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1. What was the Town’s Personnel Board?

The Personnel Board was established under the authority granted to the town by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41 section 108C. The duties of the Personnel Board were set out in Chapter 33 of the Town Code and became effective in 1995 as a result of a Town Meeting vote. The duties of the Personnel Board included:   Review the personnel policies of the Town; review the compensation policies of the Town; review and monitor the classification plan; investigate and make recommendations concerning the proper classification of any employee; investigate complaints, problems and the adequacy of personnel policies, practices and procedures; make recommendations as deemed necessary.

2. Does the Town still have a Personnel Board?

No, the Town no longer has a Personnel Board. 

The decision to place the duty regarding town personnel with the Town Manager was made by the voters in a public process at Town Meeting by adopting the Charter in 1996. This vote substantially changed town government in Nantucket to meet the expanding scope of the Town. This Charter was then passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor and codified in Chapter 289 of the Acts of 1996. The Town Charter created the position of Town Manager* and transferred the functions previously performed by the Personnel Board to the Town Manager. The Charter sets out the duties of the Town Manager in Section 4.2.

*position title changed from Town Administrator to Town Manager in 2007

3. Does the Town have published Personnel Policies?

Yes, the Select Board adopted the Town’s Personnel Policy in 2013.   

During the course of 2011 and 2012 the Town undertook a comprehensive review of the personnel function given to the Town Manager by the Town Charter. That review led to the preparation and presentation to the Select Board of a comprehensive Personnel Policy. That policy was developed though the cooperation of many different town sources. The final document contains this language:

“The purpose of these personnel policies is to establish a system of human resource administration based on principles that ensure a uniform, fair and efficient application of personnel rules and regulations. The intent of these policies is to provide a method of recruitment, selection, classification and compensation and the development of a work force that is skilled and effective in accomplishing assigned responsibilities. Personnel actions shall be made in accordance with state and federal law and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identification, age as defined by law, disability, genetic information, or other non-job-related factors and shall be based on merit and ability to perform the job properly.”

The proposed policy was placed on the Select Board public agenda for February 20, 2013 and was the subject of an open and public discussion. No issue was raised at that time regarding the dissolution of the Personnel Board and the policies were adopted by the Board. 

 All Town of Nantucket personnel policies are available to be viewed on the Human Resources Policies page of the Town website. 

4. When was the last time the Town Code was updated?

The entire Town Code was updated in 2020 to change the title of the Select Board, from Board of Selectmen, as authorized by Town Meeting. This update did not affect the Town Manager’s personnel responsibilities.

5. Without a Personnel Board how are personnel matters resolved?

The Personnel Board as it existed in 1995 would have no direct oversight responsibility regarding personnel disputes such as hiring or discipline and would have no lawful ability to “step in”. A Personnel Board, even if it existed, would have no authority to intervene in personnel matters that are overseen by the Town Manager per the Charter.