JAY — Selectpersons and the union representing two Town Office positions reached an agreement Monday that reduces the position of deputy town clerk from full time to part time.

The board voted 4-1 to accept the memorandum of understanding between the town and United Steelworkers and its Local 4-0009 after an executive session, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said.

Selectpersons Keith Cornelio and Tom Goding, Vice Chairman Tim DeMillo and Chairman Terry Bergeron favored the memorandum. Selectperson Judy Diaz opposed it. 

The union represents the deputy tax collector and the deputy town clerk. The latter position has been vacant since former Deputy Town Clerk Lori “Lou” Simpson left in July for a job in Farmington.

The deputy town clerk’s position was reduced from 38¾ hours a week to 30 hours a week on July 1 because of budget constraints. It was still considered a full-time position with benefits, LaFreniere said.

The town has received 16 applications for the part-time position, she said.

The approved memorandum of understanding calls for the part-time position to be a flexible schedule of 28 hours on a weekly average, with a half-hour unpaid lunch period.

It also reduces the rate of pay to $16.50 per hour after successful completion of a six-month probationary period. The pay for the position during the probationary period is $14.85 an hour, LaFreniere said. Simpson was making more than $18 an hour before leaving the position.

The part-time position includes limited benefits covering holidays, vacations and bereavement pay but no health insurance.

The flexible hours associated with the position will be reviewed annually to determine if permanent full-time status is warranted. Full-time status is 35 hours per week.

dperry@sunjournal.com