Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes 2008
Selectmen’s Mtg.
December 4, 2008 @ 7:00 PM
Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo
Ad-Hoc Committee for Tax Relief. Mr. Rabuffo commented that at the meeting of December 2, 2009, the Board had a discussion on tax classification and voted to continue the traditional policy of keeping a single tax rate. In the course of that discussion it became apparent to the board that in view of the economic uncertainty that surrounds towns that perhaps it would be appropriate to take the goal we have set ourselves in 2008 in looking at tax review and take it to a different level. Ms. Burns had suggested that we come back tonight with a specific proposal as to a charter for creation of and Ad Hoc Committee to take a look at tax levy in general terms. We discussed it at today’s afternoon meeting, and thought it appropriate to bring this motion forward tonight, because this meeting is televised, and more people would understand what the Board is trying to accomplish.
Bruce made a motion for the continuation of the discussion for the Board to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to pursue the Board of Selectmen’s goal for tax relief by studying the following and report back to the Board of Selectmen on a monthly basis.
1) to study the impact of shifting the tax rate
2) to examine the role of taxation versus other funding sources to financing town services.
3) to examine the breadth of alternatives according to the town’s authority to levy taxes, both in manner and allocation
4) to provide a comparison of how other comparable communities handle their taxation as well
The membership of this Ad-Hoc Committee will include a representative of the Board of Selectmen, the town Finance Director, and an Assessor. Also, as the Advisory Committee cannot serve as members on committees, he asked the Advisory Chairman to nominate two representatives to serve on a liaison basis.
Voted, to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to pursue the Board of Selectmen’s goals for tax relief by studying the above mentioned four items in Mr. Rabuffo’s motion and reporting back to the Selectmen on a monthly basis.
Town Administrator Interviews. Mr. Riley announced the Board will discuss and vote on the appointment of a Town Administrator. Mr. Riley asked the Board members for their recommendations on the three finalists. .
Ms. Burns reported the following:
Mr. Beecher - She was impressed with his management style and methods for problem
solving with employees and his interest in setting up focus groups for users of various town services and present feedback. His personal style and demeanor also appealed to her as he would make it easy to work with for everyone. She mentioned that there was concern about some of his problems with recent employers which were mentioned in the newspapers. Ms. Burns had spoken with persons from each of the towns, where each of these candidates has worked. Her opinions were not just based on the interviews and resumes. Ms. Burns spoke with three people from the town of Dover where Mr. Beecher worked previously and pointed out that it is important to notice, as he mentioned, that he was their fourth Town Manager in three years, and he stayed for thirteen years. Everything Mr. Beecher had done was within his authority to do. Ms. Burns wanted the Board to realize that all three of the candidates they were discussing, and also one of the other two candidates, have all been handed their hat by one town or another at least once in their career. It happens due to differences in opinions.
Jill Myers – Ms. Burns was very impressed with what she had accomplished in her career. She has made extremely difficult decisions, made them stick, and even ended up on good terms with all department heads. Ms. Burns had spoken to two department heads Ms. Myers currently works with in the Town of Uxbridge and one of them raved about her skills, even though she had cut his budget. Ms. Myers had hired an excellent team, she is really good at hiring, very professional and very diplomatic, and was faced with very negative treatment by her own Board of Selectmen. She is also experienced in regionalization. Ms. Burns particularly liked her remark that towns should run more like a business, in the sense of determining and disclosing the true costs of all the services that are provided.
Kevin Paicos - Ms. Burns felt the one thing that stood out the most about him was the conversations she had with people that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to assume from his interview or resume was is his extremely strong financial management skills. The people Ms. Burns had contacted for references said his financial skills were “the best they have ever seen,” “he has incredible foresight,” and “is a financial wiz.” He had come up with innovative ideas and built up a previous town’s reserve fund. Several people said he was unique in explaining complicated financial matters to town meeting in a way that everyone understood it. He has had strong experience in regionalization in setting up infrastructure for a 17 town regional consortium. Ms. Burns was also impressed about the way he described the formal goal setting process that he went through with his Board of Selectmen. Mr. Paicos was also noted for getting the best out of all of his employees by staff development.
