New Library Director Selected
After working hard for three months, the Search Committee has selected Patricia (Tricia) Ford as the new Library Director. With ten years as the Assistant Library Director in Eastham, Tricia comes to Truro with a wealth of experience and a great understanding of what small libraries on the Outer Cape are all about. In addition to the Search Committee, Tricia was recommended by Meg Royka and myself. We feel her skills and personality are a perfect match for Truro. Thank you to the members of the Search Committee for all their hard work: Susan Kadar, Keith Althaus, Dianne Eib, Janice Redman and Elizabeth Searcy.
Update on Implementation of Selectmen's FY2012 Goals
I have been working with the staff since October to implement the Selectmen's FY2012 goals. We have formed teams around the various goals, and this is our quarterly update for January.
FINANCE
NEW:
- The Board of Selectmen will work with the Town Administrator, the Town Assessor, and the Board of Assessors to develop a procedure that gets the tax bills out in a timely fashion. (Linda, Trudi, Cindy and Rex)
- The Financial Team met on December 1, 2011 to discuss the goal. In the FY2012 and FY2013 budgets, $41,000 of work will be outsourced to ensure that the bills are timely.
CONTINUING:
- The Board of Selectmen, in conjunction with the Retirees Insurance Committee and the Finance Committee, will bring an article to a Special Annual Town Meeting to modify retiree health benefits by adopting MGL 32 B. Any change will be based on the commitment to insure that such modification would not reduce services nor increase costs for existing retirees. (Cindy, Trudi, Susan K, Susan T, Julie)
- This goal has been modified based on the Health Care Reform Act passed by the State Legislature. We have notified retirees of new requirements under the Act requiring all eligible retirees to move onto Medicare, with the Town paying any associated penalties, and have adopted Medex Enhanced to ensure that coverages and benefits are adequate. We will begin the process of negotiating changes with the bargaining units over the next few months. In general, coverage will remain the same, but subscribers will pay higher deductibles and co-pays.
- The Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee, working through the Budget Task Force, will develop and review the budget on a functional basis. For the 2012 fiscal year the Task Force will focus on developing a purchase order system for all Town departments and the feasibility of establishing a program of raises and/or bonuses based on employee performance. (Trudi, Linda, Susan K, Meg)
- We have missed the “window of opportunity” to undertake a functional or zero-based budgeting process for FY2013. This goal warrants further discussion regarding the amount of staff and volunteer time required and any unintended consequences.
- The staff operations review considered a purchase order system. This is relatively easy to implement. We need to establish a threshold and procedure.
- Performance based raises will require development of an appraisal system and negotiations with bargaining units. We will continue to work on this part of the goal and look at what other towns use for evaluations.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING
NEW:
- The Board of Selectmen with work with the Energy Committee and Town Departments to develop the necessary plans and take the necessary actions to win Truro “Green Community” status. (Tom, Charleen, Paul)
- The Town was awarded a $141,200 Green Communities grant to implement several energy conservation and reduction projects under our approved Energy Reduction Plan. We have recently contracted with a grant administrator who will oversee the projects with all work completed by December 2012.
CONTINUING:
- The Board of Selectmen will work to develop a framework to develop the next iteration of the Town Charter. (Selectmen and Town Administrator)
- The Board of Selectmen will work with the Town Administrator and the town's departments and multi-member bodies to find ways to cut costs and/or improve performance by working collaboratively on issues of common interest with neighboring towns and entities, including the Cape Cod National Seashore. (Jim, Susan T, Joe, Lorial)
- The team met on December 8, and discussed utilizing State and County bids for goods and services, sharing equipment with other towns, more frequent updates from CCNS Advisory Board Rep, reduced fee for Golf Course concession, collaboration on a bike and walkway path in Truro.
- The Board of Selectmen will help local farmers and market gardeners create a “Truro Agricultural Commission,” much like the economic development commission, to promote communication and collaboration between the agricultural community and other organizations, committees, and citizen groups in Truro. (Tom, Pat, Charleen, Lorial)
- The team met on October 19 and November 15. David DeWitt is working with the team as a volunteer. The team has developed an article for ATM to establish a Commission as well as a charge for a newly created Commission.
