Beverly Retirement Board 4-19-2024 Beverly Retirement Board-Special Meeting-04-19-24
The board of the Beverly Retirement system convened on 4-19-24 for the purpose of interviewing,and
deliberating on the three'recommended candidates for the position of Executive Director. Those individuals
were Meaghan McLaughlin,Adam Travinski, and Colleen Loughlin. All three candidates had been previously
interviewed by Bryant Ayles and Kevin Smith.. The Chairman called the meeting to order promptly at 1:00pm.
Board members present were Bryant Ayles, Carol Augulewicz,D. Wesley Slate, and Kevin Smith_.. Fifth.
Member,.Adam Travinski has recused himself since he is a candidate.
Interview questions included the following topics:
• Potential initiatives to implement with the Board,based on the candidate's current responsibilities and
experience.
• Management,Style with subordinates
• Member and retiree interaction and relationships
• Board interaction and relationships
+ Candidate strengths and learning opportunities
• Work Schedule and potential flexibility requirements
• Software and digitizing of records
Meaghan McLaughlin is the current Assistant administrator of the board and her interview was at l pm. She
described her duties and doted that the system runs smoothly due to good preparation for board meetings,and
information for members: She spoke of the constant changes in PERAC directives and her ability to interact
well with members. She also noted that her interaction is more.with new hires and the executive director had
more interaction with potential and current retirees. Over the last few weeks,she has performed both roles and
felt that she handled those well, and would welcome the opportunity to expand her.role in this position. She
acknowledged that there would be some learning curves:as she transitioned to the executive director position
and how she Haight mitigate that with PERAC training and reaching out:to other resources for guidance.. She is
a quick learner. She antieipates returning to college in the future. As the current assistant, she feels that she
could mentor a new assistant well and described what,she would look for in an assistant. She is comfortable
with the PTG software program.
Adam Travinski was interviewed at 2pm. Adam is the executive director in Melrose with ten years of
experience. He gave a brief employment background and confidently described the technology initiatives that
he has implemented in Melrose. He has digitized the operations and files and finds it,much more efficient. He
prepares the board agenda,forwards the documents in one email to the board, and projects it to a big screen for
review and approval'by the board; He works to streamline the process.as to make it easier for his board to
function by having a number of items pre-approved by PERAC as well as any legal issues to be discussed. He
interacts often with Attorney Michael Sacco as well as another attorney for smaller matters..He is not a
micromanager and moves quickly with a strong work ethic. He is available via his personal,cell phone to all
members and retirees. He welcomes any questions to be emailed to hint so that he.may prepare for face-to-face
meetings when warranted. He described a.strength.as being self-sufficient and noted that his board trusts him to
operate independently. He counsels retirees and members and sees his personality as strong asset. He noted
that he currently needs to work.remotely on Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays due to family
responsibilities,however promptly logs into his computer. He is currently working to implement a"work from
home"policy in Melrose: He uses PTO software and is comfortable with the vendor.
Colleen Loughin was interviewed at 3pm. Colleen is the executive director in Reading with 18 years of
experience there. She also mentors the ED in Winchester and has worked for the board in Gloucester on
Fridays since.2012. She noted that it is helpful to her and those systems to have someone with such a broad
range of experience in several communities. She enjoys working with numbers.and worked in the Reading
accountant's office for a period of time while also acting as the ED. In responding to the question on initiatives
that might.benefit the board,she mentioned bringing in SSA to come in and counsel members. Recently that
was hampered by the pandemic,but she would like to bring them back now that the pandemic has waned some.
She feels her management style is one that is driven by checklists and strongly advises her assistant to utilize
checklists to avoid any errors. She recognizes that everyone has a different learning style and she has to adjust
her training accordingly. She feels her strengths surround.the interactions with members and retirees. She has
implemented a program where she goes out.to various.departments (Police,Fire, DPS)to give them accurate
information and answer their questions, as information is sometimes not interpreted correctly by members. She
has found that in educating members in some topics, it helps them to better understand how the system works
and how that will impaet,their decisions at retirement time. It also gives her a chance to get to know them prior
to the time that they come in to retire. She interacts well with the board.and sees her job as one where they
work collaboratively to make the system run smoothly. She works a four-day workweek(35 hours) in Reading,.
and a day in Gloucester,while also mentoring in Winchester. If chosen, she would..like to retain those positions
as she sees the mutual.benefit to the systems and..also to her position as ED. She operates with PTG software
and digitizes documents.;
The interviews concluded at 4pm, and the board discussed next steps. The board noted that all candidates
represented themselves well and.had a great deal of hands-on experience. The board deliberated on the
candidates in terms of the topics discussed,particularly the areas of management;mentoring and relationships
with various groups. The board had a strong desire to appoint the person who was the"best fit" for all. The
solicitation of references was discussed. It Was.decided that if there was a consensus on a preferred candidate,
that the board would vote today,pending pre-ernployinent requirements: It was agreed.that Bryant would
personal ly.reach out to the other two candidates, explain the board's decision and thank them for the interest in
the ED position. A motion.was then made by Wes Slate and seconded by Kevin Smith to offer the position of
Executive Director to Colleen Loughlin. The Chairman has the authority to offer a salary of$135,000. Motion
passed 44 The meeting:ended at 4:20pm.
CAROL` AUGULEiiYIC..Z
KRVIN D. 91M1Wit '
ADAM T1iAVINBKY
BRYANT AYLEB ,,