Personnel board backs SAP changes including 3% cost-of-living increase and new stipends

The Town of Southborough’s personnel board presented proposed amendments to the Salary Administration Plan (Article 4) at the Select Board’s March 10 meeting, asking voters to approve a set of changes officials say reflect recent labor negotiations and operational needs. Jason, speaking for the personnel board, said the key financial provisions include a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3% for all employees and a 2% step increase tied to a satisfactory performance rating.

The changes also add specific stipends proposed by department heads: for an assistant town accountant who is a certified accountant, the records access officer, and the board of health’s registered sanitarian. The article would formalize a $4,000 stipend for an administrative cemetery agent to be effective the day after Town Meeting; the personnel board said that stipend was already budgeted but needs formal recognition in SAP.

Jason said the most-discussed change concerns pay for employees who step into acting department-head roles. “Historically an acting department head received a 10% increase,” he told members; the proposed amendment would raise that temporary increase to 25% while capping it so the acting pay does not exceed the former incumbent’s rate.

Advisory members asked for clarifications about performance ratings and how the 25% cap would operate. Jason said the SAP language has been adjusted to cap acting pay at the incumbent’s rate and that there are two ratings above ‘satisfactory’ and at least one below; he said there are no additional performance bonuses tied to ratings above satisfactory.

Select Board members and advisory signaled general support for taking the amendments to Town Meeting after the board heard the overview, with follow-up requests for personnel to provide forms and final language clarifying evaluation ratings and effective dates.

Next steps: the board will place Article 4 on the warrant for the April 11 annual Town Meeting; the personnel director and town counsel will supply final clarifications requested by advisory before printing the warrant.