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Select Board backs MTC business-process survey, approves $5,000 for cemetery study and forwards DPW job-description change
Summary
The Select Board voted to support a municipal business-process survey administered by MTC, authorized up to $5,000 in engineering funds for cemetery water-tank study, and approved a revised DPW business-administrator job description for referral to the personnel board.
The Town of Southborough Select Board approved three substantive governance items during its open session: (1) a motion to support a Municipal Technology Committee (MTC) business-process survey, (2) an authorization of up to $5,000 from engineering funds to cost out proposed improvements to the cemetery water tank, and (3) approval of a revised job description for the DPW business administrator to be forwarded to the personnel board.
MTC representative Matt described a short, focused survey for residents and a separate anonymous instrument for town employees to nominate up to five processes that are "painful" or inefficient. The tools would feed into value-stream mapping, prioritization and possible product requirements for automation or process changes. After board discussion about survey phrasing, response fatigue and employee versus resident instruments, board member Al moved that the board "go on record supporting the MTC's business process survey." Chair Andrew seconded the motion. Roll-call recorded Dennington, Landry, Cook and Flane as voting "aye." The motion carried.
On the consent agenda the board debated a $5,000 request for engineering documents to cost improvements to a historic cemetery water tank. Board members described the request as a small, necessary step to generate a scope and cost estimate before putting a CPC article on a warrant. The board amended the motion to specify "up to $5,000" and approved it by roll call (Landry, Cook, Lane, Hamilton and the chair recorded "aye").
Separately, the board considered a revised DPW business-administrator job description after debate about timing and whether the broader pay-and-class study should be used to make permanent changes. DPW director Bill said a significant disparity existed between administrative staff roles and that the change addresses current workload inequities. The board voted to approve the revised job description and send it to the personnel board for grading; any change in pay would be subject to the personnel board and available budget.
No additional funds for the DPW job reclassification were approved at this meeting; board members discussed a potential short-term stipend (an existing stipend line in the SAP was noted) and the possibility of resolving compensation retroactively pending the personnel-board review. The meeting record shows the board moved on these three items and recorded roll-call votes for each.
