By Sharron Luttrell
Voters at Special Town Meeting last night approved changing the office of the town clerk from an elected to an appointed position, and agreed to pass over a controversial warrant article that would create a town noise bylaw.
Ninety-one of the town’s voters showed up last night.
The town clerk question will move on to the election ballot in May where it must pass before it goes into effect.
Last night’s 78-8 vote came after the article’s sponsor, Town Clerk Ellen Agro, told voters that her role is not that of “a glorified secretary” as one person wondered aloud to her when she was first elected to the position in 2018. Among her responsibilities are to oversee election law that require town clerks “to be well-versed in ballot tracking, security protocols, rights of voters and critical deadlines.”
“Transitioning to an appointed town clerk allows a town to conduct a professional search and select the most qualified candidate based on skills, credentials and performance rather than campaign popularity,” she said, adding that the only qualifications for an elected town clerk is to be at least 18 years old and a town resident.
Though not a financial article, the Finance Committee supported the measure.
“There is a value proposition for moving to an appointed position, especially given that we do pay the town clerk a salary and if the town clerk decided to show up for one day per year for work it is well within their right — and they probably wouldn’t get reelected — but you do maintain a higher level of value for the town for your money by moving to an appointed position,” Finance Committee Chair Michael Krager said.
Annual Town Meeting in May will be asked to change a bylaw prohibiting elected officials from seeking a job with the town until they’ve been out of office for one year. Otherwise, Agro, who is up for reelection in May, would be prevented from applying for the job.
“The intention here is not to ice out the incumbent from a full-time role,” Town Administrator Jeremy Stull said.
Proposed noise restrictions to go back to its drafters
Voters agreed to set aside an article that would create a noise bylaw so the public will have more time to weigh in on the proposal.
The General Bylaws Review Committee held a public hearing for its proposed bylaw on Oct. 8, but only one member of the public attended.
A subsequent Mendon Commons story about the proposal drew a strong response from residents who said it was too restrictive. Stull said three amendments to the bylaw article were submitted to the town and those, along with the negative reaction and the fact that the Select Board did not have time to review the final draft of the noise bylaw, led to the motion to pass over the question.
Residents can email Stull to be notified of upcoming public hearings into the noise bylaw.
Municipal building feasibility study funding approved, ADA commission forms and town approves relief for veterans
Also among the 21 articles on last night’s warrant were a $50,000 appropriation to develop a three-pronged approach to modernizing the town’s municipal infrastructure. The feasibility study would look into:
- Finishing the so-called “shell” building on Morrison Drive to serve as the town’s emergency shelter and include space for functions and trainings as well administrative offices
- Expanding the senior center to include a large function space
- Repurposing the former St. Michael’s Church rectory next to the Taft Public Library
Voters also agreed to create a Disabilities Commission to oversee improvements identified in a recent Americans With Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.
Finally, the town voted to accept provisions of the state BRAVE Act (Benefits, Rights, Appreciation, Validation and Enforcement), which grants a property tax exemption for veterans whose home is owned by a trust or conservator as well as for survivors of veterans.
To view the entire Oct. 27 Special Town Meeting and discussion on the 21 warrant articles, visit the town’s YouTube page.
Photo top of page by Martin Luttrell
