By Robin Reid

The Charlotte Selectboard convened their first regular meeting of 2015 at 7pm on Monday, Jan. 5. The panel (minus Matt Krasnow) had met previously that day from 9-10:30am to go over additional changes on the Wage Classification Policy and associated grid(s). Adjustments to the Wage Classification Implementation document were also under consideration during the morning work session. Members of the Selectboard have conducted nearly 50 such work sessions during the past nine months and the pronouncement to date is that they have a document ready to approve, pending public input.

Burns property clay plain forest conservation easement

Kate Lampton made a presentation to the Selectboard regarding the placement of a conservation easement on the 23-acre clay plain forest on the Burns property located between the former flea market on Route 7 and Greenbush Road. She said the project would require a $10,000 commitment from the Charlotte Land Trust before the Vermont Land Trust would commit staff time to completing the easements.

Lampton explained that the original Burns Property Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the year 2000 was difficult to work with. An effort to rewrite the document so it could serve as a better management tool began about four years ago. Lampton clarified that she was helping to facilitate the rewrite but it was not her project. She said the Notice of Agreement (NOA) as the new document has been labeled is the overarching document and she advised that this document be addressed prior to putting conservation easements on the property.

Mike Russell noted that placing conservation easements on the clay plain forest was not a requirement of the original MOA. He does not support limiting possible future public use such as septic capacity and trails construction. Selectman Ellie Russell said the recommendation to conserve the clay plain forest had come out of the planning process that was a requirement of the 2000 MOA.

Moe Harvey expressed concern with the new version of the NOA because he felt there were significant changes to the original that should be intact. His comments referred in particular to language restricting the property for municipal use only. David Miskell spoke on behalf of the Burns property project’s original community backers and the public process of purchasing the land. He said that any proposed changes or development on that property should be decided by a town-wide vote, not by the Selectboard. Robert Mack asked for details on the restrictions involved in a clay plain forest conservation easement but the answer was not readily available.

Lampton agreed to look at the NOA with Selectman Russell and Town Administrator Dean Bloch to make some revisions before bringing the document before public review.

Wage Classification Program

Chair Lane Morrison gave an overview of the process conducted over the last nine months. He feels the Selectboard has created a reasonable program with a policy to establish parameters for salaries and job requirements of town employees.

Town Clerk Mary Mead expressed unhappiness with the Selectboard’s action to place her at level 15 when she is technically at level 21 based on years of service and experience. Mead has served the town since 1994 in her elected capacity as Town Clerk and Treasurer and she assumed the Delinquent Tax Collector position upon the death of Marlene Mansfield in 2008.

In her comments to the Selectboard Mead questioned whether their proposed grids and charts would accommodate a town administrator who had been employed by the town for as many years. Mack voiced other concerns including that the policy language state clearly the Selectboard’s duty to primarily oversee the wage classification program with the assistance of the town administrator. Mack said he does not want to see a “back door manager” when the townspeople have elected Selectmen for this role.

Stephen Brooks said the wage classification program represented a major financial decision. He suggested since this is the first night the public has been presented with documents that the Selectboard not rush to approve, but let the public consider it. Brooks stated that a town-wide vote be considered to adopt the final program. Peter Trono inquired how market value would ultimately fit into the grid without creating unfair salary distribution in the future.

While the agenda had this item listed for possible approval, Chair Morrison announced that the final draft shall be ready for approval at the Jan. 12 meeting. He replied that he did not consider the program a major financial decision and this program includes provisions to consider adjustments based on market value.

Presently, the cost of implementation is estimated at $7,000. After the initial implementation in January, the grades will be reviewed and appropriate grid placements made at the beginning of the next fiscal year in July. Some employees will receive two pay increases this year. Mead noted eight positions that she finds to be miscalculated according to the median salary examples used. She pointed out that the Planning and Zoning Assistant was hired below the median salary, and that person can’t even reach the median salary assigned to her job until she reaches step 15. Other employees such as town administrator, librarian, and library assistants are starting at the median salary rates from year one.

Selectman Krasnow had a number of edits to the latest version of the policy and grids. He requested one more work session prior to the Jan. 12 meeting. Prior to adjourning, the Selectboard set up a warned work session to include the Wage Classification Program corrections and a draft budget review on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 2pm.

Noted in Selectboard updates was the information that the CVFRS had good results from their last audit. However, they had voted not to revise the budget as presented to the Selectboard. Chair Morrison said he has asked CVFRS to reconsider submitting a budget with the 6.3 percent reduction as originally requested.