Westport nearing deadline for balancing financial records

WESTPORT — Phrases such as "susceptible to fraud" and possible "sanctions from the state" have been used by officials over the past few years to describe the town’s treasurer’s office.

Those days might soon be behind the town, according to Selectman Richard Brewer.

Brewer, who runs a subcommittee that has been trying to correct issues with the treasurer’s office, said the town is nearing its Aug. 31 deadline for balancing all financial records for fiscal 2019.

Over the past three years, the office has been behind by several months. State auditors have noted that the trend could be nearing an end.

Brewer at the Aug. 5 Select Board meeting said all financial records up to June 2019 had been balanced. Reached via email Aug. 16, Brewer noted that June 2019 was close to being completed.

“We are seeing some real progress,” Brewer said. “It looks like we will be able to finish all the reconciling of fiscal 2019 ... and we are pretty much on schedule for that right now. We can file a report with the state by Sept. 30.”

In the Aug. 16 email and at the Aug. 5 Select Board meeting, Brewer attributed this success to the addition of a part-time data entry clerk, as well as the work of outside consultant Erik Kinserf.

Last December, officials reported that the town was 18 months behind and appointed Kinserf at a price of $65,000 for fiscal 2019. Selectmen rehired Kinsef, but for a lower price, for this fiscal year.

Brewer has expressed doubt in the long-term success of the treasurer’s office.

“Compared to the previous fiscal year, the treasurer office is in a much-improved position,” Brewer wrote in an email. “This was accomplished by existing staff, the consulting firm and the hiring of a part-time person. The challenge going forward will be to maintain timely accounts with only existing staff.”

By next April, the town should be close to appointing a treasurer for the first time.

Town meeting last year voted to turn the position into a Select Board-appointed post so the board could advertise for multiple candidates with appropriate credentials.

A town election ratified that voted and by law will allow Treasurer Brad Brightman to finish his term, which expires in April 2020.