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Select board debates interim treasurer coverage, agrees to post part‑time municipal/financial clerk
Summary
On Dec. 30 the select board reviewed options to cover an imminent treasurer vacancy, including adding a staff member to bank accounts, hiring interim consultants, and posting a 10–19 hour municipal/financial clerk to cross‑train on payroll and benefits.
The select board on Dec. 30 discussed immediate measures to cover an impending treasurer vacancy and agreed to move ahead with posting a part‑time municipal/financial clerk to provide backup for treasury and collector duties.
The discussion centered on short‑term interim staffing and longer‑term backup capacity. Board members reported outreach to Rosetti CPAs for interim treasury services, with quoted rates ranging from $190 to $320 per hour and limited availability before February. Officials also said one consultant offered payroll‑only services at about $175 per hour but with uncertain on‑town presence.
Brenda, a town staff member who volunteered to help, told the board she can be added to bank accounts and perform transactional duties to ensure payroll and vendor payments continue. "I can transfer money and at least continue to get people paid," Brenda said, and added she has taken multiple treasurer classes: "I have taken probably I don't know seven or eight treasurer classes." She described specific interim tasks she could perform, including cutting vendor checks, moving funds between accounts, making deposits and entering transactions into the town's financial software.
Board members emphasized the legal requirement to have a bonded treasurer on the books, and they discussed options to name an interim person who could be bonded or to contract with an outside firm for cash reconciliation and payroll processing. Officials also noted the immediate operational constraint that payroll must be processed the next morning, limiting the feasibility of extensive on‑the‑job training during a holiday week.
To reduce future risk the board agreed to post a flexible municipal/financial clerk position, proposed in the discussion at roughly 10–19 hours per week depending on seasonal workload, to provide cross‑training in treasury, collector and HR/benefits work. Members asked for a short working meeting with Brenda and staff to draft a job description and clarify duties before posting. The board also asked staff to provide cost estimates for interim vendor support and to confirm the hourly rates and availability.
The board did not record a detailed vote count on the public excerpt for the personnel decisions; members agreed to follow up with a working session and next steps for recruitment and interim coverage.
