BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Federal, state and town requirements have increased over the past decade, and so has the trail of paperwork. But Dunbarton Town Clerk Linda Peters’  office hours have remained the same.

Peters, who is in her 10th year as town clerk for 2,600 residents, submitted a petitioned warrant article asking voters to approve moving her to full-time status. Currently, her office is only open to the public for 10 hours a week, but she would like to be available at least 32 hours, including two nights.

“I just want to accommodate everyone I possibly can in that 40-hour time frame, no matter if it’s in the morning, evening or somewhere in the middle,” she said.

For the initiative to be successful, however, she said residents must show up at Town Meeting to voice their opinion – good or bad – because a simple majority vote is required.

The town opposed a similar initiative in 2002 by only 46 votes, but many residents say Dunbarton now needs increased town clerk hours.

Ernie Holm and his wife, Nita, were going on vacation and stopped by the town offices to pick up absentee ballots.

“We weren’t sure the office would be open and it wasn’t,” said Holm. “But it was just by chance that we caught Linda here, and we were able to get this done and not have to come back.”

Holm said he was lucky to find Peters at her desk, but acknowledged that many people aren’t so fortunate.

“It’s necessary to have her here,” Holm said. “The town is growing and people need to have the opportunity to come in here. Not everyone can come in here during the limited hours she is here, so the more she’s open the more convenient it is.”

Peters approached selectmen in January to request full-time status and put additional money into the operating budget, but she said they deliberated and ultimately declined her request.

Selectmen did, however, propose a counter-offer of adding $10,000 to Peters’ pay with no benefits, but she declined, choosing to bring the issue to voters.

“In our conversations with Linda, I think the most important thing we stressed is we want to look at the work load and amount of hours she works now compared to what she would be working,” said selectmen Chairman Mert Mann.

Mann said it’s a big step to increase Peters’ pay from roughly $23,800 annually to a benefitss-and-pay package of more than $50,000.

“So the question is, ‘Do we really need a full-time clerk?’ And, I think we need to wait at least another year to determine that rather than rush to Town Meeting to create a permanent full-time permanent elected position.”

Mann said selectmen may hire an outside consultant to evaluate the needs of Dunbarton’s municipal government and revisit the issue next year.

“I think we need more substantial facts on what the workload is and what the hours are, and we need to look at everyone in town office and make educated, not emotional decisions,” said Mann.

Peters, however, said she has watched other departments expand, while her function has remained stagnant despite additional requirements. She does not receive gas reimbursement, despite required travel for work. Her hours vary drastically, but her pay remains the same.

Currently, Peters reports to six major state offices and handles dozens of functions, including marriage and dog licensing, motor vehicle registrations, voter registrations, notary public duties, vital statistic keeping and other responsibilities. Peters said her office currently takes in more than $500,000.

“The more time I can give to this position, the more the town can get in return,” said Peters. “I want to pay for my own keep and every additional function is more revenue for the town.”