Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select board debates trial bookkeeper/grant‑writer position; some members favor separate warrant article
Summary
Town Manager Cameron proposed a 20‑hour trial administrative position to handle bookkeeping and grant research; board members debated scope, costs and timing and suggested funding it via a separate warrant article drawn from fund balance if moved forward.
During the March 17 joint meeting, Town Manager Cameron proposed creating a 1‑year trial, part‑time position (roughly 20 hours per week) to handle basic bookkeeping, data entry and some grant research so that the manager can focus on higher‑value tasks and grant development.
Proponents argued the position could pay for itself by freeing the town manager to pursue grants and other efficiencies; opponents cautioned the job description was not sufficiently detailed and worried about voter reaction if the position were added to a department’s budget rather than presented as a separate warrant article. One committee member suggested contracting bookkeeping as an interim alternative.
What was said: The idea was introduced as a limited trial: “I would say that, in this 1 year trial for it to be part time, 20 hours a week,” a committee member said during the discussion, laying out the suggested hours, evaluation criteria and a tentative not‑to‑exceed figure of about $30,000 for a part‑time hire. Cameron described the town’s heavy administrative workload and stressed that much of his time is spent on routine data entry: “If you put that on somebody who’s currently popping up from their desk to go help a customer…we’re entering invoices twice,” he said, arguing a dedicated bookkeeper would reduce errors and free management time.
Funding and next steps: Several members proposed placing the role on the warrant as a separate fund‑balance appropriation so voters can approve or reject it directly; other members urged further job‑scoping and consideration for next year’s budget if the committee cannot finalize details in time. The select board and budget committee did not finalize adding the position to the budget at this meeting but recorded the discussion for warrant and future drafting work.
The public will see the committee’s recommended appropriation amounts on the coming warrant; staff were directed to prepare the draft warrant and return to the board at the next meeting for final placement of any new positions or warrant articles.
