Two warrant articles aimed at expanding staffing within Londonderry’s Human Resources Department will move forward to the Deliberative Session, but both advanced without the support of a majority of the Town Council after a divided vote at last week’s public hearing.
The proposals come at a time when the Town is facing increasing administrative demands, a growing workforce, and heightened expectations around employee vetting, investigations, and benefits management. Human Resources Director Tara Koza and Town Manager Shaun Mulholland both argued that the department is stretched thin and needs additional support to function effectively.
PartTime HR Assistant Proposal Draws Mixed Reactions
The first warrant article asks voters whether they support adding a parttime human resources assistant “to provide support to the Human Resources Department through essential administrative support tasks.” If approved, the position – and its funding – would become part of both the operating and default budgets in future years.
The proposed cost is $44,812, with an estimated tax rate impact of $0.006.
Mulholland said the position is needed to help manage the growing workload associated with benefits administration, which includes both current employees and a sizable retiree population.
“This is a huge issue – we have retirees who we manage for plus the existing workforce we have,” Mulholland said, noting that benefits management has become increasingly complex.
Koza told the Council that she and the HR Administrator are spending a significant amount of time on administrative tasks that could be delegated to support staff. Freeing up that time, she said, would allow the department to focus on higherlevel responsibilities such as policy development, employee relations, and longterm planning.
Despite the department’s concerns, the Town Council voted 2–3 against recommending the article. Councilor Ted Combes and Vice Chair Shawn Faber supported recommending it, while the remaining members opposed.
Second Article Seeks HR Specialist for Investigations and Background Checks
The second warrant article proposes creating a parttime human resources specialist at a cost of $58,218. According to the warrant language, the position would “assist with the tasks necessary to conduct workplace accident investigations, employee background investigations, and internal investigations.”
Like the first article, the position would become part of both the operating and default budgets if approved by voters.
Mulholland told the Council that the Town currently lacks a consistent process for background checks outside of the Police Department.
“We do not do that for anybody else, any other employee of the Town,” he said.
He stressed the importance of thorough vetting, noting that discovering issues after hiring can be costly and difficult to resolve.
“There are consequences to not vetting people, and it’s costly,” Mulholland said.
He also pointed out that having an in house staffer trained to conduct internal investigations could save money by reducing the need to hire outside firms. The specialist, he said, could handle routine investigations at a significantly lower cost than an external investigator.
As with the first article, the Council voted 2–3 against recommending the proposal, with Faber and Combes again in support.
Next Steps Ahead of Deliberative Session
Both warrant articles will now move to the Deliberative Session, where residents will have the opportunity to debate, amend, and ultimately decide whether the positions should be added to the Town’s staffing structure.
The split vote underscores an ongoing tension between the Town’s growing administrative needs and the Council’s concerns about longterm budget impacts. Supporters argue that the HR Department is understaffed and that failing to invest now could lead to higher costs later. Opponents expressed hesitation about adding recurring positions without clearer longterm projections.
Voters will have the final say when the articles appear on the March ballot.