HomeMy WebLinkAbout08142013 Personnel Compensation Review Committee Minutes PERSONNEL COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
(Online at www.nantucket-ma.gov/Pages/NantucketMA_webdocs/videoarchive)
Date: August 14, 2013
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Location
: Training Room, Public Safety Facility, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Committee in attendance
: Matt Fee, Robin Harvey, Nonie Slavitz, Craig Spery, John Tiffany,
Jeanette Topham
Committee absent.
: Bruce Miller
Staff in attendance
: Libby Gibson, Gregg Tivnan, Pat Perris, Chief Pittman, Kara Buzanoski
Public in attendance
Mack, Michael O’Neil, Brett Morneau, Clifford Williams
: Rick Miller, Tobiss Glidden, Carol Dunton, Robert Bates, Daniel
Agenda
1. Call to order: 4:02 pm
In absence of a Chair, Ms. Gibson gives overview of why Committee is established. Ms. Slavitz requests
a list of the members, which is provided by Ms. Gibson.
2. Election of officers
Mr Tiffany makes motion for Matt Fee as Chairman. Ms. Topham seconds. Mr. Fee declines but with
no other nominations Mr. Fee accepts nomination. Ms. Slavitz suggests that after six months of working
together the Committee review how things are working and have another election if they desire. Voted
unanimously.
Mr. Fee nominates Mr. Spery for Vice Chair. Ms. Topham seconds. Voted unanimously.
3. Public comment
No Public comment.
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4. Review of mission
Chairman Fee reads the mission statement. No changes to the mission suggested. Ms. Slavitz asks
who/how are they to compare to other communities? Chairman Fee explains that the Wage Study RFP
(contained in the agenda packet) will do this, with assistance of the Administration.
Mr. Tiffany asks what last sentence of the mission implies and asks for clarification. The sentence states
“The data and analyses conducted by the Committee are meant to provide the Board of Selectmen with
information needed to consider personnel policy issues going forward”. Ms. Gibson clarifies that this
Committee is to make policy recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on an ongoing basis and that
this Committee is not creating policy itself.
5. Discussion of potential projects and goals
Chairman Fee asks for suggestions for projects or how to approach them as a committee.
Ms. Slavitz asks for copies of the union contracts and for the link to Town website where they are
located. Ms Topham requests hard copy of contracts. Ms Slavitz asks for hard copy, too. Mr. Spery
asks for clarification about the RFP and how other communities would be reviewed and can the scope be
expanded to beyond Massachusetts. Chairman Fee says that will be discussed under the next agenda
item.
Ms. Slavitz asked if Ms. Perris has done a comparison of communities previously? Ms. Perris explains
what the Town has already done however the RFP is broader in scope than what has been done already.
There are unique characteristics of Nantucket that must be considered that have not been previously.
Ms. Topham asks if some of the communities already reviewed are seasonal like Nantucket. Ms. Perris
confirms that there are. Chairman Fee asks for the results to be distributed to the Committee prior to
next meeting.
6. Review of DRAFT Wage and Compensation RFP scope of services
Ms. Topham notices the discrepancy in population figures; is it 12,000 or 15,000? Mr. Tivnan confirms
that one is a typo and that 15,000 is the number being used.
Mr. Tiffany asks if there is a policy regarding negotiations. Ms. Gibson only knows of a policy
document adopted by the BOS several years ago, giving authority to the Town Manager to handle
collective bargaining negotiations with policy guidance and direction from the Board; nothing else in
writing. Ms. Gibson explains the current process that involves a Town Administration negotiations team
as well as the BOS in strategy discussions and approvals of negotiated items. Mr. Tiffany clarifies that
he is looking for more detail on procedures and protocols at the actual negotiations. Ms. Gibson explains
that meetings are called with unions to negotiate prior to contract expiration. There are ground rules that
are introduced at first meeting which sets the parameters of the negotiations.
Mr. Sprey asks if outside negotiators have been used. Ms. Gibson explains that Labor Counsel is at the
table for some of the negotiations.
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Mr. Tiffany asked who does negotiations for the Town. Ms. Gibson explains that she and Mr. Tivnan do
it, with the assistance of the negotiations team.
Ms. Harvey asks how the union representation is presented. Ms. Gibson explains that usually each union
President and Vice President sit at the table, but it varies and is decided internally by each union. Ms.
Harvey asks about conflicts of interest and how they are handled and explains one of her own. Ms.
Gibson explains that such conflicts are handled as they occur and explains that her conflict with Police
negotiations is the only one of which she knows.
In response to Mr. Spery’s suggest that the scope of the RFP be broadened, Ms. Gibson offers a
correction to page 3 of the Scope of Services to expand the scope to national instead of just
Massachusetts and northeast. Chair Fee warns about just “picking the low hanging fruit” and making
sure communities are comparable.
Ms. Topham asks if private sector is being reviewed. Ms. Gibson says yes and cites Item B in the RFP.
Ms. Topham would like to look at housing issues and if off island communities assist with housing.
Chair Fee asks Ms. Perris if she is aware of any communities that do this; Ms. Perris says it needs to be
looked at and does not know off hand. Chairman Fee asks how schools deal with it. Ms. Harvey
explains the Nantucket Educational Trust and its school housing process. Chair Fee asks if any other
departments offer housing or have same issues. Certain DPW staff and Police summer Community
Service Officers and lifeguards are offered limited housing options when available. There is a brief
discussion of housing needs and concerns.
Chair Fee explains his concerns about offering stipends for housing for off-island employees and that
such stipends will eventually be considered compensation and will contribute to the growth rate. There
needs to be a break in this cycle; his business is in the same housing situation.