- The Board of Selectmen will work with the Building Committee, the DPW head, and the Town Administrator to develop a feasibility and cost study of the potential options to move the DPW facility off Town Hall Hill. (Paul, Trudi, Tom, Pat, Building Committee)
- The team identified a site for the relocation. Negotiations with the owner are ongoing.
- The Board of Selectmen will work with and support the Town of Wellfleet and the Cape Cod National Seashore, through the Herring River Restoration Committee, to finalize the MOU II for the Herring River Restoration project and will support the efforts of establishing an MOU II. (Charleen, Pat, Linda, Joe, Tony)
- Until the Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact review is completed, the Town cannot move forward to establish a new MOU. It is unlikely that this will occur during FY2012.
PUBLIC SAFETY
NEW:
- The Board of Selectman will organize an ad hoc task force to work with all relevant parties, including the Board of Fire Engineers, to develop a long-range plan for the Truro Fire Department. (Brian, Rex, Selectmen)
- Work is ongoing with Roy Jones and the Board of Fire Engineers. A task force has been proposed to discuss cooperation with Provincetown.
- The Board of Selectmen will work with the Chief of Police and the Bike and Walkway Committee to develop a safe roadway agenda that addresses the needs of currently “dangerous” roads as well as the expansion of safe bikeways. (Charleen, Linda, Dick, Kelly, Kyle, Bike and Walkway Committee)
- The team met on November 14 to discuss an application for a CPC grant for improving pedestrian access in Truro Center. The team also discussed several other roads that could use pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION
NEW:
- The Board of Selectmen will appoint a representative and an alternate to membership on the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Board. That representative will be expected to report to the BOS quarterly on issues of concern, and to look for ways to improve the ongoing relationship between the town and the CCNS.
- Maureen Burgess was appointed as Representative. Regular written reports are being submitted to the Selectmen and Town Administrator.
CONTINUING:
- The Board of Selectmen will continue its municipal outreach programs, focusing particularly on:
- expanding the web site to include a more comprehensive town-wide calendar and increased video coverage of boards and committees;
- launching Truro TV, first on the town web site, followed by cable broadcast;
- exploring the potential uses of social media;
- expanding the circulation and content of the newsletter;
- (Harry, Kelly, Meg)
- The team met on October 27 and November 15. Proof of concept calendar created to expand listings and improve access. Ongoing consideration to redesign of Town website and consistency across all websites. Discussion of new sources of content and ways to publicize eNewsletter and Channel 18. Social media on hold for now.
- The Board of Selectmen will work to expand the technology capabilities and infrastructure of the town by participating as actively as possible with the initial planning for the town's connection with Open Cape. (Harry, Kyle, Meg)
- Open Cape planning is complete. Changes to present service are outlined in the detailed report.
ADMINISTRATION:
NEW:
- The Board of Selectmen will set as a goal for the Town Administrator, the review of all job descriptions for those positions covered under the Personnel Bylaw. The Town Administrator will report back to the Selectmen as to which job descriptions are in need of updating and whether a consultant is recommended. (Charleen, Susan K, Rex, Dick)
- The team met on November 30, 2011. Recommended that which positions need to be reviewed should be established in collaboration with department heads and bargaining units. Revising job descriptions and Personnel Bylaw is included in services provided by Town's HR consultant.
- The Board of Selectmen will work to strengthen the town’s system of volunteer boards and committees through a strengthened liaison relationship:
- Selectman liaisons will work with committee chairs to insure that each committee has its full complement of members.
- Liaisons will work with committee chairs to review each committee’s charge, bringing any necessary changes to the Board of Selectmen.
- Liaisons will work with committee chairs of appointed regulatory commissions to ensure that applicants are treated with all due respect and that civility and courtesy are maintained at all times.
- (Board of Selectmen and all staff serving as board/committee liaisons)
Truro TV, Channel 18
Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Health meetings are now being recorded for broadcast on Channel 18 and for “on demand” playback on the website. We hope to add the Conservation Commission and Planning Board as soon as possible and have future plans for the Finance Committee and Town Meeting.
Sincerely,
Rex Peterson
Town Administrator
townadm@truro-ma.gov
(508) 349-7004, ext 10