Millersville council votes to outsource accounting to SEK, approves full-time administrative specialist role

Unidentified Speaker 3 moved and the council approved a plan to outsource Millersville’s accounting services to a firm proposed by SEK, with the outsourcing set to begin on 12/01/2025. The motion was seconded by Unidentified Speaker 1 and carried by voice vote; the transcript does not record a numerical tally.

The outsourcing arrangement was described by Unidentified Speaker 2 as involving a partner firm SEK uses for audits. "They have a partner from what they work with on audits," Speaker 2 said, adding the partner should accept the borough’s accounts and that SEK was "very confident" the transition would pose no issues. Speaker 2 characterized the recommendation as cautious and intended for the foreseeable future, saying this is "not a decision for 15, 20 years" but rather what makes sense at this time.

Council members also approved a separate motion, moved by Speaker 3 and seconded by Speaker 1, to adopt and advertise a job description for a new administrative specialist position and to eliminate the existing part-time administrative assistant role. Speakers noted anticipated savings from consolidating the two roles. Speaker 2 said the new full-time post would "start at the same amount that we started the finance officer back 2 years ago," while the transcript records a fragmented figure voiced as "6 62"; the exact salary amount was not specified in the record.

Questions from council about contract length and costs were addressed in part. Speaker 3 asked whether SEK’s proposal included a contract term; Speaker 2 said the arrangement would be handled like other professional services, reviewed annually at the borough’s reorganization meeting, and could be ended on short notice (an example of one month’s notice was given for extreme scenarios). Speaker 1 noted uncertainty about the actual fees the new accounting firm will charge; Speaker 2 said SEK provided an estimate for budgeting based on anticipated hours but did not state the fee in the meeting.

Speaker 1 also emphasized difficulties the borough has had hiring and retaining finance staff in recent years, saying, "we haven't had a successful finance manager in the past couple of finance managers," and argued the borough’s accounting system is specialized enough that auditors may have to be relied upon to make sure the borough "is doing what we're supposed to do." Speaker 2 agreed the decision was made after careful consideration.

No public commenters addressed these items during the meeting’s public comment period. With no further business, the council adjourned by voice vote.

The motions recorded in the transcript: (1) approve and advertise the administrative specialist job description (moved by Speaker 3; seconded by Speaker 1; outcome: motion will carry — exact tally not specified), and (2) accept SEK’s proposal to outsource accounting services starting 12/01/2025 (moved by Speaker 3; seconded by Speaker 1; outcome: motion will carry — exact tally not specified).