CLARKSBURG, Mass. — One small town's loss is another's win. The Select Board voted unanimously on Monday to offer the new post of town clerk/assessor's clerk to Amber Holland.

 

 

Holland has held multiple hats over the past 18 years working for Readsboro, Vt., including as the elected town clerk since 2011, selectmen's clerk, assessor's clerk, utility clerk, and administrator fill-in. 

 

When asked if she can do a budget for the town clerk's office, Holland replied that she prepares the draft budget for the whole town. 

 

The board was impressed by the range of her responsibilities and, said board member Colton Andrews, saw her as the "best option for plug and play."

 

"I think her ability to kind of transition between multiple different departments and job titles, I think really kind of separated her between the three applicants," he said. "And I think especially the way this office operates and Town Hall operates."

 

Board member Seth Alexander also was impressed by her experience, particularly in running elections, and Chair Daniel Haskins said her knowledge of municipal operations stood out.

 

The other candidates were Shana Griswold, a corporate and real estate paralegal, and Carol Jammalo, former town clerk who's been working as an executive assistant.

 

The board agreed all three were strong applicants but Holland's breadth of experience put her at the top. 

 

She also was the recommended choice of Town Assessor Romana Messer and Gomeau. 

 

Gomeau is retiring for a second time; her first time was in 2019 after 15 years as city clerk in North Adams. She was hired as temporary and then permanent clerk in Clarksburg in 2021. Messer, who was hired as full-time town assessor last year, is reducing her hours to one day a week. The assessor's clerk will be doing the day-to-day paperwork and officials believe 32 hours will be enough for both posts. 

 

The board had stressed to all three candidates the need for multitasking and organization. Holland laughed when the members suggested they might actually be taking things off her plate. 

 

"You just handle whatever comes through the door," she said. 

 

Holland applied last fall for town accountant but was passed over for Lynne Lemanski, a certified public accountant.

 

In other business, Town Administrator Ronald Boucher said the fiscal 2027 spending plan is looking about 4 percent higher than this year but believes it can be tightened a bit more.

 

"If anything, it might get a little better for us. I'd like to see us come in at 3 percent," he told the board.

 

Some of this will depend on the assessments for McCann Technical School, the budget for which is expected to be approved on Thursday. Boucher said the amount of free cash should be known by the end of the week.

 

Part of the discussion will consider setting base stipend pay for health inspector and electrical inspector. They are currently paid per permit and Boucher said that means the figures jump around a lot. He agrees with the treasurer/collector that making a flat stipend would also make accounting cleaner and easier.

 

"We run this town hall on a slim, slim margin," he said. "Considering everything, we're in pretty good shape."

 

Boucher anticipated having a fuller picture within the next two weeks when the Finance Committee will begin meeting.

 

• The town received a Green Communities grant of $94,107 to be used for a mini-split in the library, weatherization of the connecting room between the school and library, and a heat pump for the school's water. It also received the $30,000 Americans with Disabilities Act grant for the school bathrooms.

 

• The board deferred a request for use of the town field by the YMCA until Boucher could get more clarification.

 

The YMCA has shifted to renting facilities since leaving the building in North Adams. It is proposing to use the field for a two-month day camp. Boucher said he and Road Foreman Kyle Hurlbut had questions regarding the lack of running water, that there is a single portable toilet, trash removal and mowing. The board also asked about how the children will be dropped off and picked up, and access to the basketball court by town residents.

 

It was suggested that someone from the YMCA also attend the next meeting.

 

• Grants manager Bryana Malloy obtained a grant for two solar speed signs that will be posted at each end of Middle Road.

 

Boucher said the state has informed him that it will take care of all engineering, construction documents and costs for rebuilding the Middle Road bridge. He has not heard anything about the Route 8 bridge at Red Mills, which was slated to close for the installation of a temporary bridge last month.