Amherst Selectmen set goals for 2010-2011

May 16, 2010 by admin
Filed under News

Directly from the transcript of meeting minutes recorded on May 10, 2010 at the Board of Selectmen Meeting at Town Hall:

“Mr. Infanti reported he had started his goals, but didn’t have them finalized yet. Mr. Brew indicated he didn’t mind waiting and had some written down, made copies and was willing to share them with the Board. He had four major points:

Communications / Town Website – (a) Get website to a state where stakeholders can easily add items and update pages; (b) Full agenda published at least 2 business days in advance (avoid discussions or votes on items not posted on agenda); (c) Public items discussed at meetings (presentations, handouts, budget information) should be made available via the web when the agenda is posted; (d) Consolidated and up date calendar; (e) Post all information regarding road reconstruction.
Budget – (a) Budget guidance at start of budget process: (i.) BOS priorities; (ii.) Financial guidance; (iii.) Formalize timeline (including W&M Committee inputs); (b) Multi-year budget; (c) Make sure they are adequately funding the maintenance of our infrastructure; (d) Historical budget information posted online.
Policies developed after public input on how the board will deal with: (a) Taxes to fund charitable organizations; (b) Public transportation (Blue Bus).
Town operations – (a) Town Manager vs. Town Administrator plus/minus of each; (b) Non-budget cycle review of each department: (i.) Staffing; (ii.) Functions performed; (iii) Functions considered for adding or dropping; (c) BOS guidance / dialog with commissions: (i.) Input to Recreation Commission regarding field space.

Mr. O’Mara’s highlighted list would be to see Personnel Policies and Procedures updated; before the next election see that all employees are evaluated by Department Heads; Department Head evaluations by the Town Administrator and forwarded to the Selectmen – it would be nice for him to know how the Department Heads are being rated, guided and coached by the Town Administrator. He hoped that in FY ’11, they put steps for employees who are eligible, in the budget and that they are guided by some type of evaluation. He would also like to create an organizational flow chart for each Department without names, but positions with this chart being combined into a Town-wide chart so that there was a “snap shot” that would include a job title, job description and pay grade. He indicated that it would be helpful to know about grant applications.

Under the Police Department, he would like to obtain a collective bargaining agreement with the Police Union as soon as possible and at the same time to have the Chief examine whether the first line Sergeants should be in the same union as their subordinate patrolmen.

Relative to DPW he would like he would like to establish the threshold on what, where and how were subcontractors established; list of services by each division; he would like to see a preventative maintenance for vehicles including protection of them, that would be included in the budget and supported. He would like to see a RFP for the Clerk of the Works for the road project and have a discussion on this.

Mr. O’Mara would like to also discuss the Town’s relationship with auditing, MRI, legal counsel, Primex, Local Government Center, etc. where they expend more than $5000 per year and bid them out every three years. He noted that this would be more for him to establish for himself.

Mr. Grella indicated that fir the past 2-3 years, PMEC was getting closer and closer to being self-funded and hopefully this goal will be met this coming year. The Town really owes it to the taxpayer to make sure it is self-funded. Relative to the road bond, there will be good discussion once they get the bid specifications out as well as getting an analysis how this will work out time-wise and financially. He indicated that Jim brought out the storing of Town vehicles and he indicated that they have a Committee set up to study this issue. They will be meeting early in the summer and will come to the Selectmen in September.

Mr. Bowler reported that he also did not have his goals completed and that the one thing Jim had on his list were reviews and a matter they always discussed. He also knew they had a committee set up for the protection of the vehicles.”

For the full transcript, visit: http://amherstnh.gov/minutes/2010/bos5-10-10.html