Towns Experiencing Lister Woes

by Amy Kolb Noyes

Between changing tax laws, new computer programs and more frequent
reappraisals, the job of municipal lister has become increasingly
complicated. A growing number of towns are making attempts to interview
and appoint qualified applicants to work in the listers' office, rather
than having the position filled by a vote from the floor of Town Meeting.
In Morristown this year, the selectboard requested Town Meeting voters
pass over the article to elect a lister so the board might advertise and
interview candidates for the job. According to town officials, only one
applicant answered the ad. The position remains unfilled and, in the
meantime, the two remaining listers have handed in their resignations.
The town is now scrambling to hire experienced temporary help, as the
deadline to file an up-to-date Grand List with the state is just weeks away.
According to Morristown Administrator Paul McGinley, lister Francis
Favreau submitted his resignation in April. A week later Board of
Listers chair Lynn Phelps also resigned. McGinley said Phelps' last day
on the job was Friday, May 14. He noted the selectboard has yet to
accept Favreau's resignation. Favreau declined to speak on the record
regarding his resignation.
Wolcott is also down a lister as Tracy Judd recently resigned her seat.
Tom Martin and Arlo Sterner are the two remaining listers in that
office. Martin said a lack of support from the state in the wake of
property tax law changes and software upgrades has led to increased
headaches.
Martin explained the state recommended the town purchase an updated
software program. Wolcott followed that recommendation, then had to
purchase a new computer to run the new system. Martin said there is only
one state employee capable of helping the towns with new computer
programs and software updates. After major changes, like Act 68, that
person is not able to service all the towns in Vermont.
Martin said Wolcott has had major problems with the latest software
upgrades. Wolcott is not alone, Elmore has reported similar software
problems to the News & Citizen.
Lister June McKinley reported the state has been great about giving
Elmore support in the past. However, she noted the town's current
software problems are beyond an over-the-phone fix. Although Elmore is
in the midst of a reappraisal, McKinley said her office has halted
operations until the state can come up and work on the software issues.
"Everything's on hold because I don't dare do anything," said McKinley.
She explained the software glitches occur when changes are made to a
taxpayer's file.
McKinley noted Elmore is fortunate to have a full board of listers. She
said Frank Krypel has been at it longer than the five-or-so years she
has served as a lister. Susan Southall is the newest lister in Elmore,
and has proven her worth. McKinley said Elmore has made an effort to
compensate listers for the added effort and expertise that has become
necessary to do the job well. Elmore listers are paid $10 per hour.
Martin said listers who are experienced and computer savvy are hard to
come by. Listers in Wolcott are paid $8 per hour for the work they do.
Martin said, due to a low salary scale in Wolcott and elsewhere in
Vermont, the vast majority of listers are retired folks or unskilled
workers wanting a part time position.
"But the job is beyond that type of thing," Martin commented.
Martin noted towns all over Vermont are in the same boat when it comes
to obtaining and keeping qualified listers who can keep up with the
ever-changing technology. He said he has offered his services to other
towns that have come up short-handed. By way of example, he said he may
be doing some work for the city of Burlington this summer as Burlington
goes through a reappraisal.
The problems experienced by local towns are being encountered in
municipalities throughout Vermont. During this legislative session,
Representatives Connell of Warren and Crowley of West Rutland introduced
a bill allowing towns to eliminate the board of listers and contract
with "a qualified property assessor." The bill, as introduced, gave Town
Meeting voters the authority to eliminate the office of lister in their
town.
However, a far different version of H.518 passed the House and Senate
and is awaiting the governor's signature. The revised version merely
states, "Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, in
the event the board of listers of a municipality falls below a majority
and the selectboard is unable to find a person or persons to appoint as
a lister or listers, the selectboard may appoint an assessor to perform
the duties of a lister...until the next annual meeting..."
At least for the short term, that is the solution to which Morristown
has had to resort. McGinley said Morristown has spoken with a handful of
professional appraisers and listers from other towns in an effort to
hire people to man its listers' office until a permanent solution can be
found. However, Morristown officials are quick to clarify that town is
only hiring temporary office help, and not yet replacing its elected
listers.