Commission approves promotion and salary increase for public-works superintendent; retroactive pay to be reviewed

The commission approved a promotion and salary adjustment for Mike Flores to the superintendent position in the town's public services department and set an annual salary of $95,000, while asking staff and counsel to verify whether retroactive pay is allowable under state law.

Town officials said Flores had been performing superintendent duties and had earned substantial overtime in the prior year; staff proposed converting his overtime-based compensation to a regular salary. Commissioners discussed making the pay change retroactive to the start of the calendar year so Flores does not lose compensation he has effectively already earned. The town attorney advised the commission to verify state statutes that bar retroactive extra compensation for public employees and asked that the motion be subject to that legal review.

Commissioners voted to approve the promotion and salary adjustment with the approval contingent on legal review of any retroactive element. The manager said the town would provide a follow-up report on the timing and any retroactive calculation.

Clarifying details - Salary: Proposed increase from $75,000 base to $95,000 annual salary; staff noted overtime had pushed prior-year total earnings above $100,000. - Retroactivity: The commission discussed retroactive application to January; the town attorney requested the action be reviewed against state law before implementing any retroactive pay.

Speakers (excerpt) - Town Manager - Mike Flores, Public Services (present, discussed by manager) - Manny Larzewald, Deputy Director of Public Services - Town Attorney

Action - kind:other; identifiers:{agenda_item_id:"7.4",resolution_number:"not specified"}; motion:"Approve promotion to superintendent and salary increase to $95,000, subject to legal review of retroactive compensation"; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[{"member":"Clerk Commissioner Hodgkins","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Vice Mayor Morissette","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mayor Mohammed","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Jacobs","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Acting Clerk Commissioner Kashem","vote":"yes"}]; tally:{yes:5,no:0,abstain:0}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"Approval subject to review of state statute regarding retroactive pay; manager to report back."

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"b3471.815","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"Motion to approve town manager's promotion and recommended salary increase... Mike Flores... his salary was $75,000 but because of overtime he earned over $100,000 last year... propose $95,000","global_start":3471,