WESTHAMPTON – Candidates for the treasurer position responded to a call for those services by the Selectboard, who met on March 20 to discuss the proposals received. The options are limited, the need acute – and while the crisis caused by a lapse in service is primarily past, town officials are sensitized to the need for continuity in the position.

“As you know, over the last three years we’ve had three treasurers,” said Phil Dowling, Selectboard chair. “That’s not the best scenario for a town.”

The last two treasurers took the job, then were unable to carry out the duties, each for a different reason. Last fall, the town began to pay a local accountant, Patty Cotton, to work nights and weekends to get the books up to date. Cotton is now listed on the town website as the tax collector.

Earlier last year, Jennifer Day, employed by Southampton as treasurer/collector, was hired to carry out those duties in Westhampton. Day was able to complete payroll warrants, but could not execute all the work for Westhampton. Paychecks were issued. A number of months went by before a lapse in fiscal activities was noticed.

Cotton and Joe Boudreau, listed on the website as town accountant, worked overtime to process bills, payments and receipts, and to complete reporting to the state. Discussion suggested the work is primarily up-to-date, though the state may still have some questions. State officials visited the town and examined the accounting procedures, top to bottom, and suggested combining the collector and treasurer positions.

Cotton and Aimee Burnham, the town’s current treasurer, were called over from another building to take part in the conversation.

“So putting this Marcum thing aside for a moment,” Dowling said, referring to one of two proposals received, “what we’re faced with is, we put out an ad for a treasurer…We got one response from somebody who has currently three towns on the other side of the river…and no backup.”

A treasurer with too many obligations raised warning flags for board members and Town Administrator Douglas Finn. Finn offered the board the results of a survey that helped clarify current pay rates in other towns of a similar size. In keeping with the recommendations of state officials, Finn included information for the both the treasurer and collector positions combined, when possible.

The average pay rate among similar towns was $32.83 per hour, with an average 37 hours for both positions. Westhampton’s current pay rate is about $36 per hour. Finn, Cotton, Burnham and Dowling went back and forth about the pay rates and hours involved.

The second proposal was received from Mass MuniFin and company principal Sara Hunter. The proposal included service charges of up to $160 an hour for special projects. Board members found Mass MuniFin’s proposal so short on specific information it could not be considered complete and usable. The charges of $150 an hour for management and $100 an hour for supporting staff seemed excessive. Mass MuniFin also does not offer payroll and benefits processing, and any significant human resource-related services.

The dearth of applicants for the positions may not be a problem.

Cotton, who helped the town get back on track last fall, may take on the treasurer duties, in addition to the tasks of tax collector. Dowling asked Cotton to draw up a proposal to be presented at the next Selectboard meeting. Cotton agreed, though several difficulties may scuttle the arrangement.

Cotton said she makes a six figure salary in her day job. The combined position, collector and treasurer, would not pay close to that figure. Cotton voiced a strong desire to be working for the town full-time, but said it depended on how much of a pay cut was acceptable. She would also need to give her employer proper notice of her impending departure.

An increase in the pay rate for the two positions would depend on ratification by Town Meeting. That creates a tight timeline for Cotton. Another complication is the possibility that funding the positions at a significantly higher wage level would not be approved by voters.

“So you give me a larger salary and you go to Town Meeting and it doesn’t pass,” Cotton said. “So do I give up my job and come, and it doesn’t get passed? What am I supposed to do then? [And] you have to give them a month’s notice.”

Dowling asked Cotton to draw up a proposal, itemizing her charges for assuming both positions, tax collector and treasurer.

“We would love to entertain a proposal from you. That would be fantastic, and a best case scenario,” Dowling said. “Monday night, at our meeting, it would be great to have that.”

The Selectboard’s next scheduled meeting took place on March 27, after press time.