Residents call for records after alleged continued treasurer pay despite voter-approved cut

Residents at Limerick’s April 13 Board of Select Persons meeting pressed the board for documentation and an explanation after a March 30 special town meeting vote to reduce the treasurer’s salary by $12,200, saying the treasurer has continued to receive full pay and additional vacation payments.

"Taxpayers are now paying twice for the same responsibility," said one resident who identified herself as Lisa, asking the select board to explain why the voter-approved pay cut had not been implemented and to provide documentation of any executive-session authorization for payments. She said records show a payment of $3,144.94 for four weeks of vacation and other paycheck amounts that raise questions about double pay.

Board members acknowledged the vote but said the town clerk (Dee) has been working with MMA Legal to review the amended article so it can be certified correctly. "She has been working with MMA Legal because of questions and confusion during the meeting," a select-person said. "She's reviewing the tapes and wants to make sure it is written exactly how it needs to be written so it can be certified."

Residents pressed for specifics about the legal and administrative steps required to make the pay reduction effective. One speaker cited Title 30-A reporting requirements for certifying special-town-meeting results and requested copies of any executive-session minutes or votes that authorized payments to the treasurer.

Board members said that, operationally, some payroll steps remain with the treasurer even after the town contracted with an outside payroll company; that partial in-house involvement was cited as a reason the treasurer’s gross pay might not immediately reflect the voted reduction. One board member noted the treasurer still has some payroll duties "about a part of a day" per week and that the outside company prints checks and handles federal forms.

The board did not produce a certification at the meeting. Members agreed the town clerk will complete the legal review with MMA Legal; the clerk indicated she would certify the vote once the language and record were confirmed. The board said next steps will be to confirm certification and, if necessary, reconcile payroll entries once the vote is certified.

The meeting record contains multiple public requests for documentation. Residents asked the board to publish the relevant financial records and to explain whether any payment to the treasurer was authorized in executive session and, if so, where the required public vote upon reconvening appears in the minutes. The board recommended that residents seeking recourse may file complaints in superior court when FOA or certification procedures are uncertain.

The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting to change payroll practice; members said they were awaiting the town clerk’s certification and legal guidance before acting further.