[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6105089,"mediaKeyId","2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6","parentId",2787309,"title","Millis finance committee reviews employee benefits, pension and insurance costs as HR proposal advances","audioSeconds",823,"startMs",4977000,"endMs",5800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6&start=4977&end=5800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6/thumbnail_4977000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6105089/Massachusetts/Millis-finance-committee-reviews-employee-benefits-pension-and-insurance-costs-as-HR-proposal-advances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6105089-0a82704373baf34b998b6e39becc4c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770933621&Signature=VVEE~AjHLLNLTQ3cgGhvaAft3AWOxRJpFVlQYQQ5DmsfburmoBpAZs6CNMCp7Pu4s4NwSwroah4s2w1KFJXbMAEoIeHODSSn5g5cHahYqZaGKPjfIVediThAKenFhXkkk8cyurfJSQI7BjiOHDKBhNdjMKWR2jlltpO81i7Zlt~cXnB0trJIgPBfzosnyiXL-nRO6jA7U6J3R2GoJOZgSQ9qyA7GGsgxCRhbz4DAk3jiBdregEakGLMv7XyVQxKRxyP7uq8dO2bWYGJnIUC4djvqVaQnI~5Zvex96-jVflQgOCQm1sGTZ-eMb-Q0I38ppHLAkJKtvtH3VfA3M3CAPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Millis, MA","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Millis Finance Committee reviewed town benefit and insurance budgets on March 26 and heard that pension and health‑insurance costs are expected to rise, prompting discussion about savings and long‑term strategies tied to HR proposals.

Board of Health: John McVay, director of public health, presented the Board of Health FY26 budget with a proposed total of approximately $171,000, noting salary line items will adjust after collective bargaining agreements are ratified. McVay described the board’s core responsibilities — food inspections, housing, wells, septic inspections, mosquito season work and public‑health nursing for vaccinations and disease monitoring.

Pensions and health insurance: Finance staff told the committee Norfolk County Retirement assessed the town an amount that translates to about an 11% increase for this coming year. Finance Director remarks and committee discussion noted the county system’s decision to accelerate the full‑funding schedule through 2032 as the driver behind near‑term increases.

Health insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) is projected to increase roughly 12% in the coming budget year; committee members and staff discussed options such as targeted benefit audits, a retiree Medicare Part B policy that the town currently pays for, and voluntary buyouts as potential cost‑management tools.

Marijuana impact and social services: Committee members reviewed marijuana‑impact funding and noted consulting and social‑service contracts paid from that account. The town has supported an on‑call social worker through impact funds; the committee discussed possibly using opioid‑related grant funds when services directly address opioid issues.

Why it matters: Rising pension and health‑insurance costs are a significant driver of the town budget. Several Finance Committee members said savings identified in benefits management could help fund the HR positions recommended earlier in the meeting.

Quotes

“Basically for us that’s about an 11% increase, which is pretty severe,” the finance director said of Norfolk County’s pension assessment.

Practical follow‑ups

- The Finance Director expects updated salary numbers from ratified collective bargaining agreements within two weeks and will provide updated budget figures to the committee.

- Committee members asked staff to provide a quantified analysis of potential benefit savings (for example, the number of positions at 20–25 hours that trigger full benefits, and savings if some roles are restructured) to inform whether recommended HR hires could be budget‑neutral over time.

