By Jason Arndt
Editor
Should the Wheatland Town Board appoint a clerk and treasurer instead of making both positions elected leadership posts?
Voters will be able to decide as part of an April 5 referendum endorsed by the Town Board at a Jan. 24 meeting.
Sheila Siegler, Board Clerk, said the Town Board voted for the referendums to develop a long-term vision in Wheatland.
“The town board is trying to plan for the future,” she said. “Appointing gives the board the opportunity to contract with someone who has the background and training for the position.”
On April 5, voters will be asked to mark ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the following two questions:
1. Shall a person holding the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Wheatland be appointed by the Town Board?
2. Shall a person holding the office of Town Treasurer in the Town of Wheatland be appointed by the Town Board?
The office of clerk and treasurer, according to Siegler, are elected positions.
Additionally, under the current structure, only residents can seek election for either position.
According to state law, a majority vote of the electorate can authorize the Town Board to convert each of these positions from elective office to an appointed office.
“In the event that a majority of the electors authorize the Town Board to create appointed positions for one or both of the office of Town Clerk and Treasurer, the appointed office would not commence until the expiration of the term of the current elected officials in each position,” Siegler said.
A person appointed to the office of Town Clerk, or Town Treasurer, will serve a term not-to-exceed three years established by the Town Board.
The Town Board can reappoint the Town Clerk or Town Treasurer or dismissed only for cause.