WILLIAMSTOWN - Fire Chief Ed Eaton cited his wife’s health issues as the key reason for his resignation, effective January 31, according to the letter of resignation Town Manager Jackie Higgins read to the selectboard last week.

Chris Peloquin asked that the board plan an appreciation event to thank Mr. Eaton for his 18 years of service as fire chief. Chairman Larry Hebert said that the board will do so.

The board also heard from the public regarding the proposed governance charter that converts the office of treasurer from an elected position to an appointed one.

The charter calls for the formation of a committee, composed of two members of the selectboard, the town clerk, a lister, and three Town residents “to review and recommend...qualified candidates,” to the selectboard. The board would then be responsible for appointing one of the candidates, or advising the committee that none of the candidates is acceptable.

The charter says that committee meetings are to be public meetings, but does allow the committee “to meet in executive session as authorized by Vermont statutes.”

An information sheet, signed by Mr. Hebert, as chairman, states that “Williamstown needs a treasurer who is fully qualified... and who can be removed if the performance is unacceptable.” It also lists eight municipalities, including Berlin, whose treasurers are appointed. It also says that Brattleboro’s treasurer is appointed by the selectboard, but the appointment is then “ratified by its representative town meeting.”

Selectman Rodney Graham said that, currently, the only requirement for treasurer is electability. He said that, if the position is appointed, appropriate skills can be required and a candidate can be “subject to a background check.”

Selectman Bill Ashe said that, in his viewpoint, the change does not “infer anything regarding the current” treasurer. He said that, in his judgment, the change should not be based on personality, whether that of the treasurer or that of the board. He said that it should be considered “solely in the best interest of the Town of Williamstown.”

Mr. Ashe said that, currently, the position is elected for a threeyear period, there is no vetting process, no academic preparation required, and no requirement for knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping principles. He said that the position is autonomous, without having to take direction from anyone, except voters. Mr. Ashe said that the town is “a fairly large business” that will be “greatly improved” by having a treasurer who is “involved in the day to day financial affairs of the Town.”

Mr. Peloquin asked the other board members whether or not they “wholeheartedly support” the proposed charter, and the response was that they did. He asked whether the board members felt they werre more capable to judge the requirements than the voters are.

Mr. Hebert said that that was the reason a committee would be set up to “check out who applies,” their credentials, and do a background check, to present the best candidate or candidates.

Mr. Ashe said that one of the advantages of recruiting, advertising, and interviewing candidates is that backgrounds can be vetted, something that the public does not generally do. He said that the treasurer is a “critically important position” responsible for $3,000,000, or more.

Mr. Peloquin said that “sitting where I’m sitting,” the board’s track record in hiring previous Town manager negates any confidence in their being able to hire the best person for the job.

Treasurer Bob Cleaves said that perhaps the board should look at more than one item and also consider a recall provision. He said that there is a background check process; it is called bonding. He said that transparency could be compromised, as a treasurer who is appointed may be less likely to raise any issues or concerns, that the checks and balances provided by an elected official would be lost. Mr. Cleaves said that perhaps candidates could be vetted and then presented to the public for a vote.

Arthur Kramer said that the bonding done for municipal positions does not equate to a background check. He said that the term checks and balances does not apply to the relationship between the selectmen and the treasurer and that when addressing recall provisions, people should remember that recalls require elections, which cost money.

Mr. Peloquin asked whether the board would consider a process similar to that of Bratttleboro, where the selection could be presented to the voters for ratification.

Mr. Graham said that he would not be opposed to looking into it. Selectman Francis Covey said that he would consider something” similar to Brattleboro.” Meg Sample said that she “applauds the board for a charter change that creates transparency.”

Mr. Peloquin said that he noticed that the board had done a “one-eighty” in regards to the Treasurer’s proposed salary as presented in next year’s proposed budget, changing the amount back to $30,000 from the initial proposal of $15,000. He said that he could not find anything in any meeting minutes that indicated why this was done.

Ms. Higgins said that she held “an in-house meeting” with the treasurer and town clerk to clarify duties. She said that, based on that meeting, she then submitted a recommendation that the proposed budgeted salary be “put back to $30,000,” and that the board then, by consensus, agreed.

The board did vote to ask voters if the surplus general fund monies could be put in reserve toward a new public safety building.