ORANGE – The town’s Selectboard on Wednesday accepted the building commissioner’s impending resignation and discussed adjusting the position’s salary and travel allowance to entice a replacement to remain on the job for a more considerable amount of time.
Selectboard Chair Jane Peirce read aloud Phil Harris’ resignation letter and members voted unanimously without discussion to accept it. Harris’ letter states he will step down effective Oct. 1.
“This was not an easy decision to make and I thank you very much for the opportunities you have provided me during my time with the town,” he wrote in the letter read by Peirce. “It allowed me to expand my career by working to get my building-inspector as well as my building-commissioner licenses. I have genuinely enjoyed my time working with you and for the town. If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know.”
Peirce said she is sorry to see Harris go but is grateful for his service to the town. She told Town Administrator Gabriele Voelker she would help draft a letter of thanks for Harris. An email to the building department with request for comment was not returned. It is unclear how long Harris has worked as building commissioner.
Voelker handed Selectboard members a spreadsheet detailing research she conducted on building commissioner or inspector jobs in other towns, as well as Greenfield. She said she averaged the salaries of Barre, Montague, Athol and Greenfield positions and arrived at $70,582. She told Selectboard members she wants to increase that figure to $70,600 to $73,000 to be competitive. The latter figure would be a $13,392 increase for the Orange position’s salary, Voelker reported.
While discussing what should be included as the essential functions of the person appointed to replace Harris, Selectboard Clerk Patricia Lussier suggested adding language that requires the commissioner to maintain confidential information he or she has access to. Peirce told Voelker she would like language specific to following up on observed violations.
“You’re the ones approving it, so you need to be comfortable with what’s in it,” Voelker mentioned. “And we’re going to have to work on it and approve it by next week.”
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.