Northfield is facing a critical decision at the special Town Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Among the topics up for discussion is Article 6, a citizens petition seeking to eliminate the position of town administrator and replace it with an administrative assistant. There are no details other than to ask the Selectboard to “reassign” the responsibilities of the position at a maximum annual salary of $75,000.

Replacing the town administrator position with a lower-level role such as an administrative assistant might seem like a cost-saving measure at first glance, but it undoes and ignores the thoughtful work done by Northfield’s two Town Governance Study Committees in 2013 and 2018. Both committees — with several representatives of the community and other boards — each spent a year doing research, talking with other towns, and holding public information sessions before making recommendations to townspeople at annual Town Meeting.

Northfield voters should carefully consider the ramifications of eliminating this essential position and asking the Selectboard to reassign duties to an assistant. As described in the 2014 governance study report, “Members of a selectboard are elected by popular vote [and it] does not necessarily mean that an elected official has the knowledge to keep a town in compliance nor the necessary professional skills to manage a town.”

Since the mid-1980s, towns across Massachusetts have hired professional municipal management to support Selectboards. Today, 23 out of 25 towns in Franklin County employ a chief administrator, with titles ranging from town administrator (15 towns) to town coordinator (5 towns). Only the smallest towns — Monroe (population 118) and Hawley (population 353) — have part-time administrative assistants. Eliminating the town administrator position would be a dramatic step backward for our town and puts us in stark contrast to our neighbors.

When the salary and value of the town administrator position was reduced in other communities, it became difficult to attract qualified applicants for many years. This shortage persists, and the competition is driving other communities to offer town administrator salaries even higher than Northfield’s. In the Pioneer Valley alone there have been seven vacancies in the past eight months.

Keep in mind this trend exists for many municipal positions, not just town administrators. So, it’s concerning the way this petition is trying to change a key town position by vote without details or process. We are worried this creates a ripple effect by sending a negative message to current town employees and future applicants.

It is also unreasonable to expect our Selectboard to take on the day-to-day responsibilities of running a town. They have their own careers and personal commitments. No elected board, no matter how dedicated, can manage all the administrative and legal duties required, nor do they have the skills or experience. And who would want to serve on the Selectboard if their workloads and legal risks are increased significantly?

The proponents of this proposal have failed to demonstrate how eliminating the town administrator position would benefit Northfield.

Some argue the town administrator has too much power or is responsible for raising taxes, or is the sole decision-maker behind major projects such as the public safety building proposal. However, decisions regarding the public safety building, for example, were made by the Emergency Services Building Committee and the Selectboard and then voted on by Town Meeting, not by made the town administrator.

Additionally, it is the responsibility of the Finance Committee (appointed by the town moderator) to review these proposals and to be the fiscal watchdog throughout the year. They review departmental budgets and make recommendations on the financial articles coming before Town Meeting. Similarly, the town administrator does not determine the tax rate. The Board of Assessors handles property assessments, and the tax rate is a product of those assessments, and the spending approved at Town Meeting.

Abolishing the town administrator position is a mistake. As Northfield faces new challenges, we need smart, professional and qualified leadership, not a gutting of the very position and expertise recommended to guide our community. We urge all Northfield voters to attend the special Town Meeting on Nov. 13 and reject this proposal.

Susan Wright is a Northfield resident and former municipal service circuit rider for Shelburne, Buckland, Colrain and Heath; former town administrator in Whately and Longmeadow; former school business manager for Northampton Public Schools; and retired finance director for Northampton. Bernie Porada is a Northfield resident and former member of the Finance Committee, the Emergency Services Building Committee, and the 2018-2019 Town Governance Study Committee.