MONTAGUE — After three years, an updated 146-page personnel policy manual for town employees is slated to come before Annual Town Meeting voters next month.
Although the policy manual is still a work in progress, after a first read and discussion by the Selectboard on March 2, followed by a second read on Monday night with input from town counsel, the board gave the green light for the document to head to Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 2, for approval.
Per the draft warrant, Town Meeting members will be asked to rescind the existing Consolidated Personnel Bylaw and amend the general bylaws by adding the new policy.
The draft policy, titled “Town of Montague Personnel Policy Manual,” has five sections: Governance and Framework; Employment Lifecycle; Compensation and Benefits; Conduct, Safety and Expectations; and Administration and Appendices.
Town Administrator Walter Ramsey said during the Selectboard’s first read in March that the draft manual “consolidates and modernizes” all personnel policies into a single document. He explained that the manual ensures town policy is aligned with state and federal law, and contains standardized procedures that reduce risk to the town.
Some specific improvement areas include clarifying employee roles and authority, consistency in hiring and workplace conduct, and centralizing human resources and records management into the Selectboard office.
Ramsey explained the process of updating the personnel policy began in collaboration with the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, which worked with former Town Administrator Steve Ellis and former Town Accountant Carolyn Olsen to create a comprehensive policy draft. Ramsey and an internal review committee used this draft as a starting point to add information and structure the sections. The draft was then sent to department heads and employee unions for feedback.
“It’s been an evolving process, not a rushed document at all,” Ramsey said about the manual in March. “I’m glad to be able to present it at this point now, because it’s been on our to-do list for a while.”
In March, Selectboard members agreed to review the document more thoroughly, then come back to share their thoughts.
Selectboard member Marina Goldman said she felt the sections on domestic violence leave, cybersecurity, and diversity, equity and inclusion were well done. She asked about the necessity of an artificial intelligence policy after discussing the topic with other municipal officials. Ramsey said AI is “not definitively” addressed in the personnel policy, but it is something that can be addressed in the future and Montague is looking into what other municipalities are doing.
Chair Matt Lord said he has to “buckle down” and read through the rest of the policy, but he feels comfortable about this draft policy going out to the public and Town Meeting members, knowing that legal counsel has reviewed it and provided feedback.
“It’s a really, really good beginning, and every personnel policy is kind of a living document,” Vice Chair Richard Kuklewicz said, noting that it’s not perfect, but he thinks the key is for it to be updated routinely to remain relevant.
“You’re right, it is not perfect, and we’ll probably find flaws in it and have to make those adjustments moving forward,” Ramsey said in response, “but I think it’s a huge step for the town to adopt this.”
Montague’s Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, at 9 a.m. at Turners Falls High School at 222 Turnpike Road.