Ms. Slavitz asks if we can get recommendations from other communities. Ms. Topham explains that
other communities have employees who can drive to other towns which makes a difference.
Mr. Spery asks Ms. Perris how many commute from off island? Ms. Perris does not know that off hand.
Fire Superintendent Bates explains that no firefighters are paid housing stipends and there is currently
one firefighter who cannot find housing. Chief Pittman states that while seasonal and new police officers
may find temporary housing, it is not the type of housing suitable for long term commitment and that
contributes to staff turnover.
Chair Fee suggests Aspen, CO as a city to review as they have had similar housing issues in the past;
Nantucket is dealing with them now so perhaps we can learn something.
Mr. Spery suggests an edit to Item F of the Scope of Services to add a review of other communiy’s
unfunded liabilities. Ms. Gibson suggests that the Town can get that to avoid adding to the scope. Ms.
Slavitz asks for Nantucket’s unfunded liability, too.
Ms. Slavitz asks if this group’s compensation review is to be done before June? Ms. Gibson says that it
would really need to be done before March for ATM. Ms. Slavitz is concerned about not
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getting the study results in time so asks if they are working for FY15? Ms. Gibson explains that if the
negotiations result in 3 year contracts, then the work of the Committee will not be relevant until the next
round of negotiations. Ms. Topham asks if contracts can be one year duration? Ms. Gibson said one
year contracts are possible but it is not known if it is possible until negotiations start. The outcome of the
study will be valuable for 3-5 years regardless.
Mr. Tiffany asks if there is a list of objectives or guidelines for negotiations? Ms. Gibson explains that
the BOS has given them guidelines within the past 3 weeks. Mr. Tiffany would like that document. Ms.
Gibson says it is not a public document and would need to be discussed in executive session. Ms. Slavitz
suggests an executive session for the next meeting.
Mr. Spery asks if a report to BOS is still expected at the end of calendar year? Ms. Gibson does not
think there is a specific report, but rather ongoing recommendations.
Spery makes motion to approve RFP with edits as discussed. Ms. Slavitz seconds. All approve.
Chairman Fee offers future topics:
- Housing
- Unfunded liabilities and pensions but require more information
Mr. Tiffany concerned about where to start and suggests an executive session to get a feel for where the
Town is with negotiations. Chairman Fee says the RFP is first priority.
Mr. Fee suggests getting a 15-year history of compensation. Has concerns about rate of wage growth
and believes it has crowded out other projects and believes these need to be reviewed concurrently to
determine how to move forward in future. Pensions and other benefits must be considered, too. Mr.
Spery asks if such a history exists for other communities or if it will be part of the RFP? Ms. Gibson
says no.
Ms. Perris says study will only inform us if there is a structural glitch, but we need to figure it out.
Ms. Topham asks how new employees are addressed with regard to whether or not they are in a union?
Ms. Perris explains that most positions are in a union. Ms. Topham asks if that can be changed? Chief
Pittman explains that unions “own” certain positions and it is not up to the employee, or the Town
necessarily. Town has been working on this where possible through negotiations, but it is not the final
solution.
Mr. Tiffany believes it is not too difficult to do analysis based on current data and assumptions to see if
the current rates are sustainable and then create models to address it. Ms Gibson states that the Town has
started looking at similar data and started to make changes four years ago and the recent consolidations
resulted. Chairman Fee acknowledges there has been improvement through these efforts but it still needs
work and agrees that structural problems need to be addressed and changed and this is a good goal of the
Committee.
Mr. Tiffany asks for projections and analysis that have been done by Town to date.
Ms. Harvey explains the School’s new evaluation and monitoring system that they are trying to employ
and asks if other unions have it. Ms. Gibson said no.
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Ms. Topham asks how involved Ms. Perris is with negotiations. Ms. Perris explains that she is at the
table for all Town negotiations. Ms. Topham asks if she tries to keep unions consistent with each other?
Chairman Fee suggest that Town is doing this already. Ms. Gibson agrees and gives example of meeting
with School and Enterprise Fund leadership yesterday and that again this is a team approach which also
requires the discipline of the other Committees and Commissions who negotiate their own union
contracts (Water, Airport, School). Also explains that specific items like health insurance need to be
agreed upon by all unions, therefore any changes require consistency in negotiations.
7. Set next meeting
All agree that Mondays at 4:00 pm seem best.
Monday, September 16, 2013 at 4:00 (location to be determined) for next meeting.
Information required for next meeting:
• Hard copies of all contracts for Ms. Slavitz, Ms. Topham and Mr. Tiffany.
• Prior wage comparison study done by Town.
• Historical wage information.
• Mr. Tiffany suggests Ms Gibson looks at what Town has and made suggestions to Committee
about what to review
• Mr. Tiffany would like budget projections.
Ms. Gibson will compile the contracts and have available for pick up at Town Building
Carol Dunton suggests library has all Town Reports going back for years. Ms. Topham concerned
that there is too much information in a Town Report unless a specific area is to be reviewed.
Ms. Topham asks for Airport union rep to be on email list for notices from Town Administration.
Superintendent Bates expresses concerns about no union representation on the Committee. He
believes that the Committee is too management-focused. Unions often have much of the information
that is being requested in RFP. Chair says that all meetings will be open so welcome to participate.
Mr. Spery agrees that more data is helpful. Ms. Topham concerned about too many unions so
Committee gets too big. Mr. Tiffany doesn’t think union representation is appropriate.
8. Adjournment:
Ms. Topham makes motion to adjourn. Ms. Slavitz seconds.
Adjourned at 5:11pm
Minute Taker: Gregg Tivnan