BRATTLEBORO — After experiencing a lack of success in finding a town finance director, a new plan is in place.
On Tuesday, the Select Board approved a plan to contract with Bonnie K. Batchelder of Batchelder Associates in Keene, N.H., for $140,000 for a year.
“Given the circumstances, I feel like we got a little lucky,” board member Peter “Fish” Case said. “We were able to act on this quickly.”
Town Manager John Potter said the town hasn’t attracted “a suitable hiring pool” since former finance director Kim Frost vacated the position in January despite recruiting efforts. Frost went on to work for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.
In March, longtime assistant manager Patrick Moreland left to serve as executive director of DVFiber. He worked closely with finance directors on budgeting over the years.
While waiting for finance director applicants, staff in the Finance Department began reporting to Human Services Director Sally Nix. She’s been “doing an excellent job of supporting the Finance team but does not have municipal finance/CFO experience,” a memo written by Potter and Nix states.
Another challenge involved Representative Town Meeting’s rejection of the board’s proposed spending plan in March, prompting what Potter and Nix called “a need for an intensive budget redevelopment process in the month of April 2025.”
Potter spoke with the town’s auditor, Batchelder Associates, to gauge interest in “supporting the town with municipal finance expertise on an outsourced basis during April 2025 and potentially beyond,” the memo states. Batchelder “agreed to assess the situation, make recommendations and submit a proposal for longer-term financial services support.”
“Staff considered the requirements of the Finance Director position as well as assuming the budgeting responsibilities of the Assistant Town Manager and budgeting impacts of union negotiations,” the memo states. “During the evaluation, staff and Ms. Batchelder have considered the requirements of the Town and the dedication this will require by both parties.”
Since 2016, Batchelder has been Brattleboro’s town auditor. She’s been “committed to bringing the Town to a strong financial ground,” the memo states.
Potter said Batchelder can help strengthen the use of the town’s financial software, reporting procedures, policies and budgeting over the next year.
“She would gain full understanding of staffing responsibilities and roles along with their segregation of duties,” the memo states. “She would examine internal controls, existing policies as they relate to overall financial management, including procurement and conflict of interest, and record retention procedures and policies as they relate specifically to federal and state grants and contracts.”
Batchelder will review and complete the town’s annual checklist for the financial director, participate in all budget processes and support the town during upcoming union contract negotiations. She also is expected to complete monthly financial reports that the board requested and be available for board meetings on a quarterly basis.
Batchelder will be available for town business “as necessary and required for various reasons but would continue to work primarily in her Keene office,” the memo states. She will be coming to the Brattleboro Municipal Center to work one day per week.
“She’s been available for anything we ask,” Potter said. “The turnaround has been fantastic.”
Board Chairwoman Elizabeth McLoughlin said the finance-related savings in the proposed budget heading to RTM on May 27 is from not hiring for the assistant town manager position next fiscal year.
Annual pay for the finance director position has been advertised at about $95,000. Potter said the figure will probably need to be bumped up to about $140,000 plus benefits to find a permanent successor.
A new auditor will need to be hired. Potter said the town will issue a request for proposals as soon as possible.
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