Personnel Board sets early‑June deadline for annual evaluations to preserve July 1 raises

The Town of Southborough Personnel Board set an early‑June timeline for annual performance evaluations on May 2, telling department heads the evaluations must be submitted in time for the board to review before July 1 pay changes.

Vanessa, a personnel staff member, presented the evaluation packet and told the board that evaluations and signatures are required before employees can receive pay increases on July 1. The board agreed to a submission date in the first week of June, and members suggested a June 4–5 window for departments to provide completed materials so the board could schedule meetings in early June to review them.

Board members emphasized that missing the deadline will delay any July 1 increases. One board member said bluntly that a missed deadline means an employee would not receive a pay increase on July 1 regardless of performance.

The board asked staff to circulate deadline language to departments and to allow appointing authorities a one‑week window to request additional time if scheduling prevents them from meeting the initial deadline. Board members also agreed one or more Personnel Board members will sample evaluations — especially for positions under review for potential pay adjustments — to ensure professional‑development goals and performance comments are substantive.

The Personnel Board instructed staff to send dates and to schedule two meetings: a short late‑May or early‑June meeting to handle urgent evaluations and a mid‑June opportunity for remaining cases.