GILL — Voters overwhelmingly approved the seven warrant articles in the first leg of a two-part Annual Town Meeting on Monday, giving the initial go-ahead to change the treasurer and tax collector positions from elected to appointed.

More than 30 residents joined town officials to approve the articles at Town Hall in a little more than an hour. The chief topic of discussion was the changing of the two positions from elected to appointed, which town officials said can widen the pool of candidates for treasurer and tax collector, while also providing more of a safety net for positions that are becoming more technically and legally demanding each year.

“My opinion is that this would be in the best interest of the town,” said current elected Treasurer Peter Turban. “For my treasurer position, I have to know all the banking laws, investment laws. … It’s not just for somebody off the street. … This is something that I think more and more towns are going to.”

Tax Collector Tom Hodak said he did have some concerns about what could happen if future Selectboard members were to appoint someone in the role that wasn’t qualified to do the job.

“There have been problems in other towns where that has happened and it’s a big job to fix it when that happens,” Hodak said, emphasizing he completely trusts the current Selectboard to “do the right thing,” but he is concerned about future nepotism.

Selectboard Chair Randy Crochier said if the transition from elected to appointed is also approved at the town election on May 20, the Personnel Committee will craft job descriptions laying out the requirements for the positions. Additionally, Gill does not have a recall mechanism to remove elected officials, while someone failing to meet expectations in an appointed position could be handled as a regular town employee.

Elected officials, explained Town Counsel Donna MacNicol, cannot be removed from their positions in Gill unless they resign or are voted out at the end of their term.

“There is nothing stopping someone from being elected and doing absolutely nothing,” Crochier said, adding that important town business could be upended by what amounts to a popularity contest. “It doesn’t mean we’re the most qualified by any means.”

The two articles, one concerning the treasurer position and the other about the tax collector, both passed by a near-unanimous majority. Both items will come before voters again at the annual town election on May 20, as it must pass both hurdles to go into effect. The current treasurer and tax collector will serve out their terms before the change takes place.

Residents also approved a petition submitted by Northfield Mount Hermon School to request the Franklin Regional Council of Governments discontinue Mount Hermon Road, which runs through campus and is surrounded by property owned by the school.

NMH Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Mary McEneany said the discontinuance of the road is “long overdue” and the school has no plan to permanently close it once it is officially no longer a county road. Crochier emphasized the importance of keeping the road open for public use, as it drives a lot of traffic to downtown Gill.

“If you vote in the affirmative, we will take this to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments for further action,” McEneany said. “It just means the town is no longer responsible for it.”

Highway Superintendent John Miner said the town would only lose $2,900 in Chapter 90 funding if the road is discontinued, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the costs of maintenance on the road, including an estimated $130,000 for blacktopping.

“My honest opinion is let the road go for the little amount of money,” Miner said.

Other articles approved include setting the annual revolving fund spending limits, accepting the “Prudent Investor Rule” for trust funds held by the town and increasing the annual real estate tax exemption provided to people who are legally blind.

The second part of Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.