Finance director outlines fixes for audit findings; commission schedules October update

James Staverman, the town's finance director, briefed the commission on the fiscal year 2024 audit findings, saying the town received 11 findings in the latest cycle, six of which repeated from the prior year. Staverman described specific actions taken: eliminating petty cash, hiring a full-time accounts-payable clerk, implementing a monthly close checklist, moving to a new capital assets system (Wasp), and creating read-only department inboxes to centralize audit-related emails.

Staverman said some legacy issues predated the current administration but that staff had already resolved several items and were working with department heads and auditors to prevent recurrence. "We specifically addressed each one not only in word or in policy, but in action, in new protocols, in head count, and in cooperation with other departments and our auditors," he said.

Vice Mayor Kashem asked for a special meeting to review the findings; commissioners ultimately agreed to a more focused presentation at the October workshop rather than an immediate special commission meeting. Staverman said staff would prepare a detailed update for the October agenda.