Vernon Council's Debate Over Registrars Compensation Keeps Going ... and Going

The on-again, off-again debate over compensation for the registrars of voters is on again.

But for a while it was off again.

But it is definitely on again - in two weeks.

The Town Council on Tuesday had a motion on the floor to set the compensation for the registrars of voters at $27,000 per year, plus compensation for state-mandated conference attendance.

The motion also stipulated that any additional compensation must be pre-approved by the council.

Town Administrator John Ward said the motion was designed to determine the council's preferences on how the registrars are paid. He said about half the towns in the state pay their registrars on a fixed budgetary cost, while the other half pays then on an hourly basis.

Council members seemed to like the fixed salary concept as a whole - and it would not be reduced under the motion. But the pre-approval requirement could cost them roughly $2,200 in additional compensation.

Democratic Council member Michael Winkler moved to postpone any action for two weeks in an effort to get Democratic registrar Judith Beaudreau and Republican registrar John Anderson, who recently took over after Cynthia Madden resigned, in attendance.

The motion was seconded by Democrat Marie Herbst. Mayor George Apel said both were invited. Neither was at the meeting.

Winkler said he wanted to give them another opportunity to render their opinions, but Republican Adam Weissberger countered by saying they were given "ample" notice to attend Tuesday's meeting.

Weissberger questioned the necessity to debate the issue since the council, after Hurricane Irene and the following October snowstorm, ordered that any compensation for the mayor beyond the position's salary must be approved.

The council eventually voted 6-5 to take theater up again in two weeks.