Rehoboth Selectmen Take Control

The Rehoboth Board of Selectmen will now be in control over hiring and firing town employees, following the June 3 Town Meeting vote eliminating the Personnel Board.

“It effects very few individuals,” Chairman Skip Vadnais said Monday. “Because most of our individuals are represented by a union and the personnel board had no dealings with the union whatsoever. The Board of Selectmen will continue to do so.”

Vadnais said “it didn’t make sense any longer” considering there are only 10 employees.

Selectman Dave Pereira will be working with Town Administrator Deborah Arruda on personnel matters.

Pereira said the Personnel Board was merely an advisory board.

“We didn’t get rid of any check and balance on any type of power or hiring or firing and contract negotiations because that was all done by (the Selectmen). Really not much is going to change. It wasn’t a power grab. We’re already doing everything through the board.”

Vadnais also noted a reassignment of duties in the Selectmen’s office, which he hopes will “make town government more efficient and more accessible.”