PARIS — Selectmen discussed policies for town employees and the board’s own bylaws Monday in a workshop designed to make more efficient use of regular board meetings. The board made no decisions and took no votes, but members registered their opinions on the issues.
The board returned to discussing the policy for board votes. The board’s bylaws say each member must vote unless granted an exemption by the chairman. This led to an argument when Selectman Ryan Lorrain abstained from a vote on suspending the bylaws for forming committees.
Lorrain said he didn’t have a copy of the bylaws handy and said he felt he could not make an informed decision. Kurtz, who was the board’s chairman at the time, pointed out that the bylaws say each member must vote. Other selectmen defended Lorrain, and after the following meeting Kurtz resigned from his chairmanship.
Selectmen were divided on Selectman Jean Smart’s proposal to allow selectmen to choose to abstain from voting.
Kurtz said it would be an example of “people in positions of power cutting themselves some slack.”
He said boards have an odd number of members to prevent ties, and allowing people to abstain would make tied votes more common.
Lorrain himself said he wasn’t sure a rule change was necessary. He still disagreed with Kurtz’s decision not to allow him to abstain, but said he didn’t think the situation necessarily warranted a change to the bylaws.
In a 90 minute discussion with Policy and Procedures Committee Chairman John Richardson, Richardson pointed out potential loopholes and ambiguous wording in policies for town employees.
Selectmen weighed in on holiday pay policy for town employees and whether employees keep their benefits if they’re laid off and rehired.
The session Monday was one of several board workshops in recent months meant to smooth out meetings that have run as long as four hours. The workshops are held at the town office and are announced. The public is welcome to attend, but there is no public comment period. The Board of Selectmen will hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23.
treaves@sunjournal.com
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- The Paris Board of Selectmen gathered Monday for an informal workshop to discuss town issues. It was not a formal meeting and no action was taken. From left are Kenneth West, Robert Kirchherr (behind West), Jean Smart, Ted Kurtz and Ryan Lorrain.
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