Thurman town clerk resigns, says salary is too low

ATHOL | The Thurman town clerk has resigned, and it's unclear what steps the town government will be taking to replace her. Susan Staples said she quit her position Dec. 30 because the pay was inadequate for the number of hours she was actually working. She also noted that the job has been stressful — and the public is well aware of the political animosity and turmoil that have characterized Thurman in recent years. In 2021, Staples was paid $19,554 annually for at least 30 hours per week, but she regularly worked far more hours than that minimum. "This was my fifth year as town clerk, and considering the hours I was working, I was earning less than minimum wage," she said. "Financially, I just can't do it anymore." Staples said she informed incoming town supervisor Debra Runyon in mid-November about her decision to resign. "This wasn't something that I dumped on the town board," she said, noting she gave the board reasonable notice. The salary was increased to $23,400 in the preliminary 2022 budget, and raised in the adopted budget to $26,520 — an initiative by board member Randy Galusha, who told the other board members in November that the sum was not enough for the work that the position requires, but was a "step in the right direction." Dec. 31, Galusha noted that Staples worked long hours, in part because she transcribed town board minutes verbatim, as well as shouldering a considerable workload. Staples was appointed as Thurman Town Clerk in March 2017 after Jeanie Sprague quit the position. Staples was re-elected in November for another two-year term, unchallenged for her post. Dec. 30, Staples said that when she announced her resignation, she offered to train someone for the position, but she received no response from other town officials. "I know what it means to be town clerk, and I wanted to make sure someone was trained to accomplish the work," she said. "It wasn't my intent to leave the town "high and dry." Efforts to reach incoming town supervisor Debra Runyon weren't successful as of Jan. 2. However, Galusha said that he hadn't yet discussed Staples' resignation with other town board members, but he assumed the town would advertise to recruit applicants for the post, review their resumes, interview the top candidates, and appoint the most qualified person, who would serve through Dec. 31. Meanwhile, the board would at least appoint someone to take minutes at the meetings, he added. The town board will convene next on Jan. 5 for Thurman's 2022 organizational meeting, and the January town meeting is likely to be held Jan. 12.

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Thurman town clerk resigns, says salary is too low

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