from the Town Administrator

December 20, 2010

From where I sit, it looks like the Holidays are arriving in Truro.  The Golf Course, Beaches, and Harbor are asleep right now... we even have our first snow, and our Department of Public Works is out in force cleaning and sanding our roads.  I have been very grateful for the DPW in Truro.  Director Paul Morris has a great crew!  They take care of snow and ice, beaches, drainage, the transfer station and the custodial work of all our Town buildings.  We are in good hands.

FY2012 budget and collective bargaining

It is still time for development of the FY 2012 budget and collective bargaining.   Both processes are very time consuming.  Department Heads have turned in their FY 2012 budgets to the Town Administrator and Accountant.  The round of departmental meetings has begun with the Budget Task Force, which consists of The Town Administrator and Accountant and two members of the Finance Committee and two members of the Board of Selectmen.  The system is long and arduous, but the budget will be ready for Annual Town Meeting this April. 

This is a tough economy in which to prepare a yearly budget.  We are all working hard to keep expenses down, and, in turn, keep the tax rate down.  Department Heads receive questions on estimated expenses of even $100.00.

This will be the challenge for the next decade:  Keep the services at a high level for the residents of Truro and keep the expenses down.  Not an easy assignment.

Policies and Procedures

Department Heads are working hard to produce a Policies and Procedures Manual for each town department.  What the Selectmen asked me to produce is a detailed description of each Department Head's function.  Therefore, if any Department Head has a prolonged illness, a replacement coming in to fill the position will have a document that details what exactly that position does and where to find the files and paperwork.

This is another time-consuming task for our staff, but it will pay off, if and when a prolonged absence, or sudden departure occurs.  It is difficult to write such a document.  For the position of Town Administrator, I have to write a narrative that describes how I bargain with the unions.  I cannot tell anyone how to do that; however, I can point to good resources!

Inter-municipal Cooperation Committee

I know I have mentioned the Inter-municipal Cooperation Committee (Regionalization Committee) in past columns.  Recently the Intermunicipal Cooperation Committee, which is made up of representatives from Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown, met to discuss the Human Resource functions (Personnel) on the Outer Cape.  The goal of the committee is always to combine services where possible and avoid costly duplication.  Human Resources is an area that is very litigious and perilous. 

One area of Human Resources, Training, is an area that the four towns can combine efforts for cost savings.  Today I arranged to use the Truro Community Center to present Sexual Harassment Training for Supervisors and employees.  All four towns will have employees come to Truro to be trained in Sexual Harassment Avoidance Training by two attorneys from Koppelman and Paige law firm.  The other three towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, and Provincetown use Koppelman and Paige as their Town Counsel.

The Inter-municipal Cooperation Committee keeps meeting, and we have already combined our resources to provide effective results!!!

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As I leave you, I hope everyone in Truro has a very happy holiday celebration.  May there be peace.