Marblehead Select Board recently debuted the warrant articles that it will sponsor for Town Meeting’s consideration in May.
The eight-article lineup is eclectic, from expanding the setback for public shade trees to setting up a proper human resources outfit.
Marblehead Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer introduced the slate of articles, starting with a proposal to amend professional, non-union town employees’ benefits. Unlike union benefits that are generally revised every three years as part of the collective bargaining process, benefits for non-unionized employees are not, Kezer said.
“Some of the concern … is their benefits have not changed in a significant amount of time,” he said, adding that the article would make non-unionized employees’ benefits “somewhat comparable” to union benefits.
Kezer said the proposal that will ultimately be presented to Town Meeting targets benefits like longevity pay, sick-time bonuses, vacation time, bereavement and personal leave, and floating holidays, among others.
For example, under one possible change, non-unionized employees could earn additional vacation time more quickly — five weeks (25 work days) of vacation after 10 years of service, instead of the current 15 years.
Updating longevity dollar amounts based on years of service is also being considered.
Meanwhile, two articles aim to establish a human resources department and appoint a new director to run it.
“Currently, there are two people under the Finance Department who do payroll and benefits,” Kezer said. “If this were approved, they’d slide on over.”
The human resources director would oversee everything from formulating and implementing personnel policies and managing unemployment benefits to administering retiree benefits and supporting collective bargaining negotiations.
“If the town can fund it through the budget, we’ll advertise and hire a professional human resource director,” Kezer said.
Among the bylaw amendments proposed includes updating the list of employees subject to annual physical examinations. Another seeks to move the tree and stormwater departments under the Department of Public Works.
Marblehead may join the growing number of communities using electronic counting devices at town meetings. To get there, the Town Meeting would have to amend a general bylaw.
“It was determined that we have to change the bylaws first to allow electronic devices,” Kezer said. “So we wouldn’t be able to use this system this year.”
Town Meeting members would vote on articles with a wireless clicker, producing instant tallies and “making for a more efficient meeting,” Kezer said.
Lastly, the Select Board has sponsored a public shade trees article that would permit the town to plant trees on private property “within 20 feet of the public right of way, provided that written permission from the adjoining property owner is obtained first.”
The article comes as Marblehead invests millions of dollars into creating and improving sidewalks around town. Officials do not want tree-root growth to damage them.
