GILL — Following up on a failed motion to create a principal assessor position during Annual Town Meeting in June, and the potential departure of Diane Sumrall, the Board of Assessors and Selectboard agreed to a title change from assistant to the assessors to principal assessor, excluding a salary increase or job description change.
After a lengthy discussion with members of the Board of Assessors and Selectboard on Monday, a compromise was reached to change the title of the job currently held by Sumrall as she decides whether to stay in Gill or accept the principal assessor role in Erving.
“My own sense is that Diane should do what she feels is best for her,” Board of Assessors member Tim Storrow said at the meeting about Sumrall’s possible departure to Erving. “At the same time, [we’d] love to try and keep her. We’ve invested quite a bit of time with her over the last few years. She’s done the training she’s got through Gill, and I think she’s certainly qualified to be a principal assessor.”
This is the first time Sumrall’s position, and whether to change her title from assistant to the assessors to principal assessor, has been discussed since the June 9 Town Meeting. The motion at Town Meeting asked the 53 voters in attendance to set the principal assessor’s job at a salary of $32.16 per hour by increasing the assessors clerical salary line item by $3,325 on top of the original $6,848 increase that was proposed for that line item in the fiscal year 2026 budget. The motion ultimately failed by a majority vote and the original line item was approved, along with the rest of the $5.17 million total budget.
Gill voters ultimately approved a $48,513 salary for Sumrall. However, to match a minimum $35.16 per hour wage that is offered by Erving, Gill would need to add another $6,864 to its budget, along with an additional $12,697 for health insurance. Erving is looking to replace longtime Principal Assessor Jacquelyn Boyden, who is retiring.
Storrow said Sumrall’s work goes beyond the responsibilities outlined in her job description, and having a principal assessor rather than an assistant would create an easier relationship with the Board of Assessors, which would benefit from her professional training and oversight. Storrow also offered to reduce his stipend to help cover a budget increase to accompany the title change.
Board of Assessors member Pamela Lester echoed Storrow, adding that while Sumrall was not at Monday’s meeting to speak for herself, the two members decided to attend to see if there might be something they can do.
“We’re not speaking as Diane. Diane’s not here. The Board of Assessors is coming to the Selectboard to say, ‘Is there anything?’ Because our mechanisms have not worked and we have this situation,” Lester said.
While the town officials indicated their desire to keep Sumrall and recognize her for her work, the Selectboard expressed hesitation.
“We need to make a move or we’re going to lose her,” said Selectboard Clerk John Ward, “but I also don’t want the Selectboard to unilaterally do this without input from the Personnel Committee, input from the Finance Committee and figuring out how we’re going to do it.”
Selectboard member Greg Snedeker offered the same sentiment of wanting to retain Sumrall as a town employee. However, he said he feels “caught” based on the lack of consent from townspeople to make a change in June.
Storrow suggested that the Selectboard make a decision that evening. To compromise and make a positive gesture toward Sumrall, the Selectboard voted unanimously to change her job title to principal assessor, but maintain her job description and pay rate.
“I have no problem with that,” Snedeker said, making the motion. “What I cannot guarantee is even [saying] when the Personnel Committee decides to take this up as a position, that she’s going to get any more pay.”
By the end of the discussion, Storrow and Lester thanked the Selectboard members for their help. A decision on when the Personnel Committee might meet to discuss the job description or a potential salary increase is still to be determined.