Font ResizeTOWNSEND -- Selectmen voted to take no action on a personnel-policy change concerning the Recreation Commission Tuesday evening.
In a letter to the board, Townsend resident Karen Clement requested a change to the personnel policy and procedures regarding pre-placement medical examinations for recreation staff. Selectmen unanimously voted to take no action on the issue, but discussed reviewing the personnel policies and procedures, a stated goal they set earlier this year.
In 2008 the Recreation Commission spent $280 on four physicals for seasonal staff members, according to Clement. The reason for the expense, $70 per physical, is because the policy requires the examination to "be at the expense of the town by a physician designated by the Board of Selectmen."
Because the Commission is self-funded, Clement said this cost was high and, "with dire financial times, the board may want to consider adopting this concerning other departments."
The Recreation Commission does not support this action. Clement is the town's recreation director, but her concerns in the letter and at the meeting were from the point of view of a resident and mother, she said.
Town Administrator Andy Sheehan said he had dealt with similar situations before with other departments, the expense comes with any new town hire, and it is a liability issue.
"Having people properly screened before is important for detecting some form of liability, it could be underlying medical
The opinion from town counsel was not to make the change, Sheehan said.
Selectman Sue Lisio had two major concerns, the first being the fact that these employees are working with children, and the second, that the town-approved physicians will do tuberculosis tests.
The cost of the physicals, she said, is not "going to break the bank."
Sheehan said he understood the commission would be worried about funding, but the fact that they do not support this makes him a little concerned.
Agreeing, Selectman Robert Plamondon said, given her role as recreation director, presenting this outside of the commission is sending a mixed message. He added that it is a simple question of risk-benefit analysis, and he would not support saving that amount of money if it meant changing something against advice from town counsel.
Along with the letter Clement attached policies from the Town of Littleton, Department of Corrections and North Middlesex Regional High School, saying all these organizations use a screening policy similar to what she was proposing.
Additionally, Sheehan said, policy change "on-the-fly" is not a very prudent policy. More broad, comprehensive changes would prevent "helter-skelter policies" by saying this group is different from this group, he said.
Lisio said she would like the board to begin looking at the personnel policies as a whole.
Follow Luke Steere at twitter.com/LSNashobaPub.
