Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City official urges HR performance audit after citing FMLA, harassment and reclassification gaps
Summary
Tim Cummings, Nashua’s Director of Administrative Services, told the Finance Committee he plans to reissue an RFP for a human resources performance audit after identifying FMLA noncompliance, inconsistent responses to suspected intoxication incidents, and a lack of standardized harassment and reclassification procedures.
Tim Cummings, Nashua’s Director of Administrative Services, urged the Finance Committee on June 17 to support an outside performance audit of the city’s human resources operations, citing several procedural gaps that could expose the city to liability.
Cummings said he is not seeking approval at the meeting but wanted the issues on the record. "I can tell you that there are some departments in the city of Nashua that are not following the FMLA policy," he told the committee, and added staff handled related situations inconsistently. He said there were five instances in which employees were perceived to have come to work intoxicated and that responses varied because the city lacks a uniform procedure.
He also said the city lacks a standardized procedure for handling harassment reports: "We certainly have a harassment policy. But often what I have found is you have accompanying procedures that go along with that policy that creates a uniform process... We do not have that type of procedure." Cummings said the absence of a formal reclassification policy has led to uneven reclassification decisions and noted that about 25 percent of unaffiliated and UAW employees were reclassified last year.
Cummings told the committee he plans to reissue an RFP and bring a recommended contract back to the Finance Committee; he said a new HR manager will start in August and could work alongside a consultant to learn city operations while identifying and addressing gaps. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the scope and timing; Cummings said he wanted to avoid needless procurement effort if the committee had strong objections.
Next steps: Cummings said staff will prepare an RFP and return with a procurement recommendation; the committee did not block the proposal and offered the opportunity for further discussion when a formal contract is presented.
The discussion does not represent a formal directive or audit award; it records the director’s intent to pursue a consultant‑led performance audit and the committee’s awareness of the issue.
