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Thomaston board weighs mechanic pay increase, crew-leader MOA and merger of superintendent roles
Summary
Board members supported efforts to raise the mechanic pay scale (transcript cited a shortfall described as '$150' relative to peer towns), approved pursuing a temporary MOA for the crew leader, and heard an update that a proposed merger of the highway and WPCA superintendent roles plus a new reporting coordinator will go to town meeting on June 18.
Thomaston — The Board of Selectmen discussed recruitment and pay for public-works positions, agreed to pursue compensation adjustments to attract qualified mechanics, supported a temporary MOA for an acting crew leader and received an update on an organizational realignment that will go before town meeting.
Staff said there are two open public-works positions: a maintainer (a candidate has been offered and is expected to start pending background check) and a mechanic. The pool of mechanic applicants lacks diesel and air‑brake experience, and staff said the town’s pay scale is below comparable communities. The presenter described the shortfall in the transcript as "$150" (the discussion framed this as a per‑hour shortfall compared with peer towns) and asked the board to consider increasing the pay scale; board members generally agreed to support pursuing a rate adjustment and to consult with the union.
On temporary compensation, staff described drafting a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to provide a salary adjustment for the crew leader who has been performing many superintendent duties since Glenn’s retirement. Board members said they would support pursuing the MOA and, when numbers are proposed, will seek appropriate union review.
Separately, staff updated the board on a proposed organizational realignment: merging the highway superintendent and WPCA superintendent roles and creating a reporting coordinator position to handle environmental reporting, project coordination and grant writing. The WPCA commission unanimously supported the change; the Board of Selectmen approved the concept (not unanimously). The reorganization will be on the June 18 town-meeting call with language that allows reverting to separate roles if problems arise.
Board members emphasized the goal is to find qualified staff to maintain town vehicles and infrastructure, and that any pay or contract changes must be coordinated through union processes and the budget.
