Hiring Practices in Mendon?

Time for a few words on hiring practices in town... wait... checking for a policy... still checking... Ok there they are. But there is a problem. The only hiring policies we can find are those for the police and fire departments. All of the hires in those departments are thoroughly vetted, professionally trained and guess what? It shows. Guess it must be that two-headed monster thing again.

The hiring practices we are referring to are for the BIG jobs in town hall. Those positions that come with 90% health care, holidays no one ever heard of and a tad of work sandwiched between 45 minute breaks, extended lunch hours, hair dresser appointments and an avalanche of gossip, back stabbing and Fridays off. Great jobs!

Mendon is about to endure another round of high level hiring. The Administrative Assistant and the Town Treasurer/Collector with be replaced in the next several months. If the past is any indication the taxpayers of Mendon will take it on the chin again.

The first change that needs to be made is a change in the job of Administrative Assistant. (AA) Mendon needs a Town Administrator, a professionally educated person with a job description that gives that person the authority to call the shots in town hall and the day-to-day operation of town government. What we have now is the inmates running the asylum.

Here is a little history lesson. About 6 years ago when the position of AA was open the last time the Finance Committee and others sponsored an article on a special town meeting warrant changing the AA position to a Town Administrator (TA) with the authority to do the job. The wailing from 2 selectmen and several of the movers and shakers in town hall was deafening. They didn't want a boss, unless it was one of them and they didn't trust each other enough to support that. They convinced the sparse group of voters that it was a bad idea, it was too expensive, and Mendon didn't need it. The voters said no.

The primary voices in opposition at the time were as follows: Selectman and Assistant Assessor Jean Bavosi, Selectman Dennis Shaheen, Town Clerk Margaret Tetreault and Town Clerk Assistant Margaret Bonderenko. Got all that? The Fix was in.

What happened next is classic Mendon. The job of AA was advertised and 6 resumes were received. Five of these were from people with relative job experience, degrees in public administration etc. The sixth resume was from none other than Margaret Tetreault the town clerk with no experience and no relevant education. Selectmen, Bavosi and Shaheen over ruled the third board member Peter Confrey and chose NOT to interview any of the applicants other than their buddy Peggy Tetreault. But they weren’t done yet. They waited until a few days before the closing date for nomination papers for town elections to appoint Tetreault allowing her clerk Margaret Bonderenko to take out papers and run unopposed for Town Clerk. Done Deal! You lose they win. Good jobs at good wages, Mendon style.

Fast forward to fall of 2005. Margaret Tetreault is about to retire taking with her 80% 0f her 50K+ salary and that plum of plums 90% paid health insurance. Will history repeat? If the taxpayers continue to do the Rip Van Winkle thing, you bet it will. The current selectmen have updated the dog and pony show but the result will be the same. One reason for this is the appointment of former selectman, insider and troglodyte Dennis Shaheen to the "Search Committee". Shaheen will shout and rant and get his way on this committee just because they want him to shut him up.

If you want to end the taxpayer funded party at the town hall and make the place a bit more user friendly, write the Selectmen or post a message here (They check in daily) and tell them to hire a TOWN ADMINSTRATOR with a pedigree. And while you’re at it, tell them to open the town hall on Friday.