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Charter commission defends moving Suffield treasurer to appointed post; selectmen request reconsideration
Summary
At a Jan. 15 joint meeting, the Suffield Charter Revision Commission said it would keep its recommendation to make the town treasurer an appointed position, citing the role's expanded daily duties and access to funds; the Board of Selectmen asked the commission to reconsider after reviewing new information about outstanding taxes.
At a Jan. 15 joint special meeting, the Suffield Charter Revision Commission told the Board of Selectmen it would maintain a recommendation to change the town treasurer from an elected to an appointed position, after the board submitted a written request for reconsideration citing newly available information about outstanding and uncollected taxes.
Chairman Eric Remington, speaking for the commission, said the treasurer role has evolved "from a part-time position with a small stipend to a role that essentially has daily responsibilities," and noted concerns about access to large sums of money and internal controls that informed the commission's recommendation. Remington said he hoped to explain the commission's rationale more thoroughly at the meeting.
First Selectman Colin Moll told commissioners the Board of Selectmen had reviewed the commission's recommendations and asked that the body reconsider because the board had received additional tax information that was not available during the commission's original fact-finding. Several selectmen raised concerns that the reasoning cited for changing the treasurer's status could also apply to the town clerk and tax collector positions.
Commission members responded by describing distinctions they saw among the offices and by recounting the additional material they had reviewed since the board's request. After discussion, the Charter Revision Commission elected to keep its original recommendation to make the treasurer an appointed position while leaving the town clerk and tax collector as elected offices.
Participants suggested scheduling a separate meeting with the Tax Collector so both boards could better understand that office’s daily duties and work together on any policy proposals to address the control and collections concerns raised in the discussion. No formal change to the commission's recommendation was made at the meeting.
The meeting concluded with Selectman Kathleen Harrington moving to adjourn at 6:12 p.m.; the motion carried unanimously. Recording Secretary Kristen O. Lambert filed the minutes.
