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Date: 2/16/2021
WESTHAMPTON – The Westhampton Selectboard met on Feb. 8 to discuss their town clerk search, reviewed the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) salary proposals, and performed a grant review.
The board has been in search of a new clerk since December when Administrative Assistant Cheryl Provost announced that she will be leaving the town clerk position effective March 31. In a previous interview, she told Reminder Publishing that she is leaving this position to place all of her focus as the administrative assistant and allow the town an opportunity to fill the position with another individual.
At the Feb. 8 meeting, the board interviewed Katrin Kaminsky, a candidate for the town clerk position. Provost shared that they interviewed her because of her experience as a town clerk. The position will be filled as soon as possible to begin the transfer of office in March and have the new clerk completely take the office over April 1.
Kaminsky shared with the board that the pandemic has been a wonderful thing for her because after she was cut from her full-time job she learned that it was time in her life to follow what she likes to do. When she was called back in September, she said no and has been working more part-time jobs in Worthington.
She currently works as a part-time town clerk, serves on the Board of Health, and is the assistant town office secretary in Worthington.
With a full plate, she applied to the Westhampton position because it is nearby and the clerk position is her favorite. She did admit that the population makes her nervous but after reading through the last year of the Selectboards minutes it calmed her down because she got a sense that Westhampton is full of active involved municipal positions that help and work together.
Kaminsky shared that what she likes about her job is getting to know people, especially new people. On Saturdays prior to COVID-19, when new people would come into the building for the transfer station, they would need punch card and window stickers. While she helped them with that, she also gave residents information about the town and attempted to answer questions they may have, or give them the contact information for those who would have an answer.
Selectboard member Teri Anderson asked Kaminsky how she would split her time up between Worthington and Westhampton during elections.
Kaminsky said that she noticed that the town elections and meetings do not overlap. In terms of next year when there are a few state elections, she said she hopes to know by then when she will be able to leave one city hall to go to another. She also stated that while she would have to travel back and forth those days, it would help if there is a good crew of election workers during the morning who could help her with opening the polls and at night to close them.
The board plans to inform Kaminsky of their decision on Feb 16, which took place after press time.
During the meeting, the board also attempted to review the FY22 salary proposals.
The board decided to continue this conversation until they can meet with Amy Landau, the Council on Aging (COA) coordinator.
Landau is looking for an increase in hours and a pay raise because she is working more hours than she originally agreed on when she was hired.
They will meet with the Finance Committee, Landau, and members of the COA on Feb. 25 to discuss what Landau wants.
Provost shared that the budget discussions have taken place over the past couple of meetings, and further discussion would take place on Feb. 16, after press time.
The board accepted a grant application and submitted it on Feb 12.
Provost said the grant is a District Local Technical Assistance program through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for regional cross-border municipal collaboration/shared services.