No formal votes were taken on benefits or pensions at the March 26 meeting; discussion will continue during upcoming budget sessions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Millis, MA - Finance Committee 3/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance officials discussed the Board of Health and town employee benefits budgets, a projected 11% increase in the Norfolk County pension assessment, rising GIC health costs and potential cost‑saving strategies; committee members asked for quantified savings that might fund HR recommendations.","taxTitle","Town of Millis, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54409,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6105094,"Millis Capital Planning committee lists $123 million of long‑term needs; five highest‑priority items total about $338,000 for May Town Meeting",1078,111000,1189000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6&start=111&end=1189","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6/thumbnail_111000.jpg","/articles/6105094/Massachusetts/Millis-Capital-Planning-committee-lists-123-million-of-longterm-needs-five-highestpriority-items-total-about-338000-for-May-Town-Meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6105094-58914407bc77c2437b278ac365a3fa88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770933621&Signature=EP361p4kyAzW7tS8fxk-KnjrBppBCkjH1apBBO6tdwwilUj6E-knG7uHwxx~ML~6w3fVjkCjLWWlYkdgYEo1KzUC0ZJlmzIQODINqsj18QvROdlkG8N2qrPo7TTE5a5bHqWgjFwb0qUXUR2gcDgFMe-ptyHGcdNVIQ8JGOdZ9X3q1zohk1pGueSXfNNdtuLGUuKwJcApxGTYpRt6sGmwlqQMS4RslV7Ras10Wah4cdtzHWv7XZ~6SZ07uEsS~o0P8IXAvUHfqTCitarjjqarX4SVms7cnKxYCewd4vqPD2tRrPZgBYsBSiZzB8ZML6BMkOYWBTbQnAnJTJ2xqmrFJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Capital Planning Committee told the Millis Finance Committee on March 26 that it had prioritized seven capital requests for the May Town Meeting and updated long‑term cost tracking for the school renovation.

Jonathan Berry, representing the Capital Planning Committee, said the committee received seven requests this cycle and classified five as highest priority with a combined cost of about $338,000, one as medium priority at roughly $98,000 and one as lower priority at about $42,000.

The highest‑priority requests include: a replacement vehicle for animal control (to be cost‑shared 50/50 with the neighboring town of Medway), radio box receivers for the fire department, a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and trailer to replace the existing Brush 2 apparatus, HVAC repairs at the library, and a special‑education van for the school department. Berry said the committee expects the school to follow a roughly one‑van‑per‑year replacement cycle going forward.

The committee also revised a long‑standing placeholder for the Middle‑High School renovation project. Berry reported the committee’s spreadsheet reduced the prior $90 million placeholder to approximately $82.7 million based on the latest information and anticipated Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding. He said the school account remains the largest single group of needs in the town’s capital plan — roughly two‑thirds of an estimated $123 million in total capital requirements currently tracked by the committee.

Why it matters: The priorities will feed into the Select Board and Finance Committee discussions ahead of the May Town Meeting warrant. Several committee members asked clarifying questions about timing, vehicle fuel types and cost‑sharing arrangements.

Details and clarifications

- Vehicles and equipment: The animal control vehicle request is budgeted before splitting Medway’s share; Medway is expected to pay half. The DPW dump truck request is a medium priority; committee members asked whether the replacement would be gasoline or diesel and noted state procurement and vehicle fuel rules may influence procurement choices.

- Library and HVAC: Berry said HVAC repairs and upgrades at the library have been on the schedule for multiple years and were elevated this cycle to high priority.

- School fleet: Berry said the school fleet currently includes about 19 vans (roughly 17 primary vans and two backups by his recollection), and the school plans to target approximately one replacement van per year as older vehicles age out.

Committee process and next steps

Berry said the Capital Planning Committee will present and formally vote on the draft report in the coming week and submit the final document to the Select Board for inclusion in the town warrant materials. Finance Committee members said they will review the report in the context of broader budget deliberations.

Quotes

“We had 7 items come in front of us… 5 of them, we noted as the highest priorities for the Town, with a total cost of about $338,000,” Jonathan Berry said.

