By Steve Shea
Waitsfield voters are being asked to consider a town charter in order to allow the select board to appoint the town clerk and treasurer. This proposal is being made for a number of reasons. By appointing these positions, the select board will have the authority to arrange work by town office employees to most efficiently operate the town office.
Currently, the select board does not have the authority to determine work hours or assign work to the clerk and treasurer since they are elected officials. Although recent occupants of these positions have been cooperative in working with the board, technically the select board does not have authority over how they conduct their work.
Another reason to have the select board appoint these positions is that if by chance a less than competent person were to win election to either of these positions, the board has no authority to discipline or remove them from office. Although this has not been a concern in Waitsfield, partially due to the fact that the board has initially appointed most of the recent occupants of the positions, it certainly is possible.
Recent year's situations in Duxbury and Williamstown are examples of where disputes between elected officials and the select board caused disruption in town government. Another reason to consider appointment is to provide some level of job security to the occupants of the office.
Elected officials can be voted out of office at the next election, even if providing excellent service to the town. The town clerk and town treasurer are administrative, not policy-making, positions in the town and it makes sense for the elected select board to have responsibility for how, when, and what work they perform for the townspeople. This proposal originated from the Waitsfield Budget Committee as a way of improving the efficiency and responsiveness of town government.
Shea is the chair of the Waitsfield Budget Committee.
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