SUMNER – About 50 residents at Monday’s annual town meeting approved increases in selectmen’s stipends and the salary and hours of the town clerk.
The stipends in question passed with almost no discussion. Selectmen had asked for $3,000 each annually. The budget committee recommended $2,400, a $200 increase.
The only comment made after a motion was made to accept the selectmen’s recommendation was by Stuart Cooper, a member of the budget committee. Cooper said that if the motion to award a $3,000 stipend was turned down, he would move to accept the budget committee’s recommendation. After no other comments, the motion was passed by about a two-thirds majority.
An increase in the town clerk’s hours, and resulting increase in wages, was passed with considerably more discussion. Town Clerk Susan Runes explained the reason for the increase.
“It’s not a raise,” she said. “I’ve been working 40 to 42 hours a week for the past year, year and a half” and paid for 30.
Runes’ pay will increase this year from $23,000 to $33,300 because of the increase in hours. With the benefits she will receive as a full-time employee, the town’s actual expenditure for the town clerk position will be $41,000.
Residents questioned offering Runes a family insurance plan, which she will pay 25 percent of, since her husband is also employed full-time. As Runes stepped forward to speak to those concerns, Moderator Theresa Hayes stopped the discussion to ask that all questions be directed to and answered by selectmen, unless Runes’ expertise was required.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Clifford McNeil took the floor.
“We’re not asking you to do something personally for Sue,” he said, adding that if a less-experienced person were to take the position of town clerk, that person would not receive the same wage or benefits that Runes does.
Selectman Mark Silber said that with Runes’ increase in hours, town office hours will also increase. Runes has been working her scheduled hours at the office and bringing home any work she could not finish.
“If I employed you and said you were going to be doing work on your own time for me, you would not like that,” he said.
McNeil added that going home after 30 hours and leaving work undone would not work for the town.
“More mandates, more hours, more classes she has to take” has forced Runes to increase her hours, he said.
Voters approved the motion that increased the town clerk’s hours with only about 10 opposed. The total approved for salaries was $80,757, an increase of about a third over last year’s budget of $58,319.
Runes said taxes will not increase, however, under the budget proposed by selectmen at the meeting.
Selectman Clifford McNeil and Road Commissioner James Keach were re-elected.
Kelly Affleck announced her intention to run for a seat on the SAD 39 board at the meeting and was elected to take outgoing board member Marty Elkin’s seat.
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