Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Meeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walworth board approves hires, new job title and equipment lease; rejects WWTP building assessment
Summary
The Walworth Town Board on May 21 approved several personnel actions — creating a Senior Account Clerk title, appointing Laura Elliott to the post, appointing Junior Engineer Heather LaDuke as the MS4 Stormwater Management Officer (and Sewer Superintendent), hiring Steven Kemp as full‑time building inspector, and authorizing a vehicle lease payment — and voted down a $6,700 MRB Group assessment of former WWTP buildings.
Deputy Supervisor Amber Linson presided over the Town of Walworth Board’s regular meeting on May 21, 2026, at Walworth Town Hall. The board approved multiple personnel actions, authorized a vehicle lease payment, and voted down a proposed condition assessment of former wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) buildings.
The most immediate actions were personnel moves. By Resolution 121‑26 the board converted the Account Clerk title to Senior Account Clerk after Wayne County Human Resources certified that the duties align with that civil‑service title. The board then adopted Resolution 122‑26 moving Laura Elliott to the Senior Account Clerk position (part‑time, up to 25 hours per week) at $21.50 per hour, with retroactive pay to Jan. 1, 2026. Councilman Alex Kelly moved the resolution; Councilman Craig Jeffers seconded it; roll call was Linson Aye, Jeffers Aye, Botsford Aye, Kelly Aye, Elsbree Absent.
The board also formalized duties already being performed by town engineering staff. Under Resolution 123‑26 the board appointed Junior Engineer Heather LaDuke as the Town of Walworth MS4 Stormwater Management Officer to handle SPDES general permits for stormwater discharge and — following an amendment approved by the board — designated her as Sewer Superintendent as well. The amendment and final resolution passed on unanimous votes among members present.
On staffing for code enforcement, the board approved Resolution 124‑26 hiring Steven Kemp as the full‑time Building Inspector effective June 1, 2026, at an annual salary of $62,500, subject to the town’s required alcohol and drug screening. Board members who conducted interviews (Councilwoman Linson, the Code Enforcement Officer and the Building Clerk) recommended Kemp based on his construction experience.
On municipal equipment, the board authorized the Town Supervisor to sign the municipal finance application and make the initial payment to lease a 2026 Ford Maverick for use by the junior engineer. The listed unit price was $29,739.84; the proposed financing plan cited a three‑year municipal lease at $10,627.86 per year with a $1 purchase payment at the end. Funding for the initial payment was identified in budget line AA.00.8140.405.
Not all proposals passed. The board considered a $6,700 proposal from MRB Group to perform a condition assessment of three buildings at 3451 Ontario Center Road (the former WWTP). After discussion about whether the town should determine a proposed future use for the buildings before commissioning an assessment, the resolution failed on a split roll call: Linson Aye, Jeffers Aye, Botsford Nay, Kelly Nay, Elsbree Absent.
Routine business included approval of the abstract of audited vouchers (Resolution 120‑26, vouchers 2576–2713), distribution of departmental reports and communications, and a summer schedule of one monthly meeting at Town Hall. During public participation Phil Williamson submitted letters and praised the board’s cost‑saving interest on the WWTP buildings; Town Historian Gene Bavis thanked Deputy Supervisor Linson for her service to the Historical Society, announced his recent appointment as the society’s president, and promoted an upcoming headstone‑cleaning workshop and a July Festival in the Park celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.
The board entered executive session at 7:06 PM to discuss personnel/medical/financial matters and reconvened at 7:20 PM; no actions taken in executive session were disclosed in open session. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM.
Votes at a glance • RESOLUTION 120‑26 (Abstract of Claims — vouchers 2576–2713): Linson Aye; Jeffers Aye; Botsford Aye; Kelly Abstain; Elsbree Absent — adopted. • RESOLUTION 121‑26 (Create Senior Account Clerk title): unanimous among present members — adopted. • RESOLUTION 122‑26 (Appoint Laura Elliott, Senior Account Clerk, retroactive pay to Jan. 1, 2026): Linson Aye; Jeffers Aye; Botsford Aye; Kelly Aye; Elsbree Absent — adopted. • RESOLUTION 123‑26 (Appoint Heather LaDuke as MS4 Stormwater Management Officer; amended to add Sewer Superintendent): unanimous among present members — adopted (amendment adopted by roll call). • RESOLUTION 124‑26 (Hire Steven Kemp, full‑time Building Inspector, $62,500/year): unanimous among present members — adopted. • RESOLUTION 125‑26 (Authorize Supervisor to sign municipal finance application and make initial payment for 2026 Ford Maverick lease): unanimous among present members — adopted. • RESOLUTION 126‑26 (Authorize MRB Group proposal for condition assessment of WWTP buildings, not to exceed $6,700): Linson Aye; Jeffers Aye; Botsford Nay; Kelly Nay; Elsbree Absent — failed.
Why this matters: The votes reshape several town staffing roles (a new Senior Account Clerk title and a full‑time building inspector), designate who will sign stormwater permits and supervise sewer operations locally, commit a municipal lease payment for an engineering vehicle, and leave undecided the condition assessment of former WWTP buildings — a question raised repeatedly by board members and members of the public about potential reuse and fiscal prudence.
Provenance: meeting records and roll calls for each item appear in the board minutes for May 21, 2026 (Town Clerk Nadine Seppeler).
