[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6289866,"mediaKeyId","2531926-b9c998c7dd108ede6e354ea972ac6472","parentId",2531926,"title","Southborough personnel board backs striking Section 18 of SAP, agrees to move plan into town code","audioSeconds",2005,"startMs",126000,"endMs",2131000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531926-b9c998c7dd108ede6e354ea972ac6472&start=126&end=2131","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531926-b9c998c7dd108ede6e354ea972ac6472/thumbnail_126000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6289866/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Southborough-personnel-board-backs-striking-Section-18-of-SAP-agrees-to-move-plan-into-town-code","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289866-37325665f11123a919d721180fac68d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1774994574&Signature=GrFbPXpEz9F0dIBMxlrhEvRzH~nQouFfI5qpgra9dyxPCHbv-oEO-O~4koJhnoTX8AgYdsarlnRqPEqIsuZ4rh9bdJzpBF4Q0iCjmQNnYISWmkHGxr~jq4CxCVW6ZhTMl2Cdlt5L8u~3ncFPX8QKqmcB~5OArUZkf1fo2a47HzRElsVIMra5ziyWJ3qaZY2ywEVmt3kdaEQqRzCtu0xrKMShGjSykcbOqPB75pd~6QxnpFOl9IjGqBdCnqzuBay~dKaFDicKrKyQL~sOi8qBmFIpzoG1QSj42L71YD~Ci2WuIF6YkWHhTTPynhhMI0PI210BUrKT7yYiyfTvoJDQBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Southborough, MA","date","2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Town of Southborough Personnel Board voted 3-0 on March 10, 2025, to support deleting Section 18 of the town's Salary Administration Plan (SAP) and to remove a line in chapter 31 of the town code that directed readers to a separately filed SAP. The board also agreed to move the SAP text back into the town code so it is easier for the public to locate.

Officials said the change is intended to improve public access to the SAP and does not alter the substantive content of the plan. Attorney Kate Federoff advised the board that Massachusetts law gives town meeting broad authority to amend bylaws and that a personnel bylaw limiting town-meeting amendments could be inconsistent with state law.

\"I think to remove that provision is reasonable and it comports with the law,\" Attorney Kate Federoff said. She added that, under state law governing town meetings, residents may bring amendments from the floor and that the town's personnel bylaw restricting that practice risks being preempted. \"I would argue that it could,\" Federoff said when asked whether a resident could amend pay ranges at town meeting.

Federoff cautioned that amendments made from the floor can have unintended consequences and recommended that residents be encouraged — though not required — to coordinate proposed changes with the personnel board before town meeting. \"I think that kind of warning is a good one,\" she said, citing the risk of noncompliance with employment laws if an amendment were adopted without proper review.

Board members and staff explained the practical reasons for placing the SAP in the town code. The town clerk had proposed consolidating the SAP into the code because the plan had been maintained separately for administrative convenience; moving the plan into the code would make it easier for residents to find without changing amendment procedures.

The board also approved a town-meeting handout summarizing the proposed SAP changes and voted to support warrant language for a fiscal 2026 salary study, which the select board indicated it would fund from free cash. Those votes were unanimous.

Roll-call votes recorded at the meeting show John (Personnel Board member) voting \"aye,\" Tom (Personnel Board member) voting \"aye,\" and Jason (Personnel Board member) voting \"aye\" on the motions to support deletion of Section 18 and the related chapter 31 line. The board recorded the same 3-0 tally when it approved the town-meeting handout and the warrant language for the salary study.

Board members said the personnel board and town staff will provide a public recommendation encouraging residents to bring proposed SAP amendments to the personnel board in advance of town meeting so legal and internal-pay-equity issues can be vetted. If town meeting approves an amendment submitted from the floor, the change would take effect according to town meeting's vote and applicable statutes.

Background: Federoff noted that personnel bylaws historically are not reviewed by the attorney general's office in the same way other bylaws are, and that the town's current personnel bylaw language appears to limit participation at town meeting in a way that could conflict with Chapter 39 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which governs town meeting procedure. Board members said they will coordinate with the town clerk and counsel on final warrant language and the handout text ahead of the April annual town meeting.

