HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-11-2014 Personnel report_201402191127499477Committee on Personnel and Town Organization Minutes
Meeting: January 29, 2014, Report February 11, 2014
The Committee on Personnel and Town Organization met on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at
7:30 in the Council Office. Present at the meeting were Councilors Susan Falkoff (chair), Cecilia Lenk,
Vice Chair, and Stephen Corbett, Secretary. Also present were Councilors Mark Sideris and Anthony
Palomba, Town Manager Michael Driscoll, and residents Nancy Hammett, and Graham Wright.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the town organizational structure, in light
of the recommendations made by the Collins Center and the State Division of Local Services (DLS).
As background, Mr. Driscoll indicated that the recruitment process for the Department of Public
Works positions — Director of Administration and Finance, and Engineer -- is underway. Applications and
resumes are under review but are still being accepted. He also indicated that the Chief Environmental
Health Officer is going on maternity leave. Coverage arrangements will be made using the services of a
retired Health Director from Belmont and with some coordination with the Belmont Health Department.
Recruitment for the full-time Health Director will be put on hold until the Chief Environmental Health
Officer returns from leave.
Both the Collins Center and the DLS recommended that consideration be given to creating Assistant
Town Manager positions in the area of Finance. The Collins Center also recommended some changes to
have fewer direct reports to the Manager. The Council approved a general concept of giving additional
authority to two existing department heads to assist the manager. The Committee sees that creating
new positions may be a desirable goal in the long term but believes that this is not a good time to be
adding new senior staff. With respect to general administration, the committee agreed to recommend
that Mr. Driscoll be given the authority to identify an existing department head who would be given
additional responsibility, authority, and compensation, to assist the Manager with various general
management tasks and special projects.
While this move would not change any of the direct reports at this time, the Committee agreed the
Manager should also bring forward other proposals for departmental combinations as he sees the need.
How to handle giving the Manager additional support for financial services will be discussed at the
next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7:00. The meeting adjourned at 8:45.
Respectfully Submitted
Stephen Corbett