Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board authorizes assistant town accountant to sign payroll and AP warrants when accountant is unavailable
Summary
The Select Board approved a motion authorizing the assistant town accountant to sign payroll and accounts payable warrants when the town accountant is unavailable; if the assistant performs those duties longer than one month, the board will consider appointing an interim.
The Town of Danvers Select Board voted to authorize the assistant town accountant to approve payroll and accounts payable warrants when the town accountant is unavailable, with a condition that if the assistant is expected to perform those duties longer than one month the Select Board will discuss whether to appoint an interim town accountant.
Gardner brought the motion after staff said auditors asked for a written authorization to explain instances where the assistant’s signature appears on past warrants. "The auditors had a question of, okay... what's the legal authority that gives her that right?" a staff member (Hammond) said, describing the motivation for a formal motion. Members debated wording — whether the authority should apply only when the town accountant is 'unavailable,' and whether to include an explicit 30-day trigger. The board ultimately adopted the version that conditions longer-term coverage on board review.
The clerk read the amended motion; the board voted Aye (recorded as 4–0). Members emphasized that the motion was intended to provide clear, documented authority so auditors reviewing past warrants can point to a board action that authorizes assistant signatories.
