In attendance:

Selectman Edward F. Mical – Chairman

Selectman John C. Brayshaw – arrived late

Selectman Allen C. Brown

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen.

Chairman Mical opened the work session at 5:00 p.m.

The work session will specifically deal with wages for the 2004 budget.

Chairman Mical has received the health insurance rates for January through December of 2004. The 2003 rate per month for a single person went from $361.29 to $399.23, two person rate went from $722.00 to $798.45, family rate has gone from $975.48 to $1077.91. The increase will be reflected in the 2004 budget.

All departments have not been provided with any information regarding wages. This is due, in part, because the Selectmen, have been waiting for the Wage Study Committee to begin the development of the wage scale. Last year the Selectmen did initiate a 2% pay raise effective in April of 2003. There was mixed reaction to this pay raise from the staff.

Selectman Brown recommended a pay increase that runs from January to December.

Chairman Mical obtained a current copy of the Northeast Consumer Price Index.

Peter St. James joined the Selectmen for the purpose of providing wage study status information to the Board (the memo was not read aloud).

Selectman Brayshaw arrived. Chairman Mical brought Selectman Brayshaw up to date.

Mr. St. James has two concerns, not having the numbers to put the wage scale together, and then trying to incorporate numbers into 2004 is presumptuous. If the wage scale is accepted at Town Meeting the Wage Study Committee is recommending a phase in process by December 31, 2004.

Past pay raises were discussed by the Selectmen along with different scenarios for this budget season. A budget including pay raises needs to go before the voters.

Chairman Mical made a motion to continue the work session to Friday, October 17, 2003 beginning at 7:30 a.m. Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Chairman Mical re-opened the work session at 7:30 a.m. on October 17, 2003, All Selectmen were in attendance.

Chairman Mical recommended waiting for numbers from the Wage Study Committee in January 2004 in order to put a Warrant Article together for any inconsistencies to be phased in, and then direct the departments a percentage for a pay raise for budgetary purposes.

Selectman Brown made a motion for 2004 budgeting purposes, to set an increase to the labor line for all Departments to amount to a 2.5% increase, which the Department Heads will distribute accordingly, along with the approved Wage Study recommendations from the 2004 Town Meeting. Selectman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

The evaluation process and the Department Heads responsibility were discussed.

Chairman Mical made a motion to continue the work session until October 21, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chairman Mical opened the work session at 5:00 p.m. on October 21, 2003, all Selectmen were in attendance.

The Selectmen discussed wage alternatives.

The Selectman are looking towards putting figures together for compensation in January 2004 after the Wage Study Committee has completed the wage scale.

Other scenarios were discussed between the Board members.

The Selectmen will hold a work session on October 28, 2003 at 5:00 p.m.

Selectman Brown made a motion to adjourn at 5:52 p.m. Chairman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Edward F. Mical – Chairman

John C. Brayshaw

Allen C. Brown