Hatch board presses for clearer job descriptions, addresses water master performance

HATCH — At an Aug. 20 work meeting, the Hatch Town Board and town staff reviewed job descriptions for the treasurer, clerk, maintenance positions and the town’s water master, and agreed to take steps to clarify expectations and accountability.

Council members and staff discussed whether responsibilities were properly divided between the treasurer and the clerk and emphasized cross-training so duties would be covered if a person was unavailable. The board said written job descriptions should be clearer and fair, and that some existing task assignments may need redefinition.

The maintenance role drew particular attention after council members raised concerns that some maintenance tasks were not being assigned or completed. Board members debated hiring a full-time maintenance worker versus relying on seasonal or part-time help, including local seasonal workers. Council members said hiring decisions should consider task coverage, cost and reliability.

The water master’s duties and compensation were discussed in detail. The meeting record lists the water master’s compensation as $640 per month with an additional $40 monthly phone stipend. Council members reported that meter reading was sometimes performed by other employees for additional pay rather than consistently by the water master, and they raised concerns that Blue Stakes locate queries and other routine responses were not always being handled. The board also said inventory management for water-system parts was insufficient, complicating procurement and maintenance planning.

Council members noted that some water-related tasks, such as required water sampling and reporting, were being completed but that customer service calls, equipment maintenance and parts inventory were not consistently addressed. Several members said the water master’s level of engagement and willingness to perform some duties had been a recurring concern and discussed possible human-resources steps including verbal or written warnings or reposting the position if performance did not improve.

As an immediate follow-up, the board agreed that council members Gary Goble and Janell Barney would meet with the water master to confirm whether the water-master duties would be performed as written and to outline next steps. No formal disciplinary vote or personnel action was recorded at the meeting; the outcome was a direction to meet and clarify expectations.

Staff present at the meeting included Carly Burrows, Tyler Mendenhall, Karen Baker and Janett Young. Mayor Kerry Barney and council members Kurt Sawyer and Jon Spendlove took part in the discussion. The board asked staff to return with updated job descriptions and recommended HR processes to ensure clearer expectations and accountability.