NORRIDGEWOCK — Residents will be able to vote in November on whether town treasurer and town clerk should be elected by the town or appointed by the town manager.
Both positions are elected annually at the Town Meeting in March.
However, both are also currently being held by people who were appointed in order to fill vacancies because of the resignation of Charlotte Curtis in March.
There has been discussion over the last few years about making the positions appointed, according to town manager Michelle Flewelling.
“These positions are in charge of important town finances and data,” she said.
According to Maine state law Title 30-A, the only qualifications to hold the positions are that a person be a resident of the state of Maine, a citizen of the United States and be at least 18 years old.
The town treasurer is responsible for overseeing the town’s accounting, investment, billing and financial reporting activities. Day to day responsibilities include billing, money collection, the investment and oversight of town money and the preparation of financial reports for town municipal officers and others.
The town clerk, who is reponsible for elections, data collection and all records kept by the town, is also currently an elected position.
Elected officials set their own hours and locations and do not have local oversight. Making these positions appointed would mean that the town would set their hours and they would be overseen by the Board of Selectmen.
“There are a lot of towns fighting to change laws like this that date very far back,” said Flewelling. “In today’s world financial management, audits and the complicated work that goes along with being in charge of all the town’s funds demands more than just being 18 years old.”
Curtis, 66, town clerk and treasurer at the time, was fired as a full-time office clerk early this year for allegedly placing audio recording equipment at the front desk of the town office. As treasurer, Curtis said she purposely did not record a lien on some unpaid sewer accounts over the last few years because she didn’t want someone’s home to be foreclosed on because of a sewer bill.
Despite being fired, Curtis still held the elected positions of town clerk and treasurer, however, until she was elected selectman March 5.
There will be a public meeting before the election to discuss the ballot.
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
rohm@mainetoday.com
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