Lakeville trustees discuss reinstating long-serving staffer; union process and job-class questions flagged

During old/new business on Jan. 28, Trustee Ruth Gross urged the board to consider restoring a long-serving staff member, Teresa, from hourly to salaried/professional status, citing her extensive hours and leadership while the director is absent. Gross said Teresa "is putting in many, many, many more hours than her 40 hour job" and argued the board should review whether her classification should be upgraded.

Director Jennifer Jones and other trustees cautioned that Teresa is currently covered by the town union and that changing her status would likely trigger union review and bargaining. Trustees discussed job-description requirements, whether a master's degree in library science (MLS) should be required for a professional classification, and the potential effects on other union-covered positions. Jones recommended the board look at the position description and consult HR, the union and MLS guidelines before advancing any change.

Trustees agreed to ask Jones to research the rules and return findings. The board emphasized it is considering the position, not the person, and noted that if Teresa were to leave, hiring standards might include an MLS for that role. No formal motion to change Teresa’s employment classification was made at the meeting.