Wayne Select Board begins public-process steps on new treasurer ordinance

The Town of Wayne Select Board on March 4 began moving a proposed treasurer ordinance toward public review, asking staff to finalize a draft with technical edits and to schedule a public work session ahead of the June town meeting.

Board discussion centered on replacing an out-of-date ordinance that currently calls for an elected treasurer and on clarifying the treasurer's duties and lines of oversight. Henry (Select Board member) presented a substantially revised draft and said he wanted the treasurer to provide a written certification with each disbursement warrant that funds exist for the listed payments and that invoices support the expenses. "With each disbursement warrant, I want the treasurer to be responsible to check things out thoroughly and provide with that warrant a certification," Henry said.

Why it matters: The board is weighing how much independence the treasurer should have in relation to the town manager and the select board. Henry said the draft attempts a dual line of responsibility: operational oversight by the town manager under the town-manager form of government, but with the treasurer able to communicate directly to the select board on financial matters. That balance was presented as a checks-and-balances approach rather than a full removal of managerial control.

Key details discussed included: - Certification requirement: The draft would require the treasurer to certify that payments on each warrant are budgeted and supported by invoices unless exceptions are listed. Henry described this as an accountability mechanism to prevent overdrafts. - Regular reporting: The draft asks for a monthly summary to the select board at its second scheduled meeting each month (budgeted amount, year-to-date expenditures, unexpended balances and percent spent). It also called for a briefing at the board's second scheduled meetings in September, December, March and May outlining the town's financial health and cash-flow projections. - Oversight and role: The draft would require the treasurer to oversee bookkeeping and receipts, assist with budget preparation and the annual audit, and exercise "independent judgment" while working under the town-manager structure. As Henry put it: "the treasurer works under the town manager but has direct input to the select board." - Election vs. appointment and term length: The board noted the current ordinance elects the treasurer to a three-year term; members debated whether to retain election or shift toward appointment by the manager. The draft does not yet fix every detail, and members flagged that point for further discussion.

Next steps: The board directed staff to take the draft to the town attorney for review, make typo and clarity fixes, add a provision saying the new ordinance "supersedes prior ordinances," and publicize a developmental public hearing at a future meeting so residents can comment before the final warrant article is set for the June town meeting. Select Board Chair Trent (chair) said the town will "start to publicize the public hearing for the treasurer's ordinance" as of that meeting.

Community impact and limits of authority: Board members repeatedly noted the town's form of government constrains the precise supervisory relationship between the town manager and treasurer; the discussion focused on how to write the ordinance to balance managerial oversight with board accountability.

Ending: The Select Board did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting but moved the draft through attorney review and a public-engagement step so voters can see and comment on it prior to any warrant vote at town meeting.