Resident Richard Bielinski and Candidate for Town Council questions a Town Warrant #2 passed in 2014 The article eliminated the Tax Collector position and changed the Town Clerk to a part time position.
I will let Richard Bielinski speak for himself in the video. The minutes of the Town Meeting he references are printed below.
Minutes from the 2014 Town Meeting:
Town Manager Smith stated that the Council is recommending support for change in the Town Clerk/Tax Collector position. Currently the position is combined with a combined salary and benefits of approximately $140,000.00. The change in the position would propose an elected Town Clerk with part time hours and no benefits in accordance with the RSA’s and an appointed Tax Collector as determined by the Town Manager. The savings is estimated to be approximately $110,000.00 annually.
Budget Committee Chairman Chris Melcher stated that the Budget Committee voted 6-0-1 in favor of Article 2.
Open for discussion:
Robert Lebreux, 76 Hall Rd, stated that he has trouble with the math. He stated with the current salary at $140,000.00, he is assuming because the savings is $110,000.00 the position will only pay $30,000.00 for the part time Town Clerk. Lebreux asked about the full time, appointed Tax Collector. Lebreux asked if that person would work for free. Town Manager Smith stated that the Tax Collector position will be absorbed by staff that currently exists in the Town Clerks office without increase in staff and staff hours.
Al Baldasaro, 41 Hall Rd, stated that on the position, he asked if the person elected would be in charge of the motor vehicle department, everything that goes on it that office. Town Manager Smith stated that the Town Clerks potion will be a limited position doing mostly vital statistics and dog tags. Most of the car registrations will still be handled by the existing Clerks. Baldasaro asked why those duties can’t be absorbed by the existing staff too. Town Attorney mike Ramsdell stated that the State requires you to have a Town Clerk, and in many municipalities it is not a full time position, it is a part time position, but there must be an elected Town Clerk in the Town. Smith stated that the office will be managed by the deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector, so the office will continue to be managed primarily by that person. Smith stated that he will oversee to make sure that the Town Clerk is only working part time hours.
Greg Warner, 10 Pendleton Lane, stated that the Article has it backwards. The current Town Clerks position is about a 20 hour a day job. Warner stated that the Article shouldn’t be supported and that there should be a full time Town Clerk and a full time Tax Collector, with all of the benefits attached.
Pauline Caron, 369 Mammoth Rd, asked if the newly elected position will have set hours during the week. Town Manager Smith stated yes. Smith stated that if they are working part time you won’t be able to go in anytime to see the Town Clerk, they will have part time hours. Caron urged people to vote against the article because it is a disadvantage to the Town that there won’t be a full time Town Clerk.
Mary Wing-Soares, 2 Gail Rd, asked if we currently have on the 2014 ballot, someone running for this position as a combined position. Soares asked if it was also a three year position. Smith directed the question to Attorney Ramsdell who stated that it is currently a three year position. The way the law is set up, in order to change it from the combined Tax Collector/Town Clerk position, it is a two step process. Ramsdell stated that the Article puts anyone running for the position on notice that if Article 2 passes, that combined position is only going to last for one year. Soares asked if it was possibly to make an Amendment to this Article to push it out to the end of the third year, since the voters are choosing someone with the knowledge that they would have the position for three years. Smith stated that if the Warrant Article passes there will be another election next year for a Town Clerk which would be a three year position at that point. Council Chairman John Farrell stated that he asked Attorney Ramsdell what the State Statue says and why this is being done this way. Attorney Ramsdell stated that you can’t separate the positions until the next election after the Article passes, so the Article is written this way so that it will be taken care of in twelve months. Smith stated that it is his understanding that the election for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector this year is for two years, to finish out the term. Council Vice Chairman Dolan suggested that the Article be tabled so that we can move on and come back to it after the Town Attorney has found the correct information.
Bob Saur, 4 Mountain Home Rd, stated that he is concerned that the Town Clerk position will be only vital statistics and dog licenses. Saur stated that there is another important job that the Town Clerk has and that is during the elections. Saur stated that during elections (presidential etc.) the Town Clerk works over 20 hours in one day and in the weeks leading up to election day with all ballot preparation. Saur asked how that will be taken care of if we will not be paying this person overtime. Smith stated that there are a number of communities who have part time Town Clerks whose responsibilities are limited to the statutory requirements. Smith stated that it is the intent to have the position as part time but have the duties still remain as to what the statutory requirements are, one of the being, being involved in the Town Election. Smith stated that being said, the Town still has a full time deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector who will also be involved in helping out with the election, as well as the Town Moderator. Smith stated that there are enough resources to assist the Town Clerk. There may be times that they will have to work more hours to make sure everything gets done. Saur stated that he will expect significant overtime hours by the other employees in the Town Clerks office to fill in the hours. Saur strongly encouraged the Council to reconsider this Article and to make sure that they are proposing the right thing for Londonderry. Saur stated that the elections are a critical part of the Town Clerk position. Town Council Freda stated that Saur and Town Moderator Conley have done a fine job running the meetings and election, which is there stator obligation, not the Town Clerks. The Town Clerk is there to assist.
Attorney Ramsdell answered Mary Wing-Soares question stating that if the Town votes to discontinue the combined Town Clerk/Tax Collector position, the Town Clerk must be elected at the next annual meeting, so it must take place only 12 months from now.
John Curran, 6 Faye Lane, asked if he had a problem with someone in the Clerk’s office, who is there supervisor. Smith stated that the supervision will primarily be done by the deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector because that part-time Town Clerk will not be there on a full-time basis. Finance Director Sue Hickey stated that she and deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector Kathleen Donnelly work closely with the staff to make sure that things flow the same way.
Dave Ellis, 1 Wilshire Dr, stated that he is a little concerned about the Tax Collector aspect of it. Ellis stated that about 60% of the combined work is being removed and spreading it between the other people in the office. Ellis asked if at some point, the Clerk’s office were to get overloaded with work, if another person will need to be hired.
Robert Lebreux, 76 Hall Rd, stated that he noticed in the report that the Council recommends this Article unanimously, however the Budget Committee does not. Lebreaux asked to hear from the Budget Committee member who voted against it. Budget Committee Chairman Christ Melcher clarified that it was an abstention.
Al Baldasaro, 41 Hall Rd, asked how much the pay for the part-time position is. Smith stated $30,000.00. Baldasaro stated that he wishes the elected position was the full-time position and the deputy was the part-time position. Smith stated that the Deputy is also doing Tax Collections as well, which is why it is a full-time position.
Sandra Lagueux, 2 Fiddlers Ridge Rd, asked how many full-time people work in the Clerk’s office right now. Hickeys stated that there are four people who work full-time and two people who work part-time.
Moderator Conley called the vote on the motion to accept Article No. 2 as read.
VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ARTICLE 2 PASSES.
Mary Wing-Soares made a MOTION to restrict reconsideration. SECOND by Pauline Caron
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