56 pm - 10:17 pm)

Disposition

Approved as amended

Amendments

1. Amendment appends schedules.

   Aye

Discussion

Mr. Richard Creem, chairman of the Personnel Board. He discussed the various functions of the board.

He also discussed the non-represented employees' 2.5% increase. It is fair and equitable.

Also described the classification studies. Management Grades and Professional and Technical Grades studied this year.

Mr. Ryan. Fincom recommends. $135,000 in the FY99 budget.

J, H. Powers. Asked about adjustments. Answer the 2.5% applies to all grades after adjustment.

ARTICLE 16:

ESTABLISH ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES

MOVED that the Town vote to fix the compensation of the following elected officers of the Town as of July 1, 1998 as required by the General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 108 and as recommended by the Personnel Board and subject to, in the case of the Town Clerk, the longevity provisions of Section 8.11.12 of the Consolidated Personnel By-Law.

Town Clerk:	$50,135
Town Clerk with Six Years of Service:	$59,860
Selectmen, Chairman:	$1,800
Selectmen, Others:	$1,500
Assessor, in Office as of 1/17/96:	$10
Assessor, not in Office as of 1/17/96:	$0	;

Article 16 Explanation: In accordance with M.G.L. c. 41 Section 108, the Town must annually vote to set the salary rates for any Elected Town officials who receive compensation. The Town Clerk's salary has been separated into two categories, a newly elected Town Clerk, and a Town Clerk with at least six years of service. This is done because Town elections are held in April and Town Meeting would not have a chance to vote on the salary of a newly elected Clerk until after the incumbent had been receiving a higher rate of pay for several months. The annual stipends for the members of the Board of Selectmen have remained constant for the past few decades; the stipends for the members of the Board of Assessors were eliminated at the 1996 Annual Town Meeting. Members of the Board of Assessors in office at the time were grandfathered at a $10 annual rate so that they could retain their health insurance benefits.

Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 10:17 pm -10:27 pm)

Disposition

Approved

Discussion

Mr. Creem. Historically Town Clerk has been like M2. This is being proposed again.

Board of Selectmen end Assessors. He gave the history of the two levels of Assessors' salary.

Mr. Ryan. Recommends.

Mr. Fanger asked some history of why benefits are available. State law. Cost $18,000 this year.

Mr. Gerber. Any grandfathered assessors? Yes. one.

ARTICLE 17:

AMEND CONSOLIDATED PERSONNEL BY-LAW

MOVED that the Town vote to amend its Consolidated Personnel By-Law (Article VIII of the General By-laws of the Town of Needham) by:

1. amending Section 8.15.7, Vacation Leave Credit Allowance for New Employees, by deleting the words "department and division heads" and inserting in place thereof the words "non-represented employees"; and

2. amending Section 8.9.2, Emergency Appointments, by deleting the words "three (3)" and inserting in place thereof the words "six (6)";

Article 17 Explanation: The Personnel Board recommends that the Town Meeting adopt two changes to the Consolidated Personnel By-law. The first would allow the Board to grant accelerated vacation leave credit for all employees under its jurisdiction, not just department managers as is currently the case. The granting of additional vacation is an important recruitment tool, particularly with respect to recruiting professional staff. The Board also recommends that the time frame for emergency appointments be extended from three weeks to six weeks. The additional time is needed to allow department managers to bring in temporary staff while they recruit for permanent staff or otherwise resolve their particular staffing situation.

Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 10:28 pm - 10:34 pm)

Disposition

Approved

Discussion

Mr. Creem. Two minor changes. Change accelerated vacation to be available to all. Also, current limit of three weeks is too short for an emergency appointment.