The town of Newfane has drafted a charter that gives the select board the power to appoint some currently elected officials, including the town clerk and treasurer. But before the charter is official it must undergo two public hearings and a town-wide vote, and then be approved by the Legislature.
The draft charter lists 27 positions that would either be appointed or hired by the select board, and six positions to be elected by the town. Under a section called "hiring practices," the draft states the select board will hire an administrative assistant, road foremen, town clerk and treasurer. The draft specifically prescribes a process for hiring the positions of town clerk and treasurer:
Prior to hiring a NEW Town Clerk and and/or a NEW Treasurer, the Selectboard shall appoint a committee composed of one member of the Selectboard, a lister, and four residents of the Town of Newfane, to review and recommend to the Selectboard qualified candidates for the positions of Town Clerk and/or Treasurer. The committee shall have the authority to solicit candidates, to advertise notice of vacancy in the Town Clerk and/or Treasurer positions and to make an investigation of a candidate’s credentials and background as the committee deems appropriate. Upon completion of the investigation and interviewing of candidates, the committee shall submit to the Selectboard the names of those candidates deemed qualified for the positions of Town Clerk and/or Treasurer. The Selectboard shall select a Town Clerk and/or a Treasurer from among those deemed qualified by the committee. In the event that the committee does not submit at least two qualified candidates for each position to the Selectboard, the Selectboard shall either hire a Town Clerk and/or a Treasurer from among the qualified candidates or notify the committee, in writing, that none of the candidates shall be selected. The committee shall then reconvene and submit the names of additional qualified candidates to the Selectboard.
At a meeting on November 6, the select board made final changes to the draft and scheduled the necessary two public hearings and town-wide vote. The first hearing on the document will be held Dec. 11 and a second hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8. Both hearings will be held at 7 p.m. at the NewBrook Fire Department. If that space is not available, then meeting minutes state the town will request use of school facilities. A special vote, by Australian ballot, is scheduled for Jan. 22.
