Priya PatelTLDR:
– The Select Board in Westborough, Massachusetts has appointed an interim finance director, Chief Assessor Jon Steinberg, following the departure of finance director Jason Little.
– The finance department in Westborough is currently understaffed, and several changes are being made to strengthen the team, including separating town accountant duties from the finance director role and creating a new position of administrative assistant/payroll clerk. $30,000 has been requested to help fund this new position.
The Finance Department in Westborough, Massachusetts is set to undergo some changes in a bid to improve its staffing levels and effectiveness. The Select Board recently appointed Jon Steinberg, Chief Assessor, as the interim finance director, following the departure of Jason Little who has returned to his previous position in Northborough. The move, voted on at a Select Board meeting on January 9th, has been part of a wider effort to upgrade the finance department, currently described as “short staffed” by Town Manager Kristi Williams.
The changes were announced as part of the upcoming Town Meeting warrant, which will include Article 23, calling for the separation of town accountant duties from the finance director position. This change would enable the town accountant to become its own position, separate from the finance director role. It was also announced that $30,000 would be requested to fund a new role of administrative assistant/payroll clerk, a position recommended by Jason Little prior to his departure. Williams received approval from the Select Board to create this new position, and the town is currently searching for qualified candidates.
Additionally, the position of treasurer/collector, which was left vacant by a retirement, is presently being filled using contracted services. However, Williams revealed that several candidates have already been interviewed, and the position could be permanently filled soon.
The timing of these changes has not been ideal, according to Select Board member Shelby Marshall, as the town is currently planning for the 2025 fiscal year budget. However, Marshall also recognized the opportunity for improvement and the benefits these changes will bring to the finance department. With the addition of new positions and separating town accountant duties from the finance director role, the hope is that the finance department in Westborough will be better equipped to manage financial matters and provide efficient services to the town.
