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Select Board declines to approve reimbursement for former HR manager's software purchases
Summary
The board considered a former HR manager's request for reimbursement of roughly $1,000 for software subscriptions purchased personally for town use and recorded a vote opposing reimbursement; discussion focused on lack of prior approval and in‑house alternatives.
The Townsend Select Board considered a reimbursement request from a former human resources manager for out‑of‑pocket purchases of software subscriptions (an HR management tool and an Adobe subscription) totaling about $1,000.
Members questioned why purchases were made without prior approval and whether the town already held an Adobe license that could have been used. Several board members said routine purchasing should follow approval channels, and one member said the request should be denied for that reason. There was a motion recorded on the transcript to reimburse the former employee; the roll call shown in the transcript records Sarah Logan voting "no." The full roll call tally was not recorded verbatim in the transcript excerpt.
The board's discussion noted sensitivity around HR documents and confidentiality, and the interim town administrator said the administration had tried to find a way to say yes but expressed concern about setting a precedent for unapproved expenditures.
The select board asked staff to notify the former employee of the board's decision and to ensure purchasing approvals are clarified for future staff.
