Town Clerk Job Description
The process to update the town clerk’s job description continues.
The Select Board sent a draft of the updated job description to Town Clerk Ellen O’Brien Cushman, Town Meeting member and former Town Moderator Mike Widmer and Town Meeting member Kathy Keohane after the last meeting for feedback. The board received responses from all three, said Chair Taylor Yates, but added that “they don’t all seem to be on the same page.”
“I’m happy to have them back when they get their ducks in a row and are ready to finalize this so that we can save a night of Town Meeting. Until then, the ball’s in their court,” Yates said.
As of Monday night, the town has not received a motion for a citizen’s petition from Widmer and Keohane that would establish an ad hoc committee, appointed by the town moderator, for the purpose of updating the job description for the elected town clerk, conducting a market analysis on compensation, and recommending such compensation to the annual Town Meeting in the spring. The petition garnered more than 300 signatures.
Citizens Petition Process
The board voted 2-1 to adopt a new policy on citizens petitions that brings Belmont into line with state law.
Previously, citizens’ petitions would be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office while the warrant is open. The petition signatures would be checked and certified by the clerk’s office. Under the new policy, petitions will be submitted to the Select Board or Town Administrator’s office and signatures will be certified by the Board of Registrars of Voters. Petitions can now be submitted any time during the year.
Select Board Vice Chair Carol Kennedy Berberian was the lone dissenting vote, saying she was not comfortable adopting the policy before it was out for public view.
Tree Lighting
Belmont’s Tree Lighting will be held Dec. 3. Leonard Street will be closed from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night.
