The Board of Selectmen, following a pointed discussion, voted during a recent meeting to approve three months of pay for two part-time workers in the Town Clerk’s office.
The quarterly approval is less than the full year of pay that Town Clerk Claudia Weber asked the selectmen for during their regular meeting, held July 22 at Town Hall and via videoconference. As Assistant Town Clerk Janet Donohue recently retired, Weber was seeking the additional help for an extended period because she “needs more hands,”she said.
The requested hirings were of John Amarilios and Debra Lyon at up to 19 hours each through next June.
“Historically, we’ve had a group of people that we can call upon on an as-needed basis,” Weber said. “It’s been the most cost-effective way to do things. Currently, there’s a significant amount of work that needs to be done, which does not involve the public and must be completed during quiet hours. Yet, none of that work is getting done.”
She continued: “It’s really helpful to have someone answering phones or directing people. [Amarilios and Lyon] are familiar with the building and what we do, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t use our given part-time budget.”
However, First Selectman Dionna Carlson was reluctant to approve such a substantial amount of part-time work for the Town Clerk’s office.
“I’m not a fan of having a ton of part-time workers,” Carlson said. “I’d rather fill the vacant full-time position with someone who’s qualified to do the work you need and to help the staff.”
Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll inquired about the compensation for a part-time employee and whether two people working 19 hours a week for a full year, as requested, aligns with the budget.
Human Resources Director Cheryl Pickering Jones stated that part-time employees earn $22-$30 an hour, and Weber explained that the hired workers may only be in the office for, say, five hours per week.
Weber said, “We have a lot to get caught up on. We’re in the catch-up stage right now, and the only way to make progress is to have extra bodies and hands.”
Weber responded to a Carlson question about the day-to-day operations by describing that her office is really “five or six departments in one.”
“We have vital statistics and records,” she said. “We keep track of marriages, which are off the charts. We have births and deaths, which have statutory requirements for when they have to be done. We have recordings to the state, elections, and land records management. All of these things have to be done in a certain amount of time, and I need manpower to be able to do it.”
Murphy Carroll asked about the specific areas in which the office is behind.
Weber said: “There are processes in each area, and we need more people to process the applications. For example, boards and commissions are one. We monitor and track all boards and commissions, including their agendas, minutes, and records of votes. We need to transfer all that information to archival paper; we are very behind in that. You can’t finish that when you are constantly interrupted by someone needing a dog licence.”
All three selectmen were united in the belief that hiring a full-time employee should be priority number one for the Town Clerk’s office.
“Obviously, you need help,” Selectman Steve Karl said. “With all of the things going on, this seems like a cry for help. Getting that full-time person should really be a priority.”
Carlson also stressed the importance of finding another assistant town clerk, the position previously held by Donohue.
“We need someone denoted by law as your assistant,” she said to Weber. “When you are not in the office, we need an assistant to be able to sign off on documents and do a bunch of things that the other workers legally cannot.”
Before the three selectmen voted 3-0 to approve three months’ worth of the requested part-time work, rather than the full fiscal year’s worth, Carlson detailed what she believes is the best plan for the Town Clerk’s office moving forward.
“You need part-time help for the next three months,” Carlson said. “We also have an urgent need to hire [Donohue’s] replacement and identify somebody in your office to become your assistant, even if that’s on a temporary basis.”
Several other new transfers or hires were approved at the meeting. Jeff Mannella was transferred from an Equipment Operator Two in the Highway Department to the Parks Department as an Assistant Superintendent. Antony Mallozzi, an Equipment Operator Two in the Highway Department, was promoted to the Transfer Station as an Equipment Operator Three. Tim Blakeman was formerly a part-time inspector for the Building Department and was hired in a full-time position. Zach Langguth was hired as an Equipment Operator Two for the Highway Department. Nancy John was hired as an Administrative Assistant for the Recreation Department.