Shutesbury Board of Selectmen with the Town Administrator Search Committee May 18, 2009 Meeting Minutes Members present: Co-Chairmen Ralph Armstrong and Al Springer. (Vacant position to be filled 6/23/09.) Also Present: Select Board member elect Elaine Puleo, Town Administrator David C. Dann and Administrative Secretary Leslie Bracebridge, recording. Meeting opened at 7:00 P.M. Ralph made the following announcements: * The Select Board will interview each candidate for 25 minutes and questions will then be taken from the audience. A total of 50 minutes will be allowed for each interview. * After the second candidate is interviewed. Al and Ralph will deliberate and make a decision in full view of the town. * Select Board questions are listed on the attached sheet. The first interview with Aaron Chrostowsky opened at 7:05 PM. At 7:30 PM the Selectmen completed their questions and questions were invited from the audience: * You’ve worked in Vermont. How would you go about learning the regional and state players/programs/legislative structures, etc.? * What is your experience with working with state representatives and lobbying in state government? * Budget Question: 1.What is the percent breakdown of your budget for State Aid, Local Revenue, Property Tax and Grants? 2. How are capital improvements funded? At 7:45 PM Aaron was invited to ask questions of the audience: * Do you have a professional development item in the budget and funds for membership in municipal management organizations? Answered by Town Administrator David Dann. * What is the meaning of Roadtown? Answered by Leslie Bracebridge * When will a decision be made? Answered by Ralph Armstrong. Ralph thanked Aaron for his presence at tonight’s session. The second interview with Rebecca Torres opened at 7:59 PM. At 8:07 PM the prepared questions were asked and answered. Next the same audience questions asked of Aaron were asked of Rebecca. Ralph paraphrased the third question asking how these tools would be used going forward in Shutesbury. Additional questions put to Rebecca included: * Knowing how state funding affects our budget, would you be willing to carry the message forward to our state Representative and Senator to raise the (“graduated” subsequently added) income tax? * You would have a very green (not much experience) Select Board, knowledgeable of finances, but not of the duties of Selectmen. How would you balance giving the Select Board the knowledge without doing the job for the Board? At 8:18 PM Becky was invited to ask questions of the audience: * Given the fiscal downturn, people are not doing as well: foreclosures, tough changes in their lives. In Shutesbury there is no social service net. People end up in Holyoke and Amherst. What do you think of that? Do you think we could offer referrals or other services, what do you think? Answered by Ralph Armstrong (senior housing), Al Springer (information packets) and Town Administrator David Dann (community chest.) Elaine: The Community for Social Responsibility had suggested a website for linking people with needs with people with the capacity to fulfill those needs. We only have each other. Becky: Unemployment doubled to 8% in Shutesbury in the past 6 months. Elaine: Transportation is critical. The candidate, Selectmen, and audience spent time brainstorming other ideas to open the community’s eyes to the needs of others and touched upon community gardening for others. At 8:42 PM Ralph thanked Rebecca for attending the interview. Deliberation: * Ralph thanked the Search Committee for their work. * Al: Aaron is new. Becky has been Selectman for two terms and has spoken with David every morning. The only difference is that she would be in the office talking to our Board members. Becky has done much lobbying, got dam funding, whittled down school loan disallowances with the Treasurer, she made a good comment in her interview about capital construction (fire station) on the soil contamination to preserve cash. There’s plenty of stuff on the plate. “I can’t think of anyone who can fill the Town Administrator job better than her.” * Ralph personally liked the way Becky constructed her responses to the questions. She spoke about the needs of the town, not about herself. We’re talking to Aaron about the beginning of his career; Rebecca is in the middle of her career and the process. “We cannot put a price tag on that.” * Elaine: Aaron could get up to speed; there’s no need to bring Becky up to speed. Becky served on many committees. She’s known by the town. * Al: Becky has skills in calming down excited people. * Gary: “Rebecca is at the top of the learning curve already.” * Elaine added: “Which is especially important with a green Select Board.” A motion was made, seconded and unanimously voted to offer the position of Town Administrator to Rebecca Torres to begin July 1, 2009. To a question concerning a contract: Ralph Armstrong and Al Springer from the Select Board, Margaret Manson from the Personnel Board and William Wells from the Finance Committee will all serve on the Contract Negotiation Committee. Ralph will contact Rebecca to offer her the position. If she accepts, she should be invited to a contract negotiation meeting on Wednesday May 20 (The committee will meet at 6 PM and Rebecca will be invited to join the meeting at 6:30 PM.) David: If the committee feels like it wants to exceed anything in the budget passed at town meeting it can only be done at a special town meeting. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:52 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Bracebridge Administrative Secretary 090518 Board of Selectmen with Town Administrator Search Committee 1