PHILLIPSTON — At last Monday’s annual town election, voters by a slim margin shot down a ballot question which called for combining the part-time positions of town treasurer and tax collector into an appointed full-time collector/treasurer’s position. The move, initially approved by voters at last year’s annual town meeting, was strongly recommended by the state Dept. of Revenue. However, the proposal was rejected by four votes, 73-69.
“But then,” said Phillipston Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Flynn at Wednesday’s Selectboard meeting, “on the ballot, it also asked voters to elect a tax collector, and 13 people wrote in (incumbent) Sally (Kastberg), some people wrote in Sylvia (Haley), and a couple of people wrote in Linda Langevin. But about (130) people didn’t write anybody in.”
The collector’s job is an appointed position.
“So, a bunch of people said ‘no, we don’t want to combine them,’ but when you asked them, they couldn’t think of anybody they wanted to serve, either. It was kind of an interesting response.”
Flynn said he met with both Kastberg and town Treasurer Lynn Nystrom the day after the election to discuss how to proceed.
“Basically, they said, ‘So, what do we do know?’” he said. “We chatted a little bit and I asked them what their thoughts were about where they wanted to go from here. In the end, Sally said she was willing to serve a little longer, if the town wanted her. So, she will stay on as tax collector and Lynn, of course is treasurer.
“Both of them have worked together; Sally has been Lynn’s assistant treasurer. So, they want to continue in that situation, and they will cross appoint each other. So, Lynn will be the treasure, and Sally will continue as her assistant treasurer. Sally will be the tax collector, and Lynn will be her assistant tax collector.”
Kastberg is agreeing to serve the town, in spite of having previously expressed interest in retiring.
Flynn said the two officials will share an office once some renovations at Town Hall are completed.
“They looked at the money in the line item that we have for assistant and for the full position (of treasurer/collector),” Flynn explained, “and decided there was enough there for the two of them. Sally will work a limited number of hours, and most of the time Lynn will be there; but they decided that was a situation they could live with.”
The salary for the combined position of treasurer/collector proposed in the FY21 town budget is $52,000, while the pay for the assistant is set at just under $6,400.
Flynn told the board he spoke with Town Counsel and was told that the arrangement “sounds like a great plan.
“So, problem solved, so to speak,” he concluded. “It’s kind of what we thought we’d end up with. We’ll have a treasurer and an assistant treasurer, and a collector and an assistant treasurer splitting the salary line item that we had for the combined positions.”
“We don’t have a line item for the elected collector’s salary,” said resident Tim Haley, “so, are we legally able to split that salary?”
“Town Counsel was satisfied with it,” Flynn responded, “so I think we’re probably OK.”
When asked by the Athol Daily News if the proposal to officially combine the positions of collector and treasurer will be brought before voters in the near future, Selectboard Chair John Telepciak was non-committal.
“It’s possible,” he said. “We don’t have a fall town meeting scheduled but it is in the realm of possibilities. It could be revisited, but this is the compromise for now.”