FROM THE NEWSROOM: The transfer of a figure not to exceed $20,000 from Putnams health insurance account to fund a needs assessment in the financial department was approved by the Board of Finance Monday, following a heated debate on personnel performance. Finance Director and Treasurer Sandra Savoie said other employees in her department are responsible for the town falling behind on its financial responsibilities, saying they make too many “careless errors.” To illustrate her point, she said a recently hired intern who works only seven hours a week is “more valuable to me than my assistant.” But Board of Finance member Bob Garceau counter-argued that Savoie should take responsibility for the problems within the financial office instead of what he called “throwing people under the bus;” telling Savoie, “Im really disappointed in the way youve conducted yourself in the last year. Okay? Youve not met my expectations.” Responding to complaints by Savoie about the extra work shes allegedly had to take on, Garceau pointed toward the hallway saying, “If you dont like working the hours, theres the door.” Savoie was critical of Board of Finance members and Selectmen for not taking her up on an offer to shadow her, and see what her workday is like. With discussions ranging from potential new hires to how hypothetical terminations could be carried out, Board of Finance Chairman Joseph Nash said he thinks the independent and impartial assessment is the best way to address the finance departments concerns by removing personal stakes from the equation. Tune in for the full report.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:49:57 +0000