CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board voted Monday to hire two new employees: a full-time assessor and an administrative assistant.

 

Romana Messer, a senior paralegal for the city of Pittsfield, was selected as the new assessor after the board interviewed two other candidates, Beatrice Rozon and Thomas Scapin. The board also voted to offer the administrative post to a candidate but she has asked for time to decide.

 

Messer told the board last week that the position was her "dream job." 

 

"I love real estate, and I'm a numbers girl. I used to own my own title examination business," she said. "And I wear a lot of hats. I'm the bookkeeper for my husband's business [David Messer Home Improvement]. I do his marketing. My husband's a general contractor, even on weekends, sometimes I'm doing contracting work." 

 

Messer said she enjoys work that requires attention and detail, and tracking and data. She was also looking to work in a smaller office, saying her happiest time was working in a small law office for nine years. 

 

She holds a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in accounting and business management. She's also worked with a certified public accountant and, in Pittsfield, is responsible for the legal department's financial management and has lead workshops on inclusion initiatives. 

 

While she has no assessing experience, she was confident on taking the 101 assessing course and completing the certification needed. 

 

"I already looked into how the position works, how it's coordinated between the town, the residents, and then the DOR [Department of Revenue] and local assessment bureau," Messer said. "I looked at the form for local assessments, and none of it seems like it would be difficult for me to pick up very quickly." 

 

Board members had stressed that the job could be difficult at times in handling unhappy property owners but Messer said difficult citizens are something she already deals with. 

 

"You would not believe what I get blamed for in that office," she said, referring to Pittsfield. "I find that the best way to deal with people is just first acknowledge their concern, understand why they're concerned. You know, don't be argumentative. Smile. Diffuse the situation. Use 'I statements' instead of 'you statements.' And I'm very good at de-escalating situations."

 

Her background real estate, construction and law swayed the vote taken on Monday in her favor. 

 

"She brought a lot of energy to the table that feel it might be a good fit for the position," said Chair Daniel Haskins. Board member Seth Alexander agreed, "I do think that personality-wise, she probably has the edge. And also, just with the boots-on-the-ground real estate experience."

 

Board member Colton Andrews, who could not attend Monday's meeting, sent his selections to Town Administrator Ronald Boucher. They matched his colleagues' choices. 

 

Town meeting voted to fund the assessor as a full-time post after several years of difficulty filling the part-time job. Investing in the post would pay off in increased revenues, town officials had argued.

 

"I look at that position as an income generator for the town," Boucher told one candidate. "In this specific town, not anybody's fault, lot of buildings have gone  without sufficient permits. So we're finding tons and tons of revenue."

 

Emily Schilling was a Pittsfield assessor working part time for the town and has since taken the post of principal assessor in Great Barrington. She has agreed to meet with the new assessor a few times to help them get acquainted with the system. 

 

Officials have been very happy with Schilling's work and stressed during interviews that they wished to continue on that path.

 

Administrative Assistant Rachelle Bleau had first interviewed for assessor but took herself out of the running when she took a full-time job elsewhere. Her last day is Thursday. 

 

In other business, the board approved the school roof loan with Adams Community Bank with an interest rate of 5.5 percent over five years. The roof project is starting this week.