Monday, July 02, 2007

Personnel committee 7/2

The Personnel Committee met tonight with basically two items on the agenda, Town Manager annual review/goals & objectives and Town Clerk's salary. The TM review was basically in executive session, so I won't talk about that. But I did find the discussion on the Town Clerk's salary interesting. Besides the Town Clerk getting a 3.5% raise for each of the next two years (Altieri, Ecke, Orsini, Ruocco, White in favor; all others absent), there was one comment tonight that I found absurd... bordering on unbelievable... when the topic of merit-based compensation came up... one councilor said (and I'm paraphrasing) "I haven't heard anything good or bad about the Town Clerk this year." Oh my goodness... the comment was really priceless.

Regardless, since it's an elected position... I'd rather stay away from merit-based pay because it could easily end up looking political. So I'd rather just determine a salary for the position.

Tim White

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's not pretty, but it works--> The UNOFFICIAL Cheshire Town Document Archive

-csh
(art blog - political blog - gallery)

Anonymous said...

For more real information about the Northend.


http://leversandpulleys.com/blog/

Anonymous said...

How is it that Leversandpulleys can provide us with the minutes of the P&Z minutes on the Northend and our town government can't or is reluctant to. Why do we need an information officer? It's not that hard to put information on the net.

And it is not that hard to televise important meetings, such as the northend P&Z meetings.

Anonymous said...

I agree this is a very important issue for the town and the P&Z meetings regarding this should be televised. We're trying to have open government and more public information but they put up roadblocks whevever it suits them. Also what's with Marty Cobern you'd think from his comments that he was a lobbyist for WS.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't seam that Hall and Estey's apologies meant very much. They had a chance to close the saga of their vicious attack on the town clerk by showing up and joining in a unanimous approval of Caroline Soltis' raise, but it seem like they can't simply let this pass. Throughout the last meeting, Estey seemed to dig in her heels and just would not try to adjust to the reality that the system is not been that bad and that there was no sinister plot. She didn't have to go on and on. All she had to say was let's have ordinance review the process and adjust it to everyone's liking.

Let it go.

Anonymous said...

the big point that we found out was t5he town clerks office needs alot of supervision and some new policies
all the other stuff is fluff

Anonymous said...

On Levers and Pulleys you say "Meanwhile, the same position-holding property owners that plan to sell-out the town are running around tearing down signs, harassing residents, and sabotaging debate."

However, not one of the three property owners hold an official town or office position (if thats what you meant). Have you personally seen one of the three OWNERS of the property tearing down the signs?

Anonymous said...

sure they do. are you not counting commissions?

Anonymous said...

"clerks office needs alot of supervision"

I think you meant the Town Manager's office. That's where there needs to be more supervision.

Anonymous said...

Just a note, the Town Clerk does not report to the Town Manager. The position is elected and reports to nobody. The Town Manager has no say in how the clerk's office is run or managed.

Anonymous said...

Saying that Marty Colburn is a lobbyist for WS is just the kind of comment we have come to expect from the anit crowd
If you say one word that looks like you might favor the ned you are accused of being a lobbyist
You guys are gonna have to live with it
Its gonna pass
Ya gonna have to get along with the other and play nice

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised people haven't really thought the committee appointment issue through to its logical conclusion. The current appointment stagger for the WPCA is 1-3-3 when it should be 2-2-3. By correcting Mr. Pelton's term to '08 - the stagger becomes 0-4-3. Also, the Rs retain the chair and prevent the Ds from getting the majority of what Scrumm has called the most important committee in town.

With 4 appointments in '08 - the next council would have gotten to appointment the majority on the WPCA. Gives the Rs a chance to if they win this fall.

What the Rs and our current town clerk have asked us to do is accept they are incompetent and didn't realize the effect of their honest mistake. This from some of the most politically astute people I know.

Anonymous said...

"the three OWNERS of the property"

Do you mean Paul, Doug and Frank?
What about the owners of the other 300 acres? Who are they?

Anonymous said...

"The current appointment stagger for the WPCA is 1-3-3 when it should be 2-2-3."

Let it go. You tried your best at the meeting? Why are you continuing the attack?

Anonymous said...

Are many of the P&Z members really representing all the Cheshire citizens? Did they listen to all the questions raised and read all the editorials? I hope many did because one certainly has not.

Anonymous said...

anon3:22 What reasons do you think JA and MC have for being so passionate for this proposed text change?

Anonymous said...

This WPCA fiasco still didn't answer why the dem's took so long to bring this up. Many questions. A commissioners term is up in Jan. You look at it in Feb.???

Anonymous said...

If the P&Z really represented the town they would not allow this proposal with residential. The overall consensus whether comments at public hearings, Herald poll, Herald editorials are that Cheshire residents are overwhelmingly against residential. So when this comes to a vote lets see if the P&Z represents the developer or the residents.

Anonymous said...

"Herald poll, Herald editorials are that Cheshire residents are overwhelmingly against residential. "

The Herald poll is crap. If the people of Cheshire were told the truth of what these changes will allow and a real poll were taken, then the entire project includding retail would be rejected. The people of Cheshire have been manipulated.

Anonymous said...

Even the residents who are for retail are against residential. There should be no residential. If you read the P&Z Meeting minutes even some of the P&Z members realize that "residential has no benefit" to the town.

Anonymous said...

The following Poll is similar to the type that the Cheshire Herald runs. You may vote as many times as you want.

This week's question is;

What best describes the Cheshire Herald?


1. It makes up the news and twists
the facts.
2. It likes to name call.
3. It's irresponsible.
4. Big supporters of special
interests.

Anonymous said...

The following Poll is similar to the type that the Cheshire Herald runs. You may vote as many times as you want.

This week's question is;

What best describes the Cheshire Herald?


1. It makes up the news and twists
the facts.
2. It likes to name call.
3. It's irresponsible.
4. Big supporters of special
interests.

Anonymous said...

When the election does not go your way blame the opponents
When the issue don't go your way cry like a baby
When both don't go your way blame the Cheshire Herald
Time to get some cheese with that wine Dave Orsini

Anonymous said...

I almost fell off my chair when I read todays Herald Editorial in which it states that it put the issue of the Town Clerk "under the microscope and required additional oversight". They do this only when it suits them, at no time has the Herald put this proposal by WS under the microscope and required additional oversight. Anything but! In all their articles you would think WS was the second coming of Christ!

Anonymous said...

Now get back up off your chair and come back to reality.
The flashlight is now on the procedures of the town clerk.
WS is gonna happen
Are you back on your chair yet
Good not go back to your rocker and blanket

Anonymous said...

No one is saying that WS is not going to happen. But there are many hurdles they will have to overcome. The only thing that most Cheshire residents are very concerned about or do not want is the residential. This is not good for Cheshire and no matter how you spin it, it won't make it so.

Anonymous said...

Why is it always assumed that those in opposition to WS are old. There are many who have concerns that a new residents, and young families concerned about our school system.

Anonymous said...

"The only thing that most Cheshire residents are very concerned about or do not want is the residential."

At least 90% of Cheshire residents don't know that the entire 400 acres can become malls and big box stores and that can have a devestating effect on our current business owners who are our neighbors.

Given a choice, most would prefer more shopping closer to the center or west main.

Don't ever believe a Cheshire Herald poll and that's what most people refer to when they say people don't mind the stores. If everything is explained to the people and a real statistically correct poll were taken, you would find the results a lot different.