Selectmen OK poll constable for elections

By Robin Thomas
correspondent

January 14, 2009 03:32 am

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MERRIMAC — The next time residents come out to vote, they will see a poll constable, who will replace the police officer usually on duty at the polling place.

Town Clerk Pat True, who coordinates elections, asked selectmen this week for the appointment, noting that Newbury, Topsfield, Rowley and Ipswich have used them for several years.

The constable's duties would include ensuring that candidate signs are beyond the required 150 feet from the polling place, making sure no one tampers with the ballot box when it is unloaded and "generally to keep order at the polls."

True expects the only cost to be a constable badge costing roughly $35. She said no uniform or training is required.

True suggested the poll constable be paid the same as the other election workers. She said the Topsfield constable earns the same wage as the election officers, and constables in Newbury and Rowley are paid minimum wage.

According to True, election officials in Merrimac earn only a flat $50 for an entire day at the polls (13 hours), but the police officer on poll duty earns $35 to $40 per hour with overtime. True said a poll constable would even out the pay scale. She said, "It's just a matter of being fair."

In other business, True asked selectmen to "think about" raising some of the fees for documents provided by the clerk's office. She said that most towns charge more than Merrimac does, and Merrimac's fees have been increased only once in her 20 years as town clerk.

Selectmen approved raising the fees in a 2-1 vote, with Carol Traynor and Linda Seymour in favor and Earl Baumgardner opposed. Seymour said, "It's not an exorbitant increase by any means. I don't think it's much of an impact on the townspeople."

Traynor said that some of the fees were "not a direct impact to residents" because many requests come from out-of-town residents. Baumgardner disagreed, concluding, "These fees amount to an additional tax."

As of July 1, 2009, the new fees will be: vital records certificates, $10 (up from $5); initial business certificates, $25 (from $20); renewals of business certificates $10 (from $5); and marriage licenses, $25 (from $15).