HAWLEY — In a Special Town Meeting that lasted only four minutes, voters unanimously approved changing the town clerk’s position from elected to appointed, and adopted a bylaw codifying the practice of entering tax payment plans with property owners.
Since November 2024, the town clerk’s position has been held by Elizabeth “Ellie” Van Iderstine. Although Van Iderstine resides in Pittsfield, the town appointed her to the role on a temporary basis amid a lack of candidates running for the position on the ballot.
According to Administrative Assistant Tinky Weisblat, no one in Hawley has opted to run to become town clerk in the upcoming May election either. With Monday’s Special Town Meeting vote to change the position from elected to appointed, Van Iderstine will continue to serve in the role as an appointed official. The change from elected to appointed must still be approved at the ballot box, Weisblat noted.
“We love having her,” Weisblat said of Van Iderstine in an interview Tuesday. “We have not been able to find someone to run. It’s a tough job, but Ellie has done a terrific job.”
“When you’re the town clerk, you have access to a lot of confidential information about your neighbors and your community, and it’s a position where you become really invested in the community. You’re kind of a central piece of that Town Office,” Van Iderstine said in an interview Tuesday. “This has just been a fun new learning opportunity and a great way to give back to a wonderful community.”
Residents also voted unanimously in favor of a bylaw enabling the treasurer to enter payment agreements with residents who owe property taxes — a practice that Selectboard member Hussain Hamdan said has been a common practice in Hawley for years, but had to be officialized in the bylaws. Ahead of Town Meeting, Hamdan explained that the vote would adopt Section 62A of Chapter 60 of Massachusetts General Laws.
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.
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.