EASTHAMPTON — Mayor Salem Derby’s decision to change the mayoral executive assistant position to an administrative assistant at the end of the year was met with considerable feedback at the public comment portion of Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
“This decision has implications that go far beyond a simple title change …,” City Councilor At-Large-elect Nathan Markee said. “To have one of the first major actions of this administration to be a change to a role held by a recent political opponent and to do so without public justification inevitably raises questions of political motivation.”
Markee said he does believe the mayor should have their own team but felt that this change is too abrupt. He is worried about the institutional knowledge that will be lost if mayoral Executive Assistant Lindsi Sekula leaves.
Following the municipal election, Sekula, who lost to Derby on Nov. 4, requested to have a meeting with Derby and human resources to talk about her job description.
At that Nov. 12 meeting, Derby informed her that effective immediately, her salary would be cut by 40% from approximately $92,000 to $59,000 a year, and her hours would be reduced from 40 to 34 until the end of the year. Effective Jan. 1, the position would be changed to an administrative assistant role, similar to other departments.
Derby briefly commented on his decision at the council’s Wednesday meeting, saying that since it is a personnel matter, he would not discuss it there.
City Councilor At-Large-elect Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid also expressed distaste with Derby’s decision.
“Since the election, I was really happy for the opportunity the city had for both Salem and Lindsi to work in the mayor’s office …,” Jamrog-McQuaid said. “I am really disappointed to hear this wouldn’t be the case.”
He showed concern that a clerical position, besides the impact it would have on Sekula who has been serving the city for the past seven years, would not be sufficient for the mayor’s needs. He said he understands that the mayor should be surrounded by a team that makes them feel supported, but thinks this would do the opposite.
“Lindsi did a lot of critical work all these years and removing that position will only hinder our city in solving the challenges ahead,” Jamrog-McQuaid said. “I also think this will make it harder for our mayor to be more responsive and accessible to the community more broadly if he’s taking on more administrative tasks formerly well-handled by a professional.”
In a previous interview, Derby said he welcomed Sekula to take the new role starting the new year, but she said she is unlikely to accept the revamped position and feels the decision is personal. He said he will post the job listing for the administrative assistant position when the time comes.
A high school student also spoke against the decision, saying they were concerned about the checks and balances behind the decision. Another resident said that the City Council does not have regulation over position changes, but hopes councilors make a motion to disapprove of the decision.
There were also several residents who supported Derby’s decision, such as Roger Anderson. He recalled when the position was originally proposed in 2018 by former Mayor Nicole LaChapelle and to him it seemed “nonsensical” that the mayor would need a co-mayor, though the council eventually approved of the position in 2022.
“This current move is really just returning the city to where it was in the previous three mayors,” Anderson said about the time before LaChapelle’s era. “The previous three mayors felt they were able to do the job they were elected for without an equally paid assistant and they did it very successfully.”
City resident Merriam Ansara said she thought Anderson’s point was important. She said she had a difficult time choosing between ranking Derby or Sekula first in the election and would be surprised if Sekula chooses to stay.
“We’re getting off to a start where it’s all tied-up in personalities …” she said. “I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, I don’t know that it’s actually relevant. What I think is most relevant, is that somebody supremely qualified did not get elected in the city for mayor and should go on to all successes some place else and we should be wishing her that good speed. And wishing good speed to our new mayor and our new council that’s coming in.”