AUGUST 9, 2001

Click here for minutes of the April 9, 2001 Personnel Committee Meeting
Click here for minutes of the May 10, 2001 Personnel Committee Meeting
Click here for minutes of the June 14, 2001 Personnel Committee Meeting

CALL TO ORDER

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:20pm.

Approval of minutes – June 14, 2001

In the last line of the second paragraph on page one, Mr. Flynn stated that he believed that Mr. McQuaid stated that he was in favor of sending this to the Full Council, but not in favor of the Town Clerk portion. Mr. McCready stated that since Mr. McQuaid was not present, the paragraph should be left as is until the next meeting where Mr. McQuaid would be present.

Mr. Flynn stated that on page three, in the tenth paragraph, the motion should read "Mr. Flynn moved to reconsider the vote on the first item." Mr. Flynn stated that the motion passed with 4 in favor (Mr. McQuaid, Mr. McCready, Mr. Flynn and Mr. Tobin) and 2 opposed (Mr. Mann and Mr. Kimmel). Mr. Flynn stated that the reconsidered vote then passed with 3 in favor (Mr. McCready, Mr. McQuaid and Mr. Tobin) 2 opposed (Mr. Mann and Mr. Kimmel), and 1 abstaining (Mr. Flynn).

proposed resolution for pension contributions

Mr. McCready stated that any questions could be referred to Ms. LeTourneau. Mr. Kimmel stated that he had confirmed with Ms. LeTourneau that the City Council Resolution (included in committee handout) was basically a technical issue required by the IRS, essentially to conform to law. Mr. Mann asked whether the City Council Resolution was all new, or if not, what was different. Ms. LeTourneau stated that the previously approved Pension Agreement (included in committee handout) dated July 27, 1999 was converted by the City Council Resolution to now be a pre-tax plan, as required by Section 414 of IRS regulations. She stated that the Resolution was required by the IRS to be adopted by legislative body, the effects of which had already been approved in the Pension Agreement of 1999.

employment contract – fire chief

Mr. McCready stated that he had written a letter to the mayor and to the fire commissioners, but did not receive a reply as quickly as he had hoped. Mr. McCready stated that he had spoken to Mr. Garfunkel, who stated that he would go along with the mayor’s decision on the contract issue for the Fire Chief. Mr. McCready stated that Mr. Flaherty stated that he would not impose a contract on the Fire Chief if he did not want one.

Mr. McCready stated that current Chief Verda had not been under contract before. He stated that in 1995, the previous Fire Chief was given a contract with the intention of keeping him, as a more binding document, since that Fire Chief had received job offers from other towns.

Mr. Kimmel asked how long the contract was for. Mr. McCready stated that is was for one year, and may have been renewed for three years, adding that previous Fire Chiefs had simply stayed on indefinitely.

Mr. Kimmel asked whether Chief Verda wanted a contract, or whether someone wanted to give Chief Verda a contract. Mr. McCready stated that in Mr. Flaherty’s opinion, Chief Verda was not interested in a contract. Mr. McCready added that he did not know of any city ordinance requiring a contract.

Mr. Kimmel stated that he thought Chief Verda did want the contract. Mr. McCready repeated that Mr. Flaherty’s opinion was that the Fire Chief did not want it. Mr. McCready noted that without a contract, it would be harder to get a person to leave a job, whereas with a contract, when the year was up, the person was out. Mr. Flynn stated that he also was under the impression that Chief Verda wanted a contract.

Mr. McCready stated that he would send a letter to Chief Verda to clarify, and also meet with him in person to find out.

Mr. Flynn stated that the Personnel Committee could only make recommendations on this issue, that it was the Fire Commission’s jurisdiction to take action. Mr. Kimmel stated that if the Chief wanted the contract, and the Fire Commission set up the contract, then the Fire Commission should handle it. Mr. Mann suggested that the Personnel Committee close the item, unless there was a problem. Mr. Flynn stated that it was not the Personnel Committee’s business to act on it.

Mr. McCready stated that the issue should be postponed for discussion until the next meeting, when he would have more information from Chief Verda.

adjournment

As there was no further business to discuss, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 8:40pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Marin
Telesco Secretarial Services

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