ROCHESTER — A debate that has spanned years regarding the process for choosing the town clerk position In Rochester continued Monday, May 20 at a Select Board meeting.

Rochester Select Board member Brad Morse opened discussions about the possibility of changing Rochester’s town clerk position from an elected to an appointed role.

“I would like to see us put it back on the whiteboard for the fall Town Meeting,” said Morse.

In the weeks leading up to May 22’s town election, hundreds of early voting ballots containing errors were given out to Rochester residents.

“Unfortunately, I have to agree,” said Select Board chair Paul Ciaburri regarding Morse’s proposal.

On Feb. 22, 2023, former Select Board member Woody Hartley said “This may be a good time to look at making the town clerk an appointed rather than an elected position,” following the announcement that the former town clerk, Paul Dawson, would not be seeking reelection.

“The town clerk’s job is much more difficult and requires a high level of professionalism,” said Hartley. “There are many, many important things that they do.”

Town clerks manage daily operations like assisting town boards and committees, stamping town documents and running elections.

In 2020, Rochester residents were asked to vote at a Town Meeting on if the town clerk should become an appointed position. Of the voters that weighed in, 451 said the town clerk should be appointed, and 528 said the town clerk should be elected.