Shannon Harris, former Esopus Town Supervisor who stepped down in early March citing a need for a better work-life balance, is now seeking the assessor position for the Town of Esopus. The potential appointment was met with opposition by several speakers at a Monday, March 22 special board meeting, who objected to Harris seeking one full-time job after stepping down from the one she’d been elected to and her lack of assessor experience, while others criticized the board for holding the meeting on short notice at an unusual time (4:30 p.m.).
Former town board member Donna McAuley focused on qualifications.
“She must have six months validation of real property experience to be appointed to the position,” said McAuley. “I would like her to describe her six months experience in detail during real property evaluation and qualifications for the job.”
According to the town of Esopus website, the position requires a high school diploma or equivalent degree, at least six months of full-time experience in valuing real property as assessor, appraiser, valuation data manager, appraisal aide or the like, and a positive and receptive temperament conducive to a good working relationship with the Building Department, County Office of Real Property, town taxpayers and elected officials.
Harris said she resigned as supervisor because she no longer wanted an “around-the-clock” job. She estimated her former position required 60 hours a week, while the assessor’s job would offer more regular hours.
“Since the Covid pandemic started, my three young boys have been schooling from home, which means every room in my house is occupied with a little boy at a computer and their teacher,” said Harris. “In addition to running the town, and being president of the supervisor and mayor’s association for Ulster County, I had a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, especially during Covid.”
She said when she resigned, she had not planned to apply to the assessor position.
“I tried to get that position filled while I was supervisor,” said Harris.
Originally, the town board had a preference to have an experienced assessor.
“After that didn’t work out, the board decided to make the job available as a trainee position and put it out on Facebook,” said Harris. “Before that, it was on Facebook for 60 days, circulated throughout New York State and the county, and on our website, targeting experienced assessors.”
With the town board being more flexible on the required credentials and the nature of the job, it offered the opportunity for more people to apply as long as they were “willing to learn and train.” Harris said whether or not to seek out a credential assessor is up to the town. Again, that posting went up on Facebook and was circulated around.
“I believe we’ve done due diligence in searching out assessors and candidates,” said Jared Geuss, current town supervisor. “This process has been ongoing since last June. The town board would like the best qualified candidate for this position.”
In October of last year, the town hired a consultant for the assessor’s office so it could “meet critical deadlines, answer questions,” and complete other duties.
Harris said she gained first-hand experience when the town was without an assessor.
“From June 2020 when the former assessor resigned, up until early March, I was the de facto, key contact person between the consultant and the field worker who I supervise,” said Harris.
Harris described the assessor position as being a strictly 9 to 5 job with a high and low season that would accommodate her personal needs better. She said she had two other job opportunities elsewhere, but ultimately chose to pursue the assessor job because it would be an easier transition, close to home, and offered a better work/life balance than the other jobs.
“With that in mind, an employee said to me, why don’t you look at the assessor job,” said Harris. “The employee was very supportive of me and told me I belong here. They talked me into it and I started looking at it.”
Harris reported that she made $36,575 as town supervisor, while the assessor position would range from $42,000 to $48,000.
“I care more about the work and enjoying the work than I do about the salary,” said Harris. “It’s not a huge difference at all. I’m not motivated by money. If I was, I’d be in a completely different line of work.”
The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 1 to review two additional applications that have come in since the town reposted the job opening last week, and any others that come in before March 31. Alongside Harris, building department employee Kristin McDermott, who formerly worked in the assessor’s office, also applied.
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