Trenton council selects two part‑time clerks, recesses to executive session over water‑department matter

The Trenton Town Council on June 3 interviewed three applicants for two clerical positions and decided to hire two part‑time staffers, splitting financial and meeting/recording duties. The council recessed to an executive session for a personnel discussion related to a water‑department employee and adjourned that session later in the evening.

Mayor Erick Simmonds opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and announced the attendance of Councilmembers Kyle Kingston, Donny Merrill and John Nelson; Councilmember Stacey Wangsgard was excused. The council then interviewed applicants Tauni Fanning, Katie Downs and Deyette Bradley in succession.

Councilmember Donny Merrill told applicants the council was considering splitting the clerk responsibilities into two positions — one to handle the monetary side and another to handle meetings and minutes. Each applicant whom the council interviewed expressed a preference for the financial side. "She stated that she would be more interested in the monetary side," the minutes record for each candidate.

After the interviews and a short follow‑up discussion, the council decided to hire Tauni Fanning as financial clerk at $20 per hour and Katie Downs as recorder/clerk at $15 per hour. The council discussed scheduling options (each working two days a week, or one working two days and the other three) and set training to begin June 22; both hires are to attend the June 16 council meeting so the council can finalize hours and schedules.

Councilmembers also discussed administrative tools and procedures. Merrill recommended the time‑clock service Bamboo for tracking hours. The minutes note a planned follow up on changes to the town’s water billing system during hiring discussions; council members said collections are handled through door hangers in coordination with the water department.

At 7:34 p.m. Councilmember Donny Merrill moved to adjourn the regular meeting and meet in executive session to discuss a water‑department personnel matter; Councilmember Kyle Kingston seconded and "all councilmembers in attendance" voted aye, according to the minutes. The executive session later concluded at 8:29 p.m. after a motion by Merrill, seconded by Kingston, with all councilmembers in attendance voting aye.

The council asked that the link to the open public meetings training be resent to members. The minutes do not record a formal sworn appointment vote for the new hires or a personnel decision announced from the executive session beyond the stated hiring decision and the executive‑session adjournment.

Next steps: the two hires are scheduled to begin training June 22 and to attend the council meeting on June 16 for a scheduling discussion. The council also indicated it will follow up on time‑clock implementation and water‑billing changes.