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Date: 3/8/2023
HUNTINGTON — The Selectboard voted on March 1 to change the job title and job description of Jennifer Peloquin from administrative assistant to town administrator for a three-year term, effective immediately.
Board chair Edward Renauld informed the Finance Committee at the meeting of the planned promotion and ensuing raise in pay, which he said puts Peloquin in line with the duties she’s already performing and allows the board to give her additional responsibilities as town administrator.
Roger Booth said that Peloquin already meets the requirements of the job description for town administrator. Prior to coming to Huntington, Peloquin served as Council on Aging director in Southampton. She started in Huntington as a clerical aide with the Huntington Council on Aging in 2017 before becoming full-time administrative assistant to the Selectboard three years ago.
Peloquin said the main difference in her new position will be having a supervisory role over other departments. In addition, she will serve as the chief procurement officer for the town. The job comes with a salary increase from $46,549 in her previous role to $60,000 as town administrator, which she said is on the lower end for the same position in neighboring towns.
Also appearing before the Selectboard was Huntington Dog Officer Jim Helems, who asked for a three-year contract, the usual length of term for town employees. After a short discussion, the board voted to extend his appointment to three years.
Helems said he also needs a new appointment letter to reapply as a state quarantine officer. Peloquin said she would research the question, but believes that the Board of Health has to write it.
Helems also talked about clarifying his role in dealing with dangerous dogs. The board advised him to meet with the police chief and State Police, and to use his professional judgment as to his role with dangerous animals.
During an advertised public hearing at 6 p.m., Town Clerk Linda Hamlin made the case to have the town opt out of accepting votes by mail for the municipal election on May 20. Hamlin said at last year’s election, in which only 63 residents voted, there were not enough ballots returned to cover the costs of voting by mail.
Hamlin said absentee ballots will still be available, and no special circumstances are required to request an absentee ballot to vote in a local election in a city or town that has opted out of voting by mail for that election.
“The way legislation has changed, people can say they are physically unable to be there,” Hamlin said, adding they have always been able to vote by absentee ballot.
Resident Michelle Fieldstad-Booth said she was unsure about the difference between absentee and mail-in voting, and wanted to make sure that people with disabilities could still vote. She also said she was concerned about people who were used to voting by mail.
Hamlin said residents also have more time to request absentee ballots.
Resident Wendy Long asked if the opt-out was for the municipal election only, and Hamlin said yes, it would be, and had to be requested 45 days ahead of time.
After the hearing, the board voted to opt out of voting by mail for the municipal election.