Council Revisits Clerk/ Treasurer Job Split Request

It felt a bit like deja vu at the May 21, 2024, meeting of the Whitehall Town Council, though the outcome of the evening’s meeting was a bit different than that of the April meeting. The issue of splitting the Clerk/treasurer job was once again broached.

Councilman Roy McBride called a point-of-order before questioning whether revisiting this issue after last month’s vote was legal. Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh answered, saying that she had spoken with Town Attorney Ed Guza and that because it was being brought back at the request of Councilman Shawn Hoagland (who had voted it down), revisiting the topic was legal.

“I was not aware of the repercussions of not splitting the position,” Councilman Shawn Hoagland said of his vote to deny the split at the April meeting. According to the agenda, he noted that once one issue was decided upon, the others were “dead on arrival” and could not be discussed further.

Councilwoman Pat Peterson stated that she had also rethought her vote from last month and wished to split the positions after further research.

Councilwoman Linda Jung said that splitting the current positions would be easy and a simple transition, and it would be easier if/when they need to train a new employee for either position. Councilman Bill Lanes also stated that splitting the positions would make it more efficient for employees, as they would not be crossing over each other’s paths.

The decision to split the Clerk/Treasurer position was approved upon a vote, with McBride and Councilwoman Katy James voting it down.

As the position was approved to be split, the issue of current Clerk/Treasurer Kennedy Kleinsasser’s request to work remotely after her maternity leave and after the six-month Infant at Work Policy expired was revisited.

Kleinsasser is requesting to work from home two days a week and from the Town Court Office on Whitehall Street the other three days of the workweek so that she can bring her future child with her.

Kleinsasser’s request was being made early—as this would not happen until about January 2025—because she said she needed to make decisions on whether or not she would remain at the Town Hall after the initial Infant-at-Work Policy expired. Hoagland pointed out that the Council was not “pandering” to an employee but wanted to retain Kleinsasser because he sees her as an asset to the town.

Public Works Director Kory Klapan spoke against the request. He noted that town employees are supposed to be “accessible, accountable, and work for the people of Whitehall.” He said this policy would need to be available for all the town employees and that it should be good for all if it were good for one. Klapan then exited the meeting. McBride echoed Klapan’s sentiments, saying that the Town was most likely opening themselves up to potential lawsuits and setting new precedents.

After much discussion, both from the council and the public, it was voted to table the decision until further research into cybersecurity and an end date for the remote work request could be established.

CONSENT AGENDA:

WATER/SEWER:

• Adjustment for 212.5 Division, $88.31

PLANNING BOARD:

Approved:

• Bill Lanes - greenhouse, Cody Hagerty - fence, Chris Tavenner - fence, Joel Andrews - amended application for house, and Gayle Sacry - family transfer land survey.

Denied:

• Will Austin - setback variance; 2 separate house addition structures.

TIFF REQUESTS:

• $1800 for weatherproofing of mural signs - Whitehall Chamber.

• $27,300 for sidewalk project by new Ambulance Barn - John Janik.

Business License:

• Back Country Gun Works

The next meeting of the Whitehall Town Council will be held Monday, June 17 at 7 PM in the Town Hall.