Clarksburg Finds New Town AccountantBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
01:34AM / Monday, February 22, 2016 | |
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CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board last week found a new town accountant.
Donna Estes was selected for the 10-hour post after meeting town officials most important criteria: municipal experience.
Estes, currently town accountant for Williamstown, more than fit the bill.
"We're getting someone who's already doing what we're looking for," said Select Board member William Schrade.
Officials have been concerned over getting someone with strong municipal experience to prevent any backsliding of the town's financial position. It had recovered under the hand of former Town Accountant David Fierro, who resigned last month. Officials interviewed five other candidates with strong accounting experience, but not enough municipal to make them comfortable.
The former Clarksburg resident whose husband, John, taught at Clarksburg School for many years, has worked in both public and private accounting. She attended what was then North Adams State College for accounting and later earned her certification.
She worked in a bank, for Patten Corp., as an account manager for Storey Communications, and for a Vermont magazine, before becoming financial assistant to the superintendent in Williamstown.
Estes is retiring in July after 14 years working for first the school and then as accountant for the town.
"I don't ever take shortcuts," she told the Select Board. "That's setting yourself up for something not to go right."
Estes assured the board she was familiar with all the required state forms and procedures, and keeps up to date on any changes.
"If you're not current on state laws or GASB, it's pretty easy to make an entry you should not make," she said.
While she did not have experience on the town's accounting software, she was confident it would not be difficult to master having used a number of other programs.
"You should hire me because I have plenty of experience and I meet your needs," Estes said in response to a question.
The three board members agreed and voted unanimously to hire her dependent upon references, which were received Thursday.
"I think she'll mesh well with everybody," said Chairman Jeffrey Levanos. "If she worked for [retired Town Manager] Peter Fohlin, that's a big feather in her cap."
Estes said she could start immediately and agreed to be available in Town Hall on Wednesday evenings with the tax collector/treasurer.
In other business, the board briefly discussed the possibility of holding the presidential primary election at another location because of water damage. A pipe burst in the ceiling of the Senior Center on Monday afternoon, soaking Lily Kuzia's office and ruining a brand-new printer and a keyboard.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said the water tripped the alarm and the Fire Department responded. Fire Chief Carlyle "Chip" Chesbro crawled in the attic and the found the insulation removed because of last year's ice dam situation was never replaced.
McKinney said he has spoken with the town's insurer and the contractor should be responsible. In the meantime, Chesbro fixed the pipe and put in a shutoff and Servicemaster has begun the process of drying out the area with fans and dehumidifiers.
However, the center is used for elections and he was concerned that the proliferation of wires and mess would create a hazard. Board members felt confident that issue could be worked out, noting the election was nearly two weeks away on March 1 and signed the warrant to hold it at the Senior Center.
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