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Plainfield Town Proposes New Administrator Role
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Plainfield Town Officials Propose New Town Administrator Role to Streamline Operations and Improve Efficiency
Plainfield town officials are considering significant changes to their local government structure. The select board recently discussed proposals to alleviate the workload of overburdened staff, including the creation of a town administrator position to manage tasks currently handled by multiple roles, such as the town clerk and treasurer.
Treasurer Joshua Pitts presented several proposals that would reshape town operations, including the elimination of some existing positions like grants administrator and road commissioner, with their duties shifting to the new administrator. The clerk and treasurer roles would see reduced hours, and even the select boards responsibilities, such as employee evaluations, would move to the administrator.
Pitts also emphasized the importance of improving financial controls, suggesting a system with a treasurer, an administrator, and a bookkeeper, ensuring three separate individuals sign off on town finances. However, not all board members are fully supportive, with Frances Rose Subbiondo expressing concern that the administrator role might become too demanding and Patti Jamele recalling past resistance to similar changes. The budget discussion will continue at the boards regular meeting on December twenty-second.
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