Westport selectmen consider creating recall bylaw

WESTPORT -- The selectmen will be talking about crafting a recall bylaw at its Jan. 22 meeting and an article could go before voters in May.

The move has been motivated partially through the town’s issues with the treasurer department, officials say.

That department has an elected treasurer and the town selectmen are looking to make it an appointed post. The April Town Election will look to ratify a Town Meeting vote from last year, which would turn the position into a selectmen-appointed one.

Likewise, an affirmative vote this April will take more than a year to take effect.

Also, some officials and residents say there is no recall mechanism in place and some of the accounting issues within that department could be attributed to the treasurer’s elected status.

Two years ago, concerned resident Pamela Costa too the issue to voters in response to the landmark animal abuse case on Route 177. Costa said she wanted a recall bylaw, and cited issues with the health board office at that time.

Her initiative was derailed, as some voters and officials noted issues with the language.

A special Town Meeting in December voted to appropriate $65,000 for a consultant to help the treasurer's office balance 17 months of financial records and rectify other issues within the department.

That expense alone has angered some taxpayers, who claim that the extra $65,000 should go toward other areas.

The unbalanced records could also lead to the town losing access to certified free cash for this upcoming fiscal year, and Eric Kinsherf, a certified public accountant, is looking to balance the records within 90 days and then begin to train staff.

The Finance Committee spoke of those latter points at its meeting last week. Members expressed interest in speaking with Kinsherf directly for an update.

Committee Vice Chairwoman Karen Raus said she hopes that all staff, including current Treasurer Brad Brightman, are trained to avoid the issue of unbalanced financial records.

“At Town Meeting, he (Kinsherf) agreed he would guide the treasurer along and check up on him,” Finance Committee Chairman Gary Carreiro said.

Raus added that financial records are on schedule to be balanced by early March.

Carreiro said despite this promise, he hopes the work can be complete and the town will be able to use its certified free cash for next fiscal year.

The town historically relies on free cash annually.

“We are hoping with our fingers crossed to get it done and use it in our FY 20 budget,” Carreiro said.

Brightman has defended himself and his office. At the Town Meeting, he mentioned his status as a lifelong resident and his “love for the town.”

He has mentioned that when he first came aboard, after running unopposed in 2017, he was at one point working by himself. He then worked several months without an assistant treasurer, when one existed prior to his tenure.

Brightman has cited his financial background and the strong financial background of his assistant, who has four decades of banking experience.

He told the Herald News that the presence of the new consultant -- Eric Kinsherf -- a certified public accountant -- should be a permanent answer for his department.