Like a lot of towns, Springfield is finding it more and more difficult to hire listers. Monday night, the select board changed the job description and pay scale for listers, hoping to keep the one they have and fill a vacancy.
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Lister wanted in Springfield assessor’s office SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Like a lot of towns, Springfield is finding it more and more difficult to hire listers. Monday night, the select board changed the job description and pay scale for listers, hoping to keep the one they have and fill a vacancy. Listers work in the assessment department on the grand list of properties in the town and keep the database updated. For Springfield, with 4,200 parcels, this is no small task. Most listers come into the assessment office every day although the job is part-time. “It’s harder and harder to get listers to come in,” said Nicole Knight, the town assessor. “Their duties have changed.” “We’re just not capable of keeping up with all the work with the current lister system,” said Town Manager Tom Yennerell. “Technically we’re required to have two listers, but none has come forward.” The select board voted to change the job description of lister to those duties required by statute: being present to hear grievances, attend the board of zoning appeals, and view new tax listings. Henceforth, listers will earn a stipend of $500 annually. They are elected in March. Knight said one lister recently retired when he moved, and the other was thinking he would not run again. “He was elated at news of being paid like other town officials,” said Knight. “He thought he would run again on that basis. He was thinking of not running because of the pay and then we wouldn’t have had any listers.” Knight said the company the town used for its reappraisal, New England Municipal Consultants, would provide services equal to one lister for the lister’s pay. “They’re already doing it in nine towns,” she said. “It maintains the accuracy of the grand list, which is important.” However, the town would like to hire another lister. That person would serve out the vacated term and could stand for election in March. “It’s a tough job,” Yennerell said. “You’ve got to want to do it.” In other business Yennerell reported that the Main Street curb extension will not be made this year. As the season was very wet, the contractor couldn’t get to the site until Nov. 5, and then winter began early. “We decided it would be really unsafe,” said Yennerell. Work will recommence in the spring.
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Lister wanted in Springfield assessor’s office SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Like a lot of towns, Springfield is finding it more and more difficult to hire listers. Monday night, the select board changed the job description and pay scale for listers, hoping to keep the one they have and fill a vacancy. Listers work in the assessment department on the grand list of properties in the town and keep the database updated. For Springfield, with 4,200 parcels, this is no small task. Most listers come into the assessment office every day although the job is part-time. “It’s harder and harder to get listers to come in,” said Nicole Knight, the town assessor. “Their duties have changed.” “We’re just not capable of keeping up with all the work with the current lister system,” said Town Manager Tom Yennerell. “Technically we’re required to have two listers, but none has come forward.” The select board voted to change the job description of lister to those duties required by statute: being present to hear grievances, attend the board of zoning appeals, and view new tax listings. Henceforth, listers will earn a stipend of $500 annually. They are elected in March. Knight said one lister recently retired when he moved, and the other was thinking he would not run again. “He was elated at news of being paid like other town officials,” said Knight. “He thought he would run again on that basis. He was thinking of not running because of the pay and then we wouldn’t have had any listers.” Knight said the company the town used for its reappraisal, New England Municipal Consultants, would provide services equal to one lister for the lister’s pay. “They’re already doing it in nine towns,” she said. “It maintains the accuracy of the grand list, which is important.” However, the town would like to hire another lister. That person would serve out the vacated term and could stand for election in March. “It’s a tough job,” Yennerell said. “You’ve got to want to do it.” In other business Yennerell reported that the Main Street curb extension will not be made this year. As the season was very wet, the contractor couldn’t get to the site until Nov. 5, and then winter began early. “We decided it would be really unsafe,” said Yennerell. Work will recommence in the spring.
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