A petition article on Temple’s warrant asks voters to reinstate a full-time administrative position at the town offices.
The town has not had a full-time administrator since June of 2017, when the last full-time administrative assistant, Debra Harling, resigned. The duties have been filled by a part-time bookkeeper and a part-time assistant to the Select Board.
A petition article on this year’s warrant, submitted by George Willard, a former Select Board member who is running for a position on the board again this year against incumbent Gail Cromwell.
The petition article, if voters approve, would establish a full-time administrator, and raise a salary of $50,000, as well as $30,000 for a benefits package.
“I think we need more than a part-time person,” Willard said Monday. “We have a hard time keeping part-time people.”
Willard said he’s spoken with former town employees who had filled the administrative position, and they told him the part-time position was not enough hours for workload.
“They said it really required more hours than what they were given,” Willard said.
Willard gathered about 60 signatures in support of his petition, he said.
Currently, the town’s budget proposes $31,200 for the salary for the town’s administrative assistant and $10,714 for the salary of the bookkeeper, plus up to $1,000 for overtime for town administration. Currently the two are separate positions, which would be combined if the warrant article were approved.
Selectman Ken Caisse said the Select Board doesn’t support going back to a full-time administrator.
“I think we’re doing OK with the part-time positions we have,” Caisse said.
Caisse said there were some advantages to a full-time position, mainly it would increase the availability of town office staff to the public, but it would come at an increase in cost.
“It would double our expenses on that line,” Caisse said.
Town Meeting in Temple is scheduled to be held on March 16 at 10 a.m. at the Temple Elementary School.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.