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Select Board discusses creating predictable pay matrix and COLA policy; sets target for primary budgets
Summary
Board members discussed developing a formal pay matrix for police and fire, tying cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security COLA, and agreed to request primary department budgets by Sept. 15–16 so the board can review before budget committee work begins in October.
Select Board members discussed creating a predictable pay scale (pay matrix) and a formal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) policy tied to Social Security figures, and they set an internal timeline for primary budgets ahead of the budget committee season.
Members said a formal pay matrix would make budgeting more predictable under the town’s tax-cap environment and suggested tying annual COLA increases to the federal Social Security COLA. The board noted that any binding multi-year pay schedule would require voter approval at town meeting; the board can prepare a proposed matrix for presentation to voters but cannot unilaterally bind future boards.
Select Board members agreed it is a substantial undertaking that would require department-head and police/fire chief input and recommended forming a working committee to assemble current compensation, step structures and comparable data from peer departments. One member volunteered to contact the two chiefs to see if they would participate.
On budget timing, the board agreed to request primary budget submissions from departments by Sept. 15 so the board can begin review on Sept. 16 and present proposals to the budget committee before that body’s October start. Members acknowledged some external line items (health insurance, retirement) may arrive later but stressed getting “primary” department numbers early to give the board a working baseline under the town’s tax-cap constraints.
The board also noted the previously approved part-time finance position had been advertised; staff said applications had not yet been received and that the job posting lists pay as “commensurate with experience” with a likely starting range discussed in previous meetings.
