The Wellfleet Selectboard has unanimously agreed to advertise for a finance director position, aligning with state regulatory recommendations. This decision follows the hiring of Town Administrator Tom Guerino in February, who emphasized that this role is part of a broader reorganization plan. The state's Department of Revenue advised Wellfleet to implement various management changes, including consolidating financial operations and establishing regular reporting mechanisms. The town aims to streamline its finance department by integrating multiple roles into one cohesive unit.
Implementing State-Recommended Financial Reforms
The town of Wellfleet is taking significant steps towards improving its financial management practices. Following a 2023 report from the state Department of Revenue, which highlighted the need for structural changes, the Selectboard has embraced these recommendations. A key initiative involves creating a finance director position to oversee all financial activities within the municipality. This move aims to enhance transparency and accountability in financial reporting, while also ensuring better coordination among different departments.
The finance director will play a crucial role in overseeing financial operations, training staff, and developing comprehensive financial plans. Although the state initially advised against combining this position with other roles, the board decided to proceed with a combined position as an interim measure. This approach allows current employees holding relevant positions to apply for the new role. The ultimate goal is to establish a full-time finance director position that ensures regular updates to both the Selectboard and the Finance Committee.
Strategic Reorganization of Municipal Departments
Tom Guerino, the Town Administrator, proposed a strategic reorganization of Wellfleet’s financial departments to optimize resources and efficiency. Recognizing the challenges faced by a small town with fewer than 4,000 year-round residents, Guerino suggested merging the treasurer, collector, accountant, and possibly assessing and human resources departments into a single finance department. This consolidation aims to create a more streamlined and effective financial management structure.
Board members expressed support for this initiative but emphasized the importance of cross-training staff to ensure redundancy and data entry support. Michael DeVasto, Vice Chair of the board, stressed the need for thorough preparation and reassessment after three to four years. Additionally, the board recently approved a job reorganization for an administrative assistant position at the newly acquired Gestalt Center, further enhancing support across all departments. These measures reflect Wellfleet’s commitment to modernizing its administrative processes and improving overall governance.