Council briefed on Mosaic financial system rollout and proposed travel-approval policy

At the Feb. 25 meeting Chief Financial Officer Cathy Cheng‑Anderson reported that the Commonwealth's new Mosaic financial system went live for the agency earlier that week. She said staff will undergo training and adjust workflows over the next several months, and that leadership prioritized processing as many transactions as possible in the prior system to protect grant payments during the transition. Cathy said temporary slowdowns are expected but the fiscal team is focused on keeping grant payments and grantee support moving smoothly.

Cathy added that the agency intends to revise its internal financial controls in the spring to align with Mosaic's workflows and will present a revised Internal Control Plan at a future Council meeting. She also reported that the agency executed a new lease for another five years and that staffing is in progress, with a Program Officer candidate accepting a position to begin April 13, 2026.

On travel, the Council was informed that the Chair had previously approved $110 in out-of-state travel for Erik Holmgren to serve as a panelist at a Feb. 12 convening. Staff (Acting Executive Director David Slatery) then outlined a proposed travel-approval approach: the Council would set an annual travel budget; the Executive Director could approve staff travel within that budget up to certain thresholds; and trips that exceed thresholds—or certain Executive Director travel—would require third-party review by the Executive Committee or Council. Staff emphasized that standard travel policy requirements (public purpose, lowest-cost option) would remain in place.