LONDONDERRY, Vt. – On Monday, May 11, the Town of Londonderry held a special town meeting to discuss and vote if the town shall “raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $81,000 for the purpose of funding, in part, the salary and benefits of the general office manager.”
The assistant town clerk position, held by Jennifer Lawrence, and currently by a temporary employee, is 24 hours per week with a salary of $32,295. The proposed full time general office manager position would replace the part time assistant town clerk, and would be paid at 40 hours. The budget for the salary, to include benefits, would break down as follows: single benefits $77,342, two-person benefits $97,248, or family benefits $110,094.
Treasurer Tina Labeau confirmed during the meeting that these proposed figures would replace the current salary of $32,295, and that the amount added to annual property taxes would not exceed the proposed $81,000. Labeau further explained that if the amount an individual was hired for is less than the $81,000, that exact dollar amount would be included in the tax bills, as to not raise more funds than necessary. Labeau simplified that a $100,000 salary would add a penny to the tax rate, or add $10 per $100,000 of assessed property value to each tax bill.
The job description would include answering phones and assisting customers, digitizing land records and zoning files, and assisting the wastewater department in billing and collections. The individual would report back to the town staff, official, or department they were assisting. The proposed start date would be July 1.
Pubic comment questioned a part time position to aid the assistant town clerk position. Labeau stated they didn’t think it would be attractive, as it is harder to find part time employees. Town administrator Aileen Tulloch added that the full time help would be beneficial when any of the office staff need to take time off. Selectboard Chair Tom Cavanagh stated, “The benefit package is what keeps people working for the town.”
A motion to vote by paper ballot was made, tallying 32 “yes” votes and 33 “no” votes. The article to raise $81,000 in taxes to fund a general office manager position did not pass.
Article 2, “Shall the Town of Londonderry authorize the selectboard to investigate purchasing one or more parcels of land for future use to be determined by a future Town Meeting” was then discussed.
Cavanagh explained that the town was interested in purchasing land for future use, such as further expanding the wastewater system, moving the South Londonderry Fire Department, or relocating the road crew. He expressed there is not an exact use determined at this time, and that the town has not actively started to pursue any particular parcel, but that they were looking for public support in the idea.
Article 2 passed.