Reed Contract Still In Limbo

Ken O’Brien

An article posted tonight on the Worcester Telegram website indicates that the proposed contract between Southbridge and Robert Reed for the latter to serve as Acting Town Manager is still hung up over the issue of a town provided vehicle.

In the article titled “Car clause derails Southbridge town manager contract” Brian Lee reports, “After hitting a roadblock over use of a town-issued SUV, officials continue to negotiate with Robert T. Reed about serving as interim manager for six months, Council Chairman David S. Langevin said Friday.” 

[In another article, Brian Lee reports on the turmoil in the leadership of Southbridge Schools. See “Southbridge facing shake-up among principals”.]

Southbridge Council Fails To Approve Reed As Acting Town Manager…Amended Contract Submitted For His Approval

Ken O’Brien

By a vote of four to four the Town Council initially failed to approve the proposed employment contract between the Town of Southbridge and Robert T. Reed to serve as Acting Town Manager.

With Council Chairman Langevin absent, the meeting was chaired by Council Vice-Chairman Darlene Marcucci. Councilors Carrasco, Moriarty, Peloquin and Vandal voted against the contract. Voting in favor were Councilors Clemence, Manna, Marcucci and Nikolla. Under Robert’s Rules a tie vote results in defeat of the motion. 

Featherbedding And Ignorance At Southbridge Town Hall

Ken O’Brien

Featherbedding.

To those unfamiliar with the term it gained currency in the days when trade unions defended maintaining positions that were viewed as no longer necessary by the management of passenger and freight railways operators.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines the term as follows:

The requiring of an employer usually under a union rule or safety statute to hire more employees than are needed or to limit production.