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The Chair asked for Selectman Gottlieb's input on the larger intended scope of the <br /> contract, as it had been his idea. Mr. Gottlieb changed the subject and said that the real <br /> issue is who's in charge. Mr. Gottlieb said in the last 4 months, everything has changed. <br /> We've gone from conceptually envisioning a project, to getting funded. You now have a <br /> staff resource that you've never had before. You have the challenge to build the Town's <br /> largest public works project. We're at a necessary readjustment period now to rethink <br /> how we do work, who does what, what people's responsibilities are, what makes sense <br /> from a chain of command manager perspective. This conversation, with the Town <br /> Engineer and Sewer Commission at odds, is evidence that we have some work to do. We <br /> need to adjust to this new reality. The Town Manager has been clear that for matters <br /> around contracting and committing the town's funding, he'll be looking to Chris to sign off <br /> as his staff professional. That's his layout and we need to figure out your communications <br /> and conversations so that can happen. This is to ensure that we have the ability to <br /> deliver a high quality project as promised to the community on time and at the cost <br /> figure we committed to at Town Meeting. My concern is that if we don't resolve these <br /> issues we'll end up getting in our own way. <br /> Mr. Fudala said he disagrees with some of what the Town Manager had to say. The <br /> Sewer Commission has the full statutory authority over the design and construction of the <br /> sewer system and no other body in Town does. His concern was that Chris has gone <br /> around the Commission to the Town Manager without ever talking to the Sewer <br /> Commission. I think the professional thing for him to do is to write down his concerns <br /> and provide them to the Commission so we can address them. <br /> Andy Gottlieb said the Town has invested in a staff person to be our agent. The ability of <br /> the Commission to engage on a day to day basis on matters of design is limited where <br /> you meet once a month. There has to be some clarity on what the roles and <br /> expectations are. Is it the Commission's posture that all matters of substance of design <br /> in between monthly meetings that may or may not come up, that the Chair has the <br /> discretion to adjudicate those on your behalf? Maybe it is. I'd argue that is not <br /> necessarily an efficient way to operate. I'm concerned the Town's investment in an <br /> engineer becomes marginalized. How does the Commission want the Town Engineer to <br /> interact with you as a body, your staff, your design engineers? How is that going to work <br /> with his reporting and responsibilities to the Town Manager. I don't have any clarity or <br /> comfort with that relationship at the moment. <br /> Mr. Fudala restated that the Commission has statutory authority over the design and <br /> construction of the sewer project. Andy Gottlieb said the Town Manager executes <br /> contracts and approves expenditures, and needs a process by which he has comfort in <br /> doing that. He's telling the Commission, by his memo, that he's looking at his staff <br /> person to give him recommendations as to if something should move forward or not. Mr. <br /> Fudala said that's the issue. The "boss"when it comes to the sewer is the Sewer <br /> Commission, not the Town Manager. This in effect tells the Commission that an employee <br /> of the Town is standing in the way of us getting our work done. This needs to be done <br /> professionally. We have the authority and a firm (GHD) that we rely on for their <br /> expertise designing this contract. Chris should be here to help us. <br /> Mr. Lyons called point of order to the meeting saying this conversation should not <br /> continue in this way. We have something on the table. Chris Gallagher has expressed <br />