Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen table proposal to retitle Simsbury library position amid salary and timing concerns
Summary
The Board of Selectmen tabled a proposal to amend the job description for the library’s Head of Children’s Services to Deputy Director after questions about the salary increase, union rules and timing ahead of the budget cycle.
The Board of Selectmen voted to table consideration of a proposed reclassification and retitling of the Simsbury Library Head of Children’s Services to Deputy Director, citing unresolved questions about salary impact, collective bargaining obligations and the timing of the change in relation to the town’s budget process.
Library trustees had asked the board to approve a revised job description to provide succession planning and stronger day-to-day management at the library. Polly Rice and Holly McGrath, trustees of the library board, told the Selectmen the position would support continuity, succession planning and service quality. “Successful organizations have succession plans in place for all their important positions,” Polly Rice said at the meeting.
Town Manager Mark Nelson and Human Resources Director Eric Gomes told the board the proposal was negotiated with the union to remain a unionized position and that, under the collective-bargaining rules, a promotion would require a minimum increase. Management said the change is intended to add operational bench strength to pursue efficiency reviews and a 0-based budgeting exercise for the library.
Several selectmen raised concerns about approving a promotion or reclassification with an ongoing fiscal impact immediately after the fiscal-year wage increase is applied. Board members questioned whether the town could approve the job description separately from the salary adjustment and asked for additional financial analysis showing expected savings and the plan to backfill or reassign responsibilities in the children’s-services area if the incumbent moves into a deputy role.
After discussion, a selectman moved to table the item for a future meeting; the motion carried. Town staff and trustees will return with additional information, including cost detail, a plan for operational coverage and potential savings from the proposed reorganization, before the board takes a final vote.
