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Select Board discusses new finance hire, software conversion and backlog reconciliations
Summary
Board members debated hiring a shared part‑time finance position to help reconcile town accounts, and approved a one‑time conversion to new finance software while acknowledging unresolved reconciliation work from prior contractor.
Select Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting on town finance operations, discussing an immediate hire for a shared finance/office assistant and approving conversion to new financial software.
Town Administrator Andrea and Town Clerk/Tax Collector Daphne said they planned a shared position to provide 20 hours per week for reconciliations and other finance tasks allocated between the Select Board office and the town clerk’s office. They presented a seven‑month cost estimate of about $32,083 for the remainder of the fiscal year, with the clerk covering roughly $13,009 and the Select Board side roughly $17,808; benefits and retirement implications for next year were discussed but not resolved.
Board members requested written job descriptions, a clear funding breakdown and a projection of ongoing costs before finalizing the proposal for next year. Several residents and board members pressed for clarity on what the new hire would do versus the town administrator and treasurer roles.
Separately, the board voted to move forward with a one‑time conversion of the town’s finance software to MTS (conversion cost $22,007.50) and noted an annual support cost of $7,763; the board approved the expenditure to replace the older BS/SMI platform. The conversion is expected to take about three months and follow a late‑summer timeline.
Members also reviewed remaining reconciliation work from a contract finance reviewer who assessed the town’s records and estimated additional hours would be required to finish the backlog. Board members said a part‑time, in‑town hire would allow continuous progress and easier oversight than intermittent consulting hours; they asked staff to present job descriptions and funding sources at the next meeting.
