Southport’s bylaws committee met with the board of selectmen Jan. 13 to discuss a change in the process for selecting the island’s treasurer, tax collector and clerk.  Following a brief discussion, a proposal to change the positions, from elected to appointed, was approved to go on the town meeting warrant.

Donna Climo, current town clerk and tax collector, also attended the meeting and provided information about the process that would be involved in placing the questions on the ballot at the town meeting on March 7. “It is a good idea to have all the elements of town administration under the supervision of the selectmen,” Climo stated.

According to the town’s bylaws, the current method for selecting the treasurer, tax collector and town clerk is by ballot at the town meeting. Selectmen are requesting the change in what they believe to be an outdated process.

Those currently holding the positions would serve out their elected terms before the change to appointment by the selectmen would begin. Climo explained that three articles would be created for the town warrant — one for each position. Each would have a different starting date because each of the current terms ends on a different date.

If voters approve the change, the treasurer would be appointed starting in 2017, tax collector in 2018 and town clerk in 2019.  

“In the future, it will become harder to find good people for these positions, given the low salaries, so it’s better to do it this way,” Selectman Smith Climo explained.