PELHAM — Tax collection and treasurer services for Pelham residents are being provided by the town of Amherst under a new intermunicipal agreement.
The decision to have Amherst’s five-member team provide the services to Pelham, in a one-year pilot, came following a May 11 vote by the Select Board to eliminate the collector and treasurer positions as of May 15.
Amherst Town Council on June 1 approved entering the agreement, which was then executed by Town Manager Paul Bockelman on June 26. The total fee that will be paid to Amherst for the services is $101,000.
Bockelman, Finance Director Sean Mangano and Collector/ Treasurer Jennifer LaFountain wrote a memo to councilors explaining the arrangement: “Amherst and Pelham have a strong history of collaboration, including shared services related to payroll, Fire and EMS response, property assessment and schools. This proposal represents a logical next step in expanding regional cooperation and maximizing available resources.”
Pelham residents were notified in a letter from Select Board members Bob Agoglia, Tara Loomis and Jessica Barr, which was sent after annual Town Meeting approved a $50,000 free cash transer to cover backlog resolution and expanded audit costs.
“On cost, the agreement with Amherst is comparable in the short term, with longer-term savings as employee benefit obligations are eliminated,” the Select Board wrote.
Before Amherst began serving Pelham, there was a six-week transition period with Sara Hunter, principal of Mass MuniFin, providing the services and handling any backlog of pending transactions.
With the new services, staff will be available at Pelham Town Offices, 351 Amherst Road, Mondays 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 8 to 10 a.m., with Pelham residents also able to access the Central Services Counter at Amherst Town Hall weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
