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Select Board votes to amend town accountant contract to cover finance‑director duties through June
Summary
The board approved a contract amendment to pay the town accountant an extra $1,000 a month to perform finance‑director duties until June 30, 2025, rather than creating a permanent position immediately; questions remained about which budget lines will cover the cost.
The Select Board on Dec. 9 authorized an amendment to the town accountant’s contract to add finance‑director duties at an extra $1,000 a month through June 30, 2025.
Lori, the town accountant, told the board she has taken on added responsibilities while the town lacks permanent staff and a town administrator and that her firm can perform budgeting, treasury and other finance‑director functions for an additional $1,000 a month. “This year I will have to prepare the budget in order for it to be done on time,” Lori said, and described that the extra work includes preparing revenue estimates, overseeing the annual close and coordinating audits.
Board members debated whether to create a permanent finance‑director position by bylaw or to use a temporary contract amendment while the town considers a town‑meeting article. One member urged that the board is paying for functions, not creating a permanent position today. The board discussed funding mechanics; a speaker noted that money to pay the contractor may require a reserve fund transfer rather than drawing from payroll lines because the firm is a contractor, not a salaried employee.
A motion was made and seconded to authorize an amendment to the current accounting contract to include the additional finance functions and associated on‑site work through June 30, 2025. The board voted to approve the amendment.
The board did not enact a bylaw or create a permanent position during the meeting; members said they would bring any permanent‑position proposal to a future town meeting for consideration. The contract expires on June 30 each year, and the amendment was described as an addendum to cover the remaining months through that date.
The board did not provide a detailed vote tally in the public discussion. The town accountant and board members said they would follow up on where the appropriation for the added monthly amount will be taken, and the finance advisory committee will be given the contract details and the list of added responsibilities.
