The Personnel Board discussed a proposed change to Section 14 of the FY27 SAP that would raise temporary coverage compensation for employees who fill in for supervisors or perform multiple roles from the longstanding 10% to a proposed 25%.

Vanessa, representing staff, said the higher percentage would recognize non-supervisory employees who are called upon to perform extra duties during vacancies or leaves. She said the town has had multiple such instances in the last two years and wanted a mechanism to acknowledge that work.

Opponents on the board cautioned that 25% is a large increase and may create inequities or encourage questions about whether both positions are still necessary. One board member suggested a merit-based small bonus pool or clearer overtime offerings as alternatives. The discussion also covered whether the supplemental compensation would interact with overtime calculations and whether overtime should be calculated on the increased salary.

Members asked staff to work with labor counsel and return with alternative language — for example, a smaller percentage (15–20%), a narrow definition that limits 25% to supervisory-acting roles, or a one-time bonus pool. No vote was taken; the board agreed to continue the item at a future meeting.

The board also requested clearer language separating professional certification stipends from job-related stipends and asked Vanessa to clarify which professional accounting certification will be required for the role discussed in the packet.