Issue of electing vs. appointing town staff in North Canaan goes to November ballot

NORTH CANAAN — Whether the positions of town clerk, treasurer and tax collector should be appointed or elected will be decided by voters in the 2025 election.

At its regular July meeting, the Board of Selectmen moved to add the items to the November ballot. The decision came after a contentious public hearing on the topic drew approximately 150 voters to Town Hall June 23.

First Selectman Brian Ohler proposed adding three separate items to the ballot, asking electors to choose “yes” or “no” on the following questions:

— Shall the Town of North Canaan create an ordinance, in a bipartisan drafting process, that would transition the position of Treasurer from elected to appointed/hired?

— Shall the Town of North Canaan create an ordinance, in a bipartisan drafting process, that would transition the position of Town Clerk from elected to appointed/hired?

— Shall the Town of North Canaan create an ordinance, in a bipartisan drafting process, that would transition the position of Tax Collector from elected to appointed/hired?

The “bipartisan drafting process” refers to a five-member committee, which would consist of the three selectmen, the chair of the Democratic Town Committee and the chair of the Republican Town Committee, to compose the ordinance(s).

Ohler explained if any or all of the questions pass, the proposed committee would then convene to draft the desired ordinances. Once drafted, a public hearing(s) would be held for resident feedback on each ordinance.

Based on the current makeup of the Board of Selectmen, this proposed committee would include three Republican representatives and two Democrat representatives. Jesse Bunce, the active Democratic selectman, is a registered Republican.

An information session is planned for October “to ensure that there is sufficient understanding of the three separate ballot questions that will be asked on election day,” Ohler explained.

He continued, “It is important for residents to understand that these questions are simply asking if the Town should take the next step to draft an ordinance, pertaining to each of the aforementioned positions.”

In addition to the questions above, electors will vote for candidates for each of the three positions this November. Should any or all of the questions pass, the change will go into effect at the end of the term(s) of the active official(s). For example, a new treasurer will be elected in November. If voters approve the drafting of an ordinance to appoint a treasurer, the active elected treasurer will complete their two-year term before an appointed treasurer takes the office.

Selectmen will also be elected in November. Party nominees are expected to be endorsed July 22.