Windsor
Micka, the town clerk for the last 18 years, resigned last month over complaints about her pay and has alleged in a complaint with the state Attorney General she has been the target of gender bias by the town.
Micka said on Wednesday she would be willing to remain if given an increase to at least $50,000 a year, which is about $4,000 more than she currently makes. Micka was elected to her seventh three-year term in March.
“I have said that if I get a merit increase, I would stay,” Micka said. “Something to make it fair.”
But on Wednesday, Town Manager Tom Marsh said the Selectboard has agreed that the salary and hours for the next clerk would be no more than what is in the current budget that became effective on July 1.
Marsh said the situation has been made more “complicated” by the gender bias complaint that Micka filed.
“That was supposed to be confidential,” Marsh said. “The mediation was also supposed to be confidential.”
Micka talked about the complaint in an interview with the Valley News after announcing her resignation, saying the mediation went nowhere.
“We haven’t heard if it is closed, so our attorney has told us not to talk about it,” Marsh said.
Micka’s hours and pay were reduced by the previous town manager in 2010, and requests by Micka to have Marsh reinstate those hours and pay have been dismissed. Micka resigned in 2012 over the same issue but rescinded that resignation following an outpouring of public support.
Marsh said the Selectboard discussed the situation in a nonpublic meeting on Tuesday night. He said four people have approached the town about the job but no decision has been made.
The town is in contact with the secretary of state and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and has enlisted their help in transitioning to a new town clerk.
“We are actively moving forward,” Marsh said. “We know it could be difficult, like any newly elected person, but we are confident we will have the tools at our disposal to train the person.”