jMr. Rabuffo reported the following:
Mr. Beecher - He commented that it was obvious he had a wonderful sense of humor and a relaxing way that put everyone at ease when talking to the Department Heads. He had a degree of self confidence that gave the sense that he was somebody that could arrive on the scene as if he was here all the time. His work experience had referenced many states that Mr. Rabuffo had visited in his work experience bringing a breadth of the United States and married it to his experience and wisdom. Mr. Rabuffo thought it was interesting when Mr. Beecher said he started in the business of being a town administrator, he used to deal with people and give them three or four chances, but then as he got older he recognized that maybe he should short circuit that opportunity and just give them one. He also learned it was his responsibility to develop a better way of doing it. Mr. Beecher had found himself in many adverse situations and when questioned, he did not shy away adversity. He put it into proper perspective and made sure that the outcome to the people that he worked for was the right solution.
Jill Myers - Mr. Rabuffo was impressed with her sense of character. When she arrived on the scene, the people that appointed her jumped ship. She dealt with a very difficult situation, four of the five Selectmen she was dealing with resigned. She then had to deal with not only a new Board but also the resignation of the Town Clerk and a Department
of Public Works Director vacancy. These events required her to learn many new skills. She was a very rapid learner and did not shy away from dealing with difficult issues. During the interview process she had a unique habit of bridging the gap between questions, thereby given attention to where she was. She had been recognized by the Governor in her assignment to a committee of the Governor’s. Mr. Rabuffo thought that what she lacked in experience, compared to the other candidates, she made up in enthusiasm. Her work ethic is what she brings to the table
Kevin Paicos has an extensive background in the military as an officer and when opportunity presented itself to be raised to the rank of major, he decided that no he would take a different military experience and become a sergeant in the medical corp. He is a gentleman that could work not only with leadership of the organization but also relate as well to the people who would be working with him. In the interview process he had a communication set that was focused deliberate and extensive. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He had a very clear analytical ability in what he had observed in Hingham, brought his wife to Hingham and spent time talking to the citizens. Mr. Rabuffo was also very impressed with his academic credentials in finance and his strength in handling financial situations in other towns. His work ethics are very transparent.
Mr. Riley
He announced that there was not much more he could add to what his colleagues had just said. He mentioned that all of these candidates appear to be very intelligent and articulate. The feedback he received from the Department Heads was that, by the response to their questions, these candidates were good listeners. Mr. Riley’s assessment is the same as Ms. Burns and Mr. Rabuffo with respect to the candidate’s assets and liabilities.
Ms. Burns made a motion recommending that the Board offer this position to Kevin Paicos. In her opinion from day one, she felt the applicant should be skilled in financial management. Mr. Cristello, the former Town Administrator and the present Town Administrator’s Search Committee also said that the applicant should be skilled in financial management. Ms. Burns thought the town was extremely lucky to have an applicant who has such a strong track record in financial management and that Mr. Paicos also has many other qualities that we are looking for such as a strong team approach to leadership. Her feedback from the staff and the department heads and people that attended the interviews suggested that his personality would set a positive tone in Town Hall.
Mr. Rabuffo seconded Ms. Burns’s motion for the same reasons and additional reasons as well. He also received feedback from folks that spent individual time with him. Clearly, there was, as one of the town mangers said, that Mr. Paicos was literally head and shoulders above the other candidates. He had stepped in, and said that he had a clear confidence, that he would hit the ground running but he would have a way of building leadership and communications. Mr. Rabuffo was impressed with his establishing a relationship with citizens. Mr. Paicos had stopped people in the streets to gather information about Hingham. Mr. Rabuffo applauded that kind of skill to openly reaching out to residents.
Mr. Riley concurred with Ms. Burns and Mr. Rabuffo on Mr. Paicos’ nomination for the position as he thought he was the candidate that stood out from the start of this long process. Mr. Riley felt that he was very warm and intelligent and was impressed with his love of public service and his master of finances.
Voted, to offer the position of Town Administrator to Kevin Paicos, subject to contract negotiations.
Adjourned: 7:45 PM
Marilyn A. Harrington
Clerk pro tem