WALES – Voters approved a measure aimed at ensuring professionalism among town staff, changing its charter to make four key jobs appointed rather than elected.
The jobs – road commissioner, tax collector, treasurer and town clerk – will now be decided upon by selectmen.
By 3:45 p.m., about 150 people here had voted, a solid number for an election without a race for the Legislature, governor or president, said Town Clerk Melanie Newton-Burgess.
The charter votes to make the following jobs appointed were: for tax collector, 265 yes and 195 no; for road commissioner, 249 yes and 210 no; for treasurer, 272 yes and 197 no; and for town clerk, 252 yes and 170 no.
“I personally support it because these jobs aren’t easy,” said Newton-Burgess, who has also served as the town’s tax collector.
When someone is elected, there is nothing to ensure that the person has the expertise or time to do the job, said the clerk.
And there’s no recourse if they are not doing their job, she said.
– Daniel Hartill
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