What happened next

The board moved to the next agenda items after approving the SAP-related motions; select-board members and the town clerk had already reviewed or signaled support for parts of the package earlier in March.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Southborough: Personnel Board 3/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Town of Southborough Personnel Board voted 3-0 on March 10, 2025, to support removing Section 18 of the Salary Administration Plan and to move the SAP text back into the town code to improve public access.","taxTitle","Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",56453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6289861,"Votes at a glance: Southborough Personnel Board actions, March 10, 2025",557,1683000,2240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531926-b9c998c7dd108ede6e354ea972ac6472&start=1683&end=2240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531926-b9c998c7dd108ede6e354ea972ac6472/thumbnail_1683000.jpg","/articles/6289861/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Southborough-Personnel-Board-actions-March-10-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289861-aa3d304b91e217d9e59878dbd238b623/orig.mp4?Expires=1774994574&Signature=GuJYAH69QTY7ODsuOwxXOVd3EiC3-0WIMX0f9jmReI-VRJUWryizWKCSHZR3PJYVlVxgO4OYZAxavzClWsF5RwemOXH~FcBYN5Jkd0jKGwUDDzeFANxxr3JCa4rcyvVCby1xyTZ0bN9MPWooe26TLxQ5S0rrlWcqO8nKpKuv3orTtzRRHvSO5U4S5hp0WZGOaGcezGCqgp0WGqU04hwakv6cL8j-pphr6Y~NDaCL3NBLhPVq5mq-5KWKHVGBH9pk3FpVMb1-Hx-iKi7iqoSBOYnky72OcO4~pJMNCxt~2azZ0ZR0I-nWTQZcto7IMMO1pdp40RLlfnImz5lmqhtxew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 10, 2025 meeting the Town of Southborough Personnel Board recorded votes on a series of routine and administrative items, including meeting minutes, an employee-hours extension for the Zoning Board of Appeals / conservation department, and a training request. All motions listed below passed by the tallies shown at the end of each entry.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Feb. 10, 2025: Motion carried 3-0 (John: aye; Tom: aye; Jason: aye).

- Approve amended minutes of Jan. 14, 2025 (additionally capturing a previously recorded motion about the assistant town clerk title): Motion carried 2-0-1 (John: aye; Tom: abstain; Jason: aye). The board noted the addition was visible on the meeting video and moved to amend the earlier minutes accordingly.

- Extension of hours for the ZBA/conservation department employee (packet request): Motion carried 3-0 (John: aye; Tom: aye; Jason: aye). Vanessa, town staff, confirmed payroll calculations were done with the finance director to keep the employee below the 20-hour average threshold that would trigger benefits; Vanessa also said the board plans to include an hours increase as a separate article at the April town meeting, which would resolve the issue if approved (effective date discussed as July 1 if town-meeting approval occurs).

- Approve town-meeting handout summarizing SAP changes: Motion carried 3-0 (John: aye; Tom: aye; Jason: aye).

- Support warrant language for the FY26 salary study (as presented in packet): Motion carried 3-0 (John: aye; Tom: aye; Jason: aye). The select board indicated it intends to fund the study from free cash; the advisory committee had not completed its review.

- Approve funding request of $500 for two employee trainings delivered by Jill Grama (rejuvenating sleep and mental fitness workshops): Motion carried 3-0 (John: aye; Tom: aye; Jason: aye).

Procedural notes and context

Vanessa provided an employee transition update during the meeting: Mike Whalen was promoted to second police lieutenant (December promotion), Gene Novak resigned from his part-time local-inspector role and may be rehired later as an alternate inspector, and Pam LaFrancois gave notice of retirement as senior center director. Board members discussed coverage options for the building department given Novak's reduced availability. For the ZBA/conservation employee-hours extension, Building Commissioner Chris Lund and the employee were online for the meeting; Conservation Agent Melissa Danza was on maternity leave and not present.

The board adjourned following roll-call approval (3-0).","The Personnel Board approved minutes, an extension of hours for a ZBA/conservation employee, training funding and other routine items. Roll-call tallies are listed for each formal motion.","actionData","errors"]

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Southborough personnel board backs striking Section 18 of SAP, agrees to move plan into town code

Votes at a glance: Southborough Personnel Board actions, March 10, 2025