By JACLYN GODDETTE
NEW LONDON — During its March 27 meeting, the Board of Selectmen took action on several items of new business that addressed topics that arose earlier in the month at town meeting.
Following the defeat of a bond article to purchase land for a municipal building at the town meeting, the board began the process to conduct a study on the Harold W. Buker Jr. Municipal Building.
The town was seeking land so that it could create a new municipal building to house either the police or recreation department, both of which currently reside in the Buker Building.
Many of the bond article’s opponents stressed that before purchasing land to build a new structure, a study into the feasibility of long-term use of the Buker Building should be conducted.
Town Administrator Kim Hallquist is currently drafting a Request for Proposal.
During their meeting the board also agreed to separate the positions of tax collector and town clerk, which have been held by the same person since 1983.
Linda Nicklos, the current town clerk and tax collector, would remain the elected town clerk. Nicklos and current Deputy Town Clerk and Tax Collector Gisela Rogers would also serve as deputy tax collectors.
The board will appoint a tax collector to carry out specific tasks that are infrequent but time consuming. Such tasks include sending out tax bills, executing tax liens and tax deeds, submitting year-end reports to the state and balancing accounts.
Hallquist will perform these duties until the board appoints someone.
As deputy tax collectors, Nicklos and Rogers will accept and post tax payments and answer daily questions during public office hours.
The decision follows the defeat of a warrant article that would move from quarterly to semiannual tax collection, which would have lessened the workload in the tax collector’s office.
During the budgeting process, the selectmen and the Budget Committee also denied Nicklos’ request to increase her deputy’s hours.
“I think this is the most prudent option both from a financial standpoint and in terms of expectations for a person’s time,” said Nancy Rollins.
Nicklos will be paid 90 percent of her current salary. When the new tax collector is appointed, they will be paid a stipend between $5,000–$7,500.
“Without a full-time deputy, it is very difficult to perform town clerk and tax collector to the level I’d like,” responded Nicklos when asked how she feels about the change.
Lastly, the board signed a letter expressing its opposition to Senate Bill 438. The bill grants the Secretary of State sole authority over postponing town meetings.
The two most recent town elections and meetings occurred during major winter storms, prompting some towns to postpone municipal business. In 2017, Secretary of State Bill Gardner decreed that towns do not have the right to do so.
While New London was not one of the towns to postpone activities, the board believes the decision should be up to the town moderator’s discretion.
The board’s letter will be entered into public comment during the public hearing in the House’s Election Law Committee this Thursday.
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