PUTNEY — The town now has a town clerk and treasurer.
The Selectboard has named Jonathan Johnson and R. Scott Henry to the two respective offices following Annual Town Meeting approval to change the positions from elected to appointed.
Former Town Clerk and Treasurer Denise Germon, who was elected last March, stopped showing up to work at the end of May, but did not resign.
As per statute, town officials had no way to remove her or replace her until she officially vacated the position.
But, last year, the Legislature passed a law allowing voters at Town Meeting to switch the town clerk and treasurer offices from elected to appointed.
At Putney's annual meeting on March 6, voters overwhelmingly supported this change.
During a special Selectboard meeting on March 7, the Board appointed R. Scott Henry as treasurer for 30 days. Henry, a longtime Selectboard member who was chairperson last year, didn't seek re-election this year.
On the morning of March 12, during another special Selectboard meeting, the Board appointed Jonathan Johnson as town clerk. Johnson's contract ends on Nov. 6, 2018.
Interim Town Manager Chip Stearns said the town clerk's office hours were expected to start by March 19.