HAWLEY — Special Town Meeting voters will be asked to weigh in on changing the town clerk’s position from elected to appointed, and allowing the treasurer to enter into tax payment plans with property owners.
The meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Hawley Town Office at 8 Pudding Hollow Road. A snow date has been set for March 2.
During a review of the two-article warrant last month, Selectboard member Hussain Hamdan said the proposed treasurer bylaw would adopt Section 62A of Chapter 60 of Massachusetts General Laws and would give residents flexibility with their tax bills.
“This is a draft that I wrote, largely based on the statute and a similar bylaw from the town of Dighton,” Hamdan said. “This is to allow the treasurer to enter into payment agreements with residents.”
However, taxpayers who are currently in default or who have defaulted on their taxes within the past five years would not be allowed to enter into payment agreements.
Payment plans would be over the course of 10 years, though taxpayers can opt to pay off their taxes sooner if they are able. Hamdan said that under the bylaw, the treasurer would not be able to foreclose on a property or bring the property to auction if there is a payment agreement in place, unless payments are not being made as scheduled. Those who pay according to the schedule would also have any interest that is accrued on outstanding taxes waived under their agreement.
“All payment agreements shall be for a term of 10 years, provided, however, that nothing here shall preclude the taxpayer from completing payments of the amount owed within a shorter period of time,” Hamdan said. “All payment agreements entered into pursuant to this bylaw shall include a waiver of the treasurer’s interest in the tax title agreement.”
Voters will also be asked to approve making the town clerk position an appointed one rather than an elected one, which would allow the town to look for qualified candidates who do not live in Hawley.
The position is currently held by Elizabeth Van Iderstine. Although she does not live in Hawley, the town was able to appoint her on a temporary basis after no candidates ran to be town clerk in the last town election. Changing the position from elected to appointed would allow the town to hire Van Iderstine as the permanent town clerk.
In the event that Special Town Meeting voters approve the change, it would move on to a vote at the ballot box.
The full warrant can be reviewed at tinyurl.com/HawleySTM2026.