Selectperson Margaret Cosenza (right) addresses a question from a crowded informational meeting (David Hart photo) PHILLIPS -– Nearly 50 Phillips residents came out for an informational meeting last Tuesday night, Aug. 3, hosted by the town’s selectpersons. Margaret Cosenza and Nancy Morgan are new to the board and join John Stinchfield.

Also new, one of the primary reasons for the discussion that evening, was the fact that the town currently has a vacancy in its town manager’s position.

Cosenza pointed out that not having a current town manager puts the town in the unique position to be able to start a public dialog as to whether or not it wants continue with a town manager form of government or consider hiring an administrative assistant for a town meeting-selectmen form of government.

Residents listened attentively as Cosenza went through a PowerPoint presentation describing the difference between the two forms.

Many of the town manager and administrative assistant functions were identical and in most cases both positions function in an administrative capacity for the board of selectmen. A primary difference between the two is- the fact that a town manager has statutory definitions for his or her job description, and has defined authority to make decisions regarding town employees such as hiring, firing and taking disciplinary measures.

Although most town managers work closely with their boards, the town manager can interact, with specific authority determined by the State’s constitution, in the town’s daily operation. The town manager form of government also works under the direction of the annual town meeting.

“The function of the town manager is to provide administrative support for the board,” Interim Town Manager Elaine Hubbard explained. “The reason why the town manager form of government came about was because the towns found that the board of select-people could not provide the services that the towns required… the manager would take on those duties and responsibilities.”

The administrative assistant’s job description is far vaguer and has no constitutional authority in the State statutes. All decisions are made by the elected selectmen and driven by the people at the annual town meeting. This, Cosenza says, is the most popular form of government in small towns.

Kingfield Administrative Assistant Doug Marble and Kingfield Selectman Neal McCurdy were present that evening to help the residents become more familiar with the role of the administrative assistant.

Marble and McCurdy pointed out that an administrative assistant can be granted authority to do specific tasks and make specific decisions. This authority can be easily given to the individual and also just as easily taken away.

Several residents admitted that it’s not necessarily less expensive to hire an administrative assistant as sometimes believed.

“It’s not the type of government that matters it’s the people running the government,” Cosenza said.

McCurdy said that one of the main reasons they hired an administrative assistant rather than a town manager, was that either one would most likely be someone unfamiliar with the town and the local issues and personalities, and they wanted locally-elected officials making decisions concerning town employees.

“I really like the idea of having the ultimate authority rest in the hands of elected people,” said resident Lauri Sibulkin, “and it does not require a massive fuss to get rid of a bad egg.

“I got reading the statute of a town manager and the only one who has more protection is the union. It’s a bullet proof job and I don’t want to have any bullet-proof job in our town. You have to be flexible, you have to be cooperative and you have to be inventive or you have to leave. I want these guys to have the ability to make a choice and if it turns out to be a bummer, un-make that choice.” We can’t afford otherwise, he said.

“We’re getting our feet wet. I won’t kid you,” Cosenza said. “I’m personally getting my feet wet, but I don’t mind going through the process and getting it done and getting it done right if this is what the people want.”

“We are all manager gun shy right now. We all have a feeling of what we want to do and how we want to do it. And that’s why we are here to find our direction and get your feedback. You want us to lead this town, but we need direction from you folks. This to me is a big issue and in order for us to make a good decision for the town, we need to know how you feel, what you think and which way you want to go.”

It was agreed that the selectmen will bring this issue up at the next selectmen’s meeting. It was also highly encouraged that if anyone had any suggestions, concerns or opinions, they should write them down and submit them to the town office.

Some residents made it clear that the selectmen should take time with their decision.

If changes are ahead, the selectmen will need to hold a Special Town meeting 90 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting in June.