NORTHFIELD — A Contract Review and Negotiation Committee has been created following recent contention over Town Administrator Andrea Llamas’ contract negotiations.

Selectboard Chair Bernard Boudreau and member Heath Cummings will represent the board during negotiations with Llamas. The committee was approved at the Aug. 20 Selectboard meeting with a majority vote.

Selectboard member Sarah Kerns was the only member to vote in opposition to the committee. Kerns stated at the meeting that she wanted to participate in the committee, but when she was not chosen, she attempted to vote it down so as to create a new one, though without success.

Llamas’ current contract ends June 30, 2025, and negotiations for a new one are currently underway. At the July 16 Selectboard meeting, it was announced that the board had voted to exercise the non-renewal option for Llamas’ contract during a recent executive session, meaning the contract would not automatically renew once it expires.

Brian Bordner, founder of the Northfield Taxpayers Protection Association, addressed the Selectboard during the Aug. 20 meeting. Bordner requested Llamas’ position be advertised to new applicants, stating in a letter, “Many Northfield citizens have approached me [with] the wish to contribute their desires [to open the town administrator’s position to new applicants]. We are not satisfied with the outcome of our last five years of governance.”

Bornder also has created a petition relating to the town administrator’s position.

At an Aug. 6 meeting, Kerns had proposed adding an agenda item to the Aug. 20 meeting to begin advertising Llamas’ position in response to concerns from the community, though this was not approved by the board.

During the Aug. 20 meeting, Llamas explained that to advertise her position, the board would first need to remove her from it.

“Look, if you want to replace me, then please tell me so you can advertise my job. You can’t open the applications unless you remove me from the position,” Llamas said. “If you want to put that on the agenda, then please let me know, because I don’t want to be here for that discussion. I either have the support of this board through June 30th, or I do not.”

At this time, the position is not being advertised. Llamas could not be reached for further comment.

Susan Wright, a former town administrator for Colrain, Whatley and Longmeadow, also brought concerns to the Aug. 20 meeting in response to Kerns’ proposal to begin advertising the position. Wright accused Kerns of “open and persistent contempt … not only [malice], but … a lack of understanding of good faith bargaining” in her letter to the Selectboard.

Wright added that she believes the Selectboard has sent “mixed messages” to Llamas and the public. Wright added that she believes Bordner’s petition calling for the non-renewal of Llamas’ contract “perpetuated this inaccurate understanding of contracts and misled the public further.”

“It is very hard to find qualified staff in all areas of municipal government [due to] many retirements [and] the increasingly contentious actions of vocal minorities,” Wright said. “Northfield would be foolish to think they can find a new town administrator that would exceed the local knowledge, expertise and professionalism of Ms. Llamas.”

Kerns did not respond to request for comment.

Selectboard member Barbara “Bee” Jacque added that she has seen public confusion over the process of contract negotiations in municipal government.

“Contract negotiations, for any contract, occur in executive session,” Jacque explained. “And when the negotiation is done and the vote is taken, then we go back into public session, and the result becomes clear.”