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TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Board of Selectmen
Executive Session Meeting Minutes
October 7, 2014
A meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at Town
Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA. Selectmen present: John Mosher, Todd Cestari, John
Coutinho. Michelle Gates. Administrative staff present: Norman Khumalo, Jamie Hellen, Debbie
Hilton-Creek.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Cestari called the public meeting to order at 5:45 PM in Room
211.
The Chair entertained a motion to discuss strategies with respect to collective bargaining
regarding the Fire Department Union, because an open meeting may have detrimental effect on
the bargaining position of the Board; to discuss considering the purchase, exchange, lease or
value of real property in regards to a property, because an open meeting may have a
detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board; to discuss the deployment of security
personnel or devices, or strategies with respect to emergency communications and the 2015
Boston Marathon; to discuss strategy with respect to active litigation, DPU Hearing 14-64,
because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the Board;
to conduct a strategy session in preparation for contract negotiations with Police Lt. Charles
Wallace; to allow town staff Norman Khumalo, Debbie Hilton-Creek and Jamie Hellen to
participate; and, to enter into public session at the conclusion of Executive Session.
MOVED by Mr. Palleiko and SECONDED by Mr. Mosher. ROLL CALL: Mr. Mosher- Yes, Mr.
Cestari-Yes, Mr. Palleiko-Yes, Mr. Coutinho-Yes. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0.
DISCUSSION:
Fire Department Union: The Town Manager gave an overview of a grievance filed by the
Firefighters Union and handed out copies of the grievance. The Town Manager gave a
description of the actions taken by town staff, including Chief Clark decided to not to handle any
part of the request as the grievance was hand delivered to the Chief. Given the content, the
Chief took the grievance to the Town Manager to work through the Board. The Town Manager
has also contacted Town Counsel, Labor Counsel and have begun to collect documentation
relative to the grievance. The Board had a short conversation with the Town Manager about
strategy moving forward with respect to the grievance.
The Town Manager notified the Board the State Ethics Commission has been given a complaint
and has contacted the Town to do an investigation.
[Michelle Gates entered Executive Session at 5:58PM]
Lt. Wallace Contract: The Town Manager and Human Resources Director presented Lt.
Wallace’s salary history, market basket review of Lt. salaries, per Board request from the
September 23, 2014 Board meeting.
MOVED by Mr. Mosher voted to instruct the Town Manager that based on the data provided the
Board Lt. Wallace’s salary was fair and appropriate for the Lt. position and that the Board will
not adjust his salary outside the performance review process. SECONDED by Mr. Coutinho.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Mosher- Yes, Mr. Cestari-Yes, Mr. Palleiko, Mr. Coutinho-Yes, Ms.
Gates-Yes. VOTE to Approve: Yes-5, No-0.
[Debbie Hilton-Creek exited Executive Session at 6:16PM]
The Chair entertained a motion to exit executive session and reconvene in public session.
MOVED – Mr. Palleiko SECONDED – Mr. Mosher ROLL CALL: Mr. Mosher- Yes, Mr. Cestari
- Yes, Mr. Coutinho, Mr. Palleiko-Yes, Ms Gates-Yes. VOTE to Approve: Yes-5, No-0. The
Board moved into public session at 6:44 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Todd A. Cestari, Chairman