Brookfield selectmen authorize interim administrator search and set treasurer pay range

The Brookfield selectmen on Dec. 23 voted to have two board members prescreen candidates for an interim town administrator and to post an interim treasurer position with an annualized pay range of $60,000 to $80,000.

The board moved to authorize Sarah and Lori to conduct initial screenings and return recommendations to the full board, with the final interviews to be held in open session. Members emphasized transparency: a board member said pre-screeners should provide documentation listing resumes reviewed, candidates excluded and the reasons for exclusion.

The discussion shifted to the treasurer posting after members said the town had received few qualified applicants. Several speakers noted that neighboring towns were offering higher pay and that reposting the treasurer role as an interim position might attract retired or currently employed treasurers willing to serve temporarily. Board members agreed to advertise the interim role and to adjust the existing regular-treasurer posting to reflect the new pay range.

The board also discussed near-term operational risk: without an interim treasurer in place by Jan. 5 the town might lack capacity to run payroll. Members explored three short-term options: hiring a municipal treasury service for limited payroll coverage, asking an already-bonded town employee to serve as the interim treasurer on paper for payroll sign-off while another person handled transactions, or recruiting a part-time assistant with relevant software experience. One participant noted that bondability and general cash-book experience matter more than a specific software platform.

On the vote to post the interim treasurer with an annualized salary equivalent of $60,000–$80,000, the motion carried. The board also approved a separate motion to advance up to four candidates for in-meeting interviews based on Sarah and Lori’s recommendations; members reiterated that everything past the prescreen must occur in open session.

A separate, later discussion focused on draft executive-session minutes from prior meetings. One board member said the minutes did not reflect their remarks and offered to submit a written amendment; they questioned whether an executive session had been necessary. The chair defended the decision to use executive session, saying it was to avoid improperly discussing a person’s character and to protect the rights of those involved after a police-cruiser incident was described during the closed session.

The meeting concluded with a call for greater civility and an adjournment. The board asked staff to pursue external treasury-service options and to return updates at the next meeting.