The Capital Planning Committee’s report is a draft; no Town Meeting warrant articles were finalized during the March 26 meeting.","The Capital Planning Committee presented a semiannual report identifying seven capital requests for the upcoming May Town Meeting — five considered highest priority with total cost about $338,000 — and updated the committee’s placeholder for the Middle‑High School renovation to roughly $82.7 million.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6105099,"Consultants urge Town of Millis to create dedicated HR director, generalist and benefits coordinator",3624,1237000,4861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6&start=1237&end=4861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787309-17d561172580e8a10194350002d2e5b6/thumbnail_1237000.jpg","/articles/6105099/Massachusetts/Consultants-urge-Town-of-Millis-to-create-dedicated-HR-director-generalist-and-benefits-coordinator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6105099-c94a4dce82ff302d2b08bfaeb408af2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770933621&Signature=eQVQeQf4u6v9hGiU7i6yCeD~hEThG6Eayrmv0e68MKWLhn8a1md-x9oLVwiOsQzaRw7zWu1lLl5QHnE2IPFayWq6tojx-FaU~dLTaOWXIDpus6bTGOWhQgs8RBukSvf07sT~T~44BrTYSeoskiUzSpAKDWtu9pF5KppJOt2SdQadhYRZv8Kb3WpXS89B4mYM8sW3No5E7AjVIF52lQpFY-mtEq2Rk5Cr6tElpfZkLeVTvO6hjmYOsEIZJdkH8vFj6y4XlX4VupvtR~7VJBjNuaZNCqfc~-KmIwK5R97AGOt67W5qQHB-VsnmH9~dyhp~FULqK9t0~ZQZM8mRXaCcog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Millis heard a report on March 26 recommending establishment of a dedicated human resources team to manage hiring, benefits and legal compliance.

Mary Icardi, who leads the HR practice at the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, told the Finance Committee the town currently has no single full‑time HR professional and that “Right now, there is not 1 full time person dedicated to HR.” She said that gap increases the town’s liability and makes consistent onboarding and leave administration difficult.

The report recommends creating three positions: a full‑time HR director responsible for both town and school HR strategy; an HR generalist for the school department; and an 18–20 hour benefits/generalist role to handle transactional HR functions now split across multiple offices. The consultants also recommended moving a 25‑hour school payroll position to the finance office for cross‑training and better process control, while noting the final staffing and location decisions remain subject to negotiation between the town and school administration.

Why it matters: Committee members and staff said the town’s current approach leaves hiring paperwork, leave tracking and benefit decisions fragmented. The Finance Committee asked for quantified cost and savings estimates and agreed to continue the budget discussion at future meetings.

Key findings and recommendations

- Liability and compliance: Icardi told the committee that the town faces increasing regulatory complexity — from the Family and Medical Leave Act to ADA and HIPAA obligations — and needs a professional to interpret and apply those rules. The report says inconsistent practices can expose the town to legal and arbitration costs.

- Staffing and onboarding: The consultants documented routine instances of hires starting before all paperwork is complete, and recommended centralizing onboarding and leave administration under a benefits coordinator and HR generalist.

- Benefits cost control: The review flagged that the town should budget conservatively for new hires, noting the typical town cost for a family health plan is about $22,000 this year and could rise to roughly $25,000 in the coming fiscal year. The consultants recommended a benefits audit and tighter controls when a vacancy triggers eligibility for town‑paid benefits.

- Organization design: The Collins Center proposed the HR director be a municipal (non‑union) position reporting to the town administrator and serving the schools and general government; the proposed benefits coordinator role (approximately 18–20 hours) would be a union position to pick up existing clerical duties in the town administrator’s office.

What officials said

Town Administrator Mike Kaczynski said the assistant town administrator and he have already been absorbing numerous HR tasks but that arrangement has become “unmanageable.” He told the committee the town would include the recommendation in broader budget planning and work with the school on implementation details.

Several committee members urged that the town quantify projected savings and risks. Finance Committee member Mike Brown asked the town to produce a dollars‑and‑cents projection showing where costs would be offset by reduced benefits spending or lower outside legal fees.

Next steps

Icardi and the Collins Center said the report is a draft; the Capital Planning Committee and the Collins Center will finalize recommendations and the Select Board will receive the report. The Finance Committee expects formal budget proposals and job descriptions in the next two weeks and invited follow‑up questions. No formal staffing decisions or budget votes were taken at the March 26 meeting.","A Collins Center review presented to the Millis Finance Committee recommended creating a full-time HR director, a school HR generalist and a part-time benefits coordinator to reduce liability and manage rising benefits costs; the town will continue budget and implementation discussions with the Select Board and school leaders.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Millis finance committee reviews employee benefits, pension and insurance costs as HR proposal advances

Millis Capital Planning committee lists $123 million of long‑term needs; five highest‑priority items total about $338,000 for May Town Meeting

Consultants urge Town of Millis to create dedicated HR director, generalist and benefits coordinator