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Select Board authorizes up to $4,000 signing bonus for water and sewer operations manager
Summary
To fill a specialized water and sewer operations manager post, the Select Board authorized the town manager to offer a signing bonus of up to $4,000 paid from the water and sewer operating budget; the board approved a clawback if the hire leaves before one year.
The Westborough Select Board on Aug. 1 authorized the town manager to offer a signing bonus of up to $4,000 for the town's water and sewer operations manager position to aid recruitment for a role that requires specific licensure.
Staff said the posting failed to attract candidates with the required experience and the bonus is intended to speed recruitment. Staff stated the signing bonus would be paid from the water and sewer operating budget and would not require an additional appropriation from the tax levy. The town's fund-mix approach will be used for payment.
A board member moved "to authorize the town manager to offer a signing bonus for the water and sewer operations manager position up to $4,000," and another member seconded; the board approved the motion. Members confirmed the bonus has a clawback provision: half of the payment is contingent on retention milestones and money is recoverable if the employee leaves before one year.
Board members described the position as important and noted about 13 vacancies exist across town positions; staff said the signing bonus structure mirrors a prior hiring incentive used for the town accountant role. The Select Board did not specify the name of a candidate or additional contractual terms at the meeting.
The authorization allows the town manager to make an offer consistent with the approved amount and clawback terms; the Select Board said the measure is intended to stabilize critical operations in water and sewer services.
