Nantucket CPC votes to ask HR to pull job ad after posted description diverged from committee's plan

The Nantucket Community Preservation Committee voted March 17 to ask the town human resources office to remove a job advertisement the committee said differed substantially from the description it approved.

Committee members discovered the posting on the town website after a member read the listing during the meeting. The posted ad described a “Community Preservation Committee administrative assistant” working 19 hours per week at $30.90–$42.48 per hour and reporting “under the direction of the municipal housing director.” Committee members said the posted hours, pay framing, job title and reporting line did not match the description the committee had drafted and returned to the town, which the committee said envisioned roughly 30 or more hours in a flex schedule and an administrator-level role reporting to the committee leadership rather than directly to the municipal housing director.

Why it matters: The committee said the position is central to CPC operations — preparing agendas, processing invoices, maintaining records and supporting grant monitoring — and that a mischaracterized posting could attract applicants under different terms or create confusion about supervisory authority.

Discussion and vote Members debated whether to immediately pull the posting or first try a meeting with HR to clarify responsibilities. Tim, who framed the motion, said removing the ad quickly would reduce the number of applicants who might apply under incorrect terms. Tim said the faster the ad was taken down, "the less people apply for a job that isn't going to be there or the terms are going to be different. So, I think it's imperative to take the ad down immediately." Neville seconded the motion.

On a roll call, committee members voted as recorded in the meeting: Neville (yes), Tim (yes), Connie (yes), Jesse (yes), Joe (yes), John (yes), Ellaner (yes) and Tom (no). The motion passed by majority.

Next steps The committee instructed Linda to send an email to HR requesting the posting be removed; members also discussed scheduling a one-on-one meeting between the chair, vice chair and the HR director to reconcile the committee's job description with the town's posted language. Multiple members said they would pursue a direct conversation with HR and town staff to ensure the position's hours, responsibilities and reporting relationships reflect the committee's operational needs.

The committee did not adopt a new job description during the meeting; it will pursue follow-up with HR and town staff before reposting or taking further formal action.