Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middleborough adds pre-employment screening and staff training line items in FY26 HR budget
Summary
Select Board and Finance Committee heard Human Resources Director Allison Ferrer outline a new FY26 training program, a pre-employment screening line and estimated costs for instructor-led sessions, materials and screenings.
Human Resources Director Allison Ferrer told the Select Board on Feb. 24 that the town’s FY26 personnel budget will include a new training line and a pre‑employment screening budget covering continuing education, supervisor training and pre‑hire checks.
Ferrer said the town will use a mix of instructor‑led sessions, e‑learning modules and printed materials and plans a “train‑the‑trainer” approach so internal staff can deliver sessions. She estimated instructor fees at $15,000 for the year, printed and virtual learning resources at about $5,000, and pre‑employment screenings at $125 each — estimating roughly $10,000 annually based on projected hiring.
Ferrer described the rollout as a centralized training calendar available on the town intranet through CivicPlus and said planned topics include supervisory training, conducting performance evaluations, employment law refresher, safety training and customer‑service/ de‑escalation skills. She also told the board the HR office will standardize a performance‑evaluation form; supervisors will be trained to complete it and employees will be briefed on evaluation criteria.
Jay (town manager) and board members asked about scope and cost containment; Ferrer said the intention is to keep costs down by certifying town staff who can train others. Ferrer also reviewed recent recruiting numbers: in 2023 the HR office onboarded 47 full‑time/part‑time/temporary employees and 50 seasonal workers; in 2024 it onboarded 42 new hires and 28 seasonal workers; and to date in 2025 the department has onboarded 15 hires, including six firefighters and four civilian dispatchers.
Glenn Montepert of the Finance Committee praised the restrained budget increase for HR, noting the department’s FY26 request reflects roughly a 3% overall increase outside the new training items. Diane Faye, a former municipal library supervisor in Boston, spoke from the public in support of structured supervisory training and urged the town to require participation by supervisors.
The board did not take a separate vote on the training line at the meeting; Ferrer said the HR items will be considered as part of the overall FY26 budget process.
