Norfolk select board vows reforms after Inspector General letter

The Norfolk Select Board on Aug. 17 addressed a recent Massachusetts Inspector General (IG) letter that identified shortcomings in procurement, timekeeping, personnel policies and oversight.

Reading a prepared statement, a board member said the town "takes the findings and recommendations contained in the Massachusetts Inspector General's August 4th, 2026 letter very seriously," and outlined actions already under way: appointing a chief procurement officer, updating procurement practices, tightening reimbursement approvals and planning an independent audit. The board said it will report progress to town meeting and make the IG letter a regular agenda item.

The IG letter details nine findings and 15 recommendations ranging from procurement violations to weaknesses in financial controls and remote-work policies, the town said. The select board described three instances the IG flagged for procurement lapses: emergency vehicle lighting, a Kubota tractor purchase and the acquisition of a tub grinder that the town later determined was not procured properly.

"We have already addressed many procurement issues," the board said, and described new interim rules requiring the CPO be consulted on procurements over $5,000. Town staff told the meeting that some recommended deadlines from the IG require responses as soon as 30 days and run up to 180 days.

The board said it plans to hire an outside auditing firm to perform a comprehensive review of policies, selected transactions and the town's controls; it also described short-term fixes such as additional signoffs on department-head timesheets and central review of contracts. The board emphasized that some details remain subject to ongoing IG procedures and legal constraints.