HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-1976Wednesday, January 14, 1976 1:00 O'clock p.m. Pg.l
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
The special meeting was called by the Supervisor for the purpose
of discussing an internal situation.
Pres6nt: Supervisor Blatchley; Justices, Donald Eaton and Ronald Fish
Councilmen, Sherman Griswold and Ray Miller; Town Clerk
.Christine Canestaro (first half only); Ted Testa, (first half
only) Rene'e Bilodeau (second half only).
The meeting was brought about because the Secretary-Bkkpr-General
Clerk had been asked to work Saturday mornings during the month of
January for the purpose of collecting taxes ( as has been done by all
former General Clerks in the past. She refused to do so, stating that
she had other commitments and that it was not her understanding when she
took the job that she would have to work Saturday mornings. Nor was it •
her understanding that she was General Clerk.
Councilman Miller rationalized that the position had to entail
duties other than that of Secretary -Bookkeeper since the former bookkeeper
was getting only $2,000 and the salary now is $7200.
Justice Fish stated that the Supervisor should have informed the
general clerk what her duties were. Supervisor Blatchley claimed he
did not know what the duties of the general clerk were.
The Town Clerk complained that the general clerk failed to help in
her office when the counter was conjested with people waiting for service.
She stated she felt the public should be extended the courtesy of
expedient service as the help was available, but lacking. Because of the
lack of help from the general clerk, she said, she had to put in very long
hours to complete the work involved in balancing the cash, making the
deposits and meeting the demands and deadlines of her office.
The Supervisor stated he could not understand why it was any more
difficult now than last year; as last year there was only the Town Clerk
and the Deputy Town Clerk on duty. The Town Clerk explained that last
year she worked until 10, 11, & 12 o'clock at night to get the work done
and also had taken work home to do, which she did not feel she should have
to do now since a general clerk had been employed and was being paid to
help in the Town Clerk's office.
Justice Fish stated that, as far as helping in the clerk's office
when it was conjested, the general clerk should automatically take it upon
herself to help.
Supervisor Blatchley said he was afraid if the general clerk was asked
to work Saturdays, she would quit her position and he did not want to see
this happen. He asked if extra help could be hired to relieve the Town
Clerk. The Town Clerk said she refused to hire extra help when there was
a person already hired to do the job but refused to do so. If the money
was to come out of the general clerk's salary, she would hire someone, but if
it meant an additional expense in her budget, she said she could not
justify it to the taxpayers and refused to do so.
Supervisor Blatchley asked if his written description of Miss Bilodeau's
job was acceptable? The Town Clerk and Justice Eaton objected to it as
the description implied that the job of Secretary -Bookkeeper required a •
great deal of time to accomplish and this is not true. They also objected
to calling on her in"emergency situations" only, since it is only in the
month of January and October that the Bookkeeper had much to do. At other
times she has very little to do and can spend the time helping in other
departments. The consensus of the Board was that the last line "These
additional requests should be kept reasonable and be confined primarily to
emergency situations" should be stricken from the text and the description
would then be acceptable.
The Town Clerk and Ted Testa were asked to leave the room so that Miss
Bilodeau could come in and talk with the Board.
Judge Eaton said he would tape the meeting, in the absence of the clerk,
so that the minutes of this special meeting could be written up complete.
Miss Bilodeau explained that she was not told that she would have to work
Saturdays when she was hired, nor that she was to serve as "General Clerk".
She said she was hired as "Confidential Secretary -Bookkeeper".
Wednesday, January 14, 1976 SPECIAL MEETING Pg. 2
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Justice Eaton asked Councilman Miller to rationalize for Miss
Bilodeau, what he had done previously for the Town Board, that the
job had to entail other duti.es� as the bookkeeper was getting only $2000
and now the pay was $7200.
In reference to working Saturday mornings and helping during lunch
hours, Justice Eaton asked which was more important to her, her job
or her personal commitments. Miss Bilodeau indicated that "if it comes
down to that - my personal commitments are". She also indicated that if
she had to work overtime, she would not be willing to do so.
After much discussion, Miss Bilodeau recommended that the jobs should
be separated to clear up the situation and since it seemed that the
bookkeeping job was involved at the same time the Town Clerk's office
was busy and needed her help. The Board agreed that probably this was
the solution.
After much more discussion, the Board agreed that the Town Clerk
should hire help for the rest of this month to take care of the situation
in that office and the separation of the job of Secretary -Bookkeeper -
General Clerk would be taken under consideration.
Upon motion of Justice Fish, seconded by Councilman Miller, all
voting aye, the meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m..
Respectfully
subm* ed,
` CHRISTINE CANE, 0
TOWN CLERK