Board of Selectmen approves new registrars’ pay after extended debate
Summary
After more than an hour of questioning about staffing, automation and overtime, the New Canaan Board of Selectmen set the annual stipend for the town—lerks elected as registrars of voters at $41,200, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
The New Canaan Board of Selectmen voted Jan. 7 to set the annual compensation for the town—lective office of registrar of voters at $41,200, after an extended discussion about office hours, staffing and work tied to early voting.
The decision comes as Elizabeth Ortag and Joan McLaughlin prepare to be sworn in. The board pproved the salary by voice vote; members reported opposition(s) during the roll call but did not provide a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes.
Why it matters: The registrars re responsible for maintaining the town—lector rolls and managing procedures tied to absentee ballots, early voting and election-day staffing. Board members pressed the registrars bout work hours, the state voter-registration system they use and part-time help costs as the town adapts to 14 days of early voting.
Registrar Cheryl, who addressed the board during the discussion, described the workload: "Last year because of early voting, I put in well over 30 hours a week," she said, adding that her pre-early-voting average was closer to 20-22 hours weekly. Cheryl also explained the registrar office uses the state voter registration system that is 24 years old and can be slow to update.
Board members questioned whether some tasks could be automated and whether staffing and payroll lines were being assigned properly across accounts. One selectman asked why the payroll records showed large part-time and overtime totals; Cheryl and others said some payroll allocations (for example, head moderators paid at election time) were recorded to the registrar account and would be re-reviewed with finance staff.
Several members said they were sympathetic to the registrars uties but reluctant to approve a large pay jump without more review. "I'm not comfortable increasing the salary at this point; I don't know enough," one Selectman said during the discussion. Another proposed a modest cost-of-living adjustment as a compromise.
The board lso discussed comparative salaries in nearby towns, noting Wilton at $56,000 with benefits and other towns with varying part-time staffing approaches. Selectmen said some towns provide medical benefits that add to total compensation.
Outcome and next steps: The board approved the $41,200 stipend effective Jan. 1, 2025. The transcript does not capture a roll-call tally; the minutes record that members in the room voted with some opposition but the motion carried. Selectmen asked staff to revisit payroll allocations and to provide a clearer breakdown of part-time and election-related expenses in order to review compensation and staffing in the next budget cycle.
Clarifying details: The board discussed but did not adopt any separate special appropriation or delayed-implementation plan; the registrars' compensation must be set before newly elected registrars are sworn in. The transcript shows the board noted the office must follow state statute for voter-roll maintenance; the board did not cite a specific statute by number during the meeting.
Ending: Selectmen said they would pursue a closer review of registrar staffing, payroll allocations and part-time election staffing with finance staff to provide clearer information before the next compensation review.
