Selectmen hire Hubbardston town accountant
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen John Fairbanks and Nick Hay voted to hire Hubbardston's town accountant to replace Stephen Roomian.

The board interviewed Donna Allard - the only remaining finalist for the position - on Thursday, May 10, and voted to hire her immediately after the interview. Allard was recommend to the Selectmen by the Town Accountant Screening Committee, which included Treasurer/Collector Melody Gallant, Personnel Administrator Darlene Boucher, Police Chief Salvatore Albert, Personnel Board member Stephen Hemman, former Selectman Lorraine Emerson and Town Coordinator Karen Murphy.

"I haven't heard anything that leads me to disagree with the recommendation," Fairbanks said.

The town's accountant is responsible for maintaining financial records, as well as supervising and controlling expenditures of all town funds.

The screening committee reviewed 27 applications and identified seven semi-finalists for interviews, according to Murphy.

Of the seven, the committee interviewed five candidates, of which two were deemed finalists - one of which withdrew for personal reasons - Murphy said.

Murphy said the committee recommended the Selectmen interview Allard rather than re-advertising, because they felt she was a very strong candidate and a good fit for the position.

During her interview, Allard focused her comments on the need for communication with Board of Selectmen, the town coordinator and the other members of the town's financial team.

"I really like the financial team you have here - the town coordinator, the treasurer," she said. "It would make coming in as Town Accountant very workable."

She said she is interested in switching towns because she likes Westminster's vision.

"I like that you are a really forward-looking community, but you haven't lost that sense of community," she said.

The Selectmen asked her about her familiarity with the some standard fiscal practices. