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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MIMUTES 12-18-2017Minutes of Board of Selectmen Meeting December 18, 2017 Present: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman; Mr. Jess Aptowitz, Vice -Chairman; Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Clerk, Mr. Steve Schoonveld and Mr. Neil Rhein 1. Call To Order Board of Selectmen Meeting - Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Trowbridge called the meeting to order at S:OOPM. He reminded everyone that the meeting was being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast on Mansfield Cable. He asked if there were any members of the audience recording, to which Chairman Trowbridge stated that Ms. Donna Whitehead from Mansfield News would be recording tonight's meeting. 2. Interview Michael Hartman for Town Manager Position Mr. Michael Hartman came forward and introduced himself to the Board. He stated that he for most of his adult life he has been a municipal manager in five different communities, most recently in the Town of Stoughton. Each Selectman then asked Mr. Hartman a series of questions. Chairman Trowbridge ended the interview asking Mr. Hartman if he had any questions for the Board. Mr. Hartman asked what the time table was and Chairman Trowbridge answered that there was not one, noting they have been without a Town Manager for nine months, and want to move as quickly as possible. Mr. Hartman thanked the Board for the opportunity to interview and is excited about the position. He added that based on experience and education he believes he has the technical and interpersonal skills to be an effective manager in Mansfield. Mr. Hartman also provided a portfolio to the Board that was an economic tool created for Stoughton. The Board took a break at 5:51PM and the Chairman stated the Board would return at 6PM. 3. Interview Walter Wilk for Town Manager Position The Board resumed the meeting at 6PM. Mr. Walter Wilk came forward and stated that he has spent over twenty two years in the private sector and in the last ten to fifteen years he has run large groups within the company. Mr. Wilk stated that he has done everything from client acquisition, client retention, sales, employee benefits and finance. He has developed the tactics to run the operation from soup to nuts with supervisors and a team of people below them. Mr. Wilk also stated that he has been on the Finance Committee for six years and was just reappointed and when he first came onto the Finance Committee the Town was very unstable and using three different budgets and today the Town is stable and improving, and trust was built amongst all the stakeholders. Each Selectman then asked Mr. Wilk a series of questions. Chairman Trowbridge then ended the interview asking Mr. Wilk if he had any questions for the Board. Mr. Wilk answered that he appreciated the opportunity to interview and he hopes that he has answered that everything was asked. Mr. Wilk stated that this is an important position and that he will work with whoever gets the position if it is not him, despite what rumor is out there. He added that the Board needs to pick the best person for the position that will position the Town for the best in the future. He stated that businesses like stability and the last two Town Managers left after a short time with severance packages and the decision the Board makes tonight is extremely important and should not be taken lightly. The Board took a four minute break at 6:56PM and the Chairman stated the Board would return at 7PM 4. Interview Kevin Dumas for Town Manager Position The Board resumed the meeting at 7PM. Mr. Kevin Dumas came forward and introduced himself. Mr. Dumas thanked Chairman Trowbridge and members of the Board for the opportunity and stated that he is currently the Mayor of Attleboro and his term expires in January. He stated that he is one of the longest serving mayors of Meeting Minutes Board of Selectmen December 18, 2017 Page 1 Attleboro having served fourteen years in municipal government. Mr. Dumas stated that as mayor he had experience with setting the annual budget, creation of the capital improvement process, contract negotiations, appointing authority, hiring, promotions, staff development, and management of the health insurance plan for eleven hundred employees including the school department. He stated that he created policies and ensured they were followed. He then stated that in Attleboro he was held accountable to the voters every twenty four months and he made sure all of the goals and objectives were met for the city as well as focusing on long term planning and economic development. Each Selectman then asked Mr. Dumas a series of questions. Chairman Trowbridge lastly asked Mr. Dumas if he had any questions for the Board. Mr. Dumas asked what the Board's timeline is for making a decision. Chairman Trowbridge stated that there is no date, but the Board will be discussing all the candidates tonight. Mr. Dumas then asked what the next steps were after tonight's meeting and Chairman Trowbridge answered that it all depends on what happens tonight. Mr. Dumas had no further questions, but stated in closing that he wanted to thank the ten member search committee who referred the three names to the Board of Selectmen and that he appreciates the opportunity. Mr. Dumas added that with fourteen years of municipal experience including all aspects of municipal government he felt that he met all the requirements and prerequisites of what Mansfield was looking for in a Town Manager. Mr. Dumas stated that he will be able to "hit the ground running" and is familiar with all the Massachusetts General Laws and processes of local government and his ability to work well with all department heads and stated that he thinks he has a lot to offer the Town of Mansfield. The Board took a two minute break starting at 7:58PM and the Chairman stated they would return at 8:OOPM. 5. Discussion and Consideration of Candidates for Town Manager The Chairman called the meeting back to order at 8:0013M. He thanked the Town Manager Search Committee for their hard work and commented that there were three diverse candidates and asked the Board for their thoughts. Mr. Aptowitz stated that Mr. Stanbrook has been working hard the past nine months and the Town Manager Search Committee was working hard to give the Board three candidates with different backgrounds, and that the Board has to make a decision as to what is best for the Town. Mr. DelVecchio stated that he wanted to thank the fellow members of the Town Manager Search Committee and thanked the candidates for bringing a lot to the table. Mr. DelVecchio asked Chairman Trowbridge if he was looking for a nomination. Chairman Trowbridge answered if someone was inclined he would accept a nomination. Motion: To nominate Kevin Dumas as Town Manager. (DelVecchio/Aptowitz) Chairman Trowbridge asked if the Board would prefer to discuss the candidates. Mr. DelVecchio withdrew his motion. Mr. Schoonveld stated the Board worked on a job description and one of the biggest aspects of the job description was that economic development was the top priority. He stated that all candidates were talking about economic development and had good points on the subject; however he thought Mr. Wilk provided the business background and that he knows the issues of Mansfield the best. Mr. Schoonveld added that he does not believe the Town can hire an economic director so the Town Manager needs to provide leadership and stability. Mr. Schoonveld then noted that he has spoken with a Town Manager of another town that came from the private sector and was able to transform the town he was in. Mr. Schoonveld also noted the importance of having a manager who is going to be flexible as the needs of Mansfield will change over time. Mr. DelVecchio agreed with most of what Mr. Schoonveld stated and noted that all three candidates had strong answers on economic development, but only two had economic development experience. Mr. DelVecchio stated that he believed Mr. Wilk could do economic development, but noted that government is not business. Mr. DelVecchio stated that Mr. Dumas has the experience, was well spoken and has a broader perspective. Meeting Minutes Board of Selectmen December 18, 2017 Page 2 Mr. Aptowitz agreed with Mr. Schoonveld and Mr. DelVecchio and stated that all three candidates can do the job, but then asked which candidate is the best fit for the total picture. He stated that Mr. Wilk could do the job, but he had no union or collective bargaining experience and both Mr. Hartman and Mr. Dumas had the background. Mr. Rhein stated that it was not an easy choice; Mr. Wilk knows our town and is very involved, has a good way of communicating, and has demonstrated that he can disagree with people, but still work with them to get things done. Mr. Rhein stated that he liked his business experience and the idea of bringing that to town hall, but some experience is missing, however, Mr. Rhein thought he could gain the experience quickly. Mr. Rhein stated that Mr. Dumas has fourteen years as Mayor of Attleboro; he did his homework and knows what is going on in Mansfield, and has the experience. Mr. Rhein stated his only concern about Mr. Dumas is that he is used to being in charge as a Mayor and that would be different here and was unsure if he would adjust to the arrangement in Mansfield. Mr. DelVecchio stated that one thing that Mr. Dumas said that put him ahead of the other candidates is when he said he was not going to be the Mayor of Mansfield and would find out the objectives of the Board of Selectmen and Mr. DelVecchio thought he was the only candidate who had that perspective. Mr. DelVecchio then stated that the Board needs to set clear objectives. Chairman Trowbridge stated that Mr. Stanbrook knows the numbers and was unaware of what it takes to be a Town Manager until he was Acting Town Manager. Chairman Trowbridge stated that if it were an economic development position the clear choice would be Mr. Wilk. He then stated he felt one candidate was stronger. Motion: To enter into contract negotiations with Mr. Kevin Dumas for Town Manager. (Aptowitz/DelVecchio) Mr. Schoonveld noted that the Selectmen need to get back to focusing on strategy and not the day to day. Passes 4:1 (Schoonveld Nay) Chairman Trowbridge asked Mr. Schoonveld to have a re -vote considering someone new is coming on. Mr. Schoonveld stated that economic development is huge and that he has seen the numbers and they are painful. 6. Any items not anticipated by the Chairman 48 hours prior to this meeting There were no items. 7. Enter into Executive Session and Not Return to Open Session under Exemption No. 2, M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 With Respect to Employment Contract with New Town Manager Motion: To enter into executive session and not return to Open Session under Exception No. No. 2, M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 With Respect to Employment Contract with New Town Manager at 8:20PM. (DelVecchio/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 Roll Call Vote: Mr. Schoonveld-Aye Mr. Rhein -Aye Mr. Aptowitz-Aye Mr. DelVecchio-Aye Mr. Trowbridge -Aye Passes 5:0 Signa urt e � -'e . 1—z' i rk Date Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne Meeting Minutes Board of Selectmen December 18, 2017 Page 3