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Selectboard discusses cost-of-living adjustment policy; will pursue warrant article after debate over authority
Summary
Brentwood Selectboard debated adding a guaranteed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the employee handbook. Some members said the board cannot bind future boards financially; the group agreed to pursue a warrant article for Town Meeting instead of adopting a binding policy at the Selectboard level.
At the Oct. 11 meeting, a Selectboard member proposed adding a guaranteed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to the federal Social Security COLA to the town’s employee handbook; the board discussed authority to enact such a guarantee and whether it should go before voters as a warrant article.
The proponent said the COLA would ensure employees’ pay keeps pace with inflation and suggested the handbook include a clause guaranteeing a minimum COLA equivalent to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for the year. “I would like to say that every employ every employee, will receive a minimum COLA, of whatever the federal Social Security COLA is for that year,” the member said.
Other board members raised concerns. One member said the Selectboard cannot bind future boards to financial commitments: “The problem is is this board cannot bind another board to financial obligations.” Another asked whether the handbook already creates binding dollar commitments for benefits such as health insurance; board members discussed distinctions between guaranteeing a benefit and specifying a dollar amount for salaries.
A majority said that rather than put a guaranteed COLA into the employee handbook (which a subsequent governing board could rescind), they would place a warrant article on the town meeting ballot so voters can decide. The board did not vote on a policy at the meeting; a member said they would draft a warrant article for the next town meeting.
Board members emphasized support for employees but said they must balance budget constraints and legal authority when creating binding compensation guarantees.
