Stafford, CT – September 5, 2024
Have you ever found yourself at the voting booth wondering why positions like town clerk or tax collector are on the ballot? You are not alone. First Selectman Bill Morrison has been asking the same question. At the most recent Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, he heard from the people who hold these positions in Stafford to explore the option of turning these into appointed positions.
Both positions require certifications that can take years to obtain. However, you do not need to hold those certifications to run (and win). Ultimately, that means unqualified people can hold these elected positions, and the town could be on the hook for paying for the certification process. In the meantime, Stafford could be paying someone to do a job they are not qualified to perform.
Think of the town clerk as our record keeper. You go to the town clerk if you need a marriage or dog license. Want to look up old property records and sales? Go to the town clerk’s office.
Stafford's long-time town clerk, Karen Troiano, told the BOS that in Tolland County, only three towns elect their town clerks: Stafford, Somers, and Union. Willington made the change to an appointed clerk several years ago. She said that it takes about four years to become certified, and it requires the person in the position to attend classes and take exams at a time when they may otherwise be working. She described the job as unpolitical and statutory driven, meaning that most, if not all, of what a clerk does is determined by state statutes.
The same can be said for the tax collector. Of Connecticut’s 169 towns, 74 elect the tax collectors – 95 are appointed.
Troiano said the continuity provided by having appointed town clerks and tax collectors is beneficial to towns. As it becomes harder to find people with the proper certifications, appointing the position can open it up to a wider pool of people. The candidates must be town residents in towns where these positions are elected. However, when you appoint these positions, you post a job listing and let people from all over apply, just like with any other job.
Morrison worries about what will happen if either Troiano or Tax Collector Stephanie Irving leaves. After Doreen Walton retired from the town clerk’s office recently, Troiano said that of the 70 people who applied to fill the job, only two had the proper certifications, highlighting how hard it is to find qualified candidates.
Ultimately, Morrison and Rick Hartenstein (Kurt Vail was absent) voted to send the issue to an informational town hearing. Stay tuned for a date.
Update 9/18/24: A reader question prompted us to ask a few more questions about the qualifications of our current town clerk and tax collector when they first embarked on their careers. When she first took office, Karen Troiano had already taken one of the necessary courses but was not yet fully certified as a town clerk. Previously, she had worked for 27 years as the town's social services director, and says she was familiar with many facets of municipal government.
Tax Collector Stephanie Irving first worked as an assistant in the tax office. She received her certifications while working there, and by the time she was elected as Tax Collector, she was fully certified.
However, one of the current concerns is timing. If an incumbent were to lose (or retire) and a non-certified staff member were to take office at the same time as other staff retires or leaves, it could leave a non-certified person on their own. Additionally, there are already people in town with the proper certifications; however, they are hesitant to run for office, mainly because you can't run for office without your current employers finding out. If the town shifts how it fills these positions, the Board of Selectmen can pick someone already certified and ready to hit the ground running.
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