Commission reviews chapter on town employees; questions about town manager role, HR and position approvals

The commission reviewed proposed Chapter 9 language that assigns responsibility for town personnel rules and job descriptions and discussed where authority should sit between the town manager and the Board of Selectmen.

Why it matters: charter language defines who recommends and who approves job descriptions, which affects day‑to‑day municipal operations, collective bargaining implementation and the town manager's ability to staff departments responsively.

Commissioners noted the draft reads as though the Board of Selectmen must approve every position description. Members asked whether that reflects actual practice and whether routine seasonal staffing decisions (for example, summer lifeguards or temporary positions) require the full board's formal approval or are handled administratively. Several commissioners described the current arrangement as “muddy” and asked staff to confirm the town manager's tactical authority versus the board's budgetary and policy authority.

Staff said position creation and any budgetary impact must align with appropriations and that collective bargaining agreements and state law can affect the process. Commissioners discussed having the town manager prepare personnel rules and an HR director manage day‑to‑day HR tasks while retaining the board's final appropriation and policy authority.

The commission did not change charter text at the meeting. Members asked staff to prepare clarifying language or an explanatory memo that aligns the charter draft to current personnel practice, the presence of an HR manager, and collective bargaining constraints.

Ending: The commission will review staff guidance and return to Chapter 9 with suggested edits or recommended clarifications tying administrative practice to charter language.