The Select Board met Tuesday morning to interview the final two candidates for Treasurer/Tax Collector, ultimately appointing Wendy Neil for the position over other finalist Marcie Glick.
The Town’s Collector’s office is responsible for collecting all taxes and committed bills issued by the Town, and the Town’s Treasurer is responsible for the receipt, posting, classifying, depositing and investment of all money belonging to the Town and bills for various Town departments.
Some of the main activities of this office are bill collections, tax titles and banking.
Neil began her interview portion by sharing that she believes “experience and training is what sets your goals and is a vital part of applying for this position.” She also emphasized that “you’re dealing with other people’s money, so you have to be respectful.”
Neil has worked in the private sector her whole life, and in 2018, she transitioned into the municipal world. She said she learned how to work alongside the financial calendar and the different “buckets of money.” She also emphasized many times that the job requires being able to understand “one big puzzle.”
She candidly told the Select Board, “Now, am I perfect? No. Will I continue to learn daily? Yes. Every day you’re going to learn something new in your position – no matter what you’re doing.”
When describing her management style, Neil said she treats others the way she wants to be treated. She also called herself a “visionary person” who wants to see the process.
She added that patience is necessary for this job position, and Neil is committed to taking the time to sit down and talk with someone who may be upset about their bill.
“Whether it takes 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes, you’ve got to spend time with these people, and I believe they appreciate it because at the end of the conversations I’ve had, they’re very grateful,” Neil said.
Neil told the Select Board that she has experience handling cash and processing payroll.
Assistant Town Administrator/Finance Director Dave Castellarin said three candidates had applied for the position of Treasurer/Tax Collector. One person was unable to be interviewed, and the other two were the finalists which the Select Board had just interviewed.
Castellarin recommended Neil for the role.
“For me, I think Wendy fits both what we need on the treasurer side but also on the payroll side where we don’t have a payroll backup right now, and we’re starting to rebuild the payroll system better than it was before and more efficient than it was before,” he said. “My personal thought would be that Wendy would be a much better fit for that office based on that and her treasurer experience, too.”
Select Board member Dick Dalton said he values Castellarin’s opinions, and he was leaning toward Neil for the role anyway.
“I would lean toward Wendy strictly from a resume standpoint with respect to her experience. Again, both very good candidates, but I would give the edge to Wendy with more pertinent experience,” Dalton said.
Select Board chair Phil Crawford agreed with both Castellarin and Dalton, stating that “Wendy would be my choice as well.”
Dalton then motioned to appoint Neil as “Treasurer/Collector/Pre-Tax Plan Administrator, subject to a successful negotiation of terms of employment with the town administrator.”
This motion passed unanimously, with both Crawford and Dalton voting in favor. Select Board member Alexis Leahy was not in attendance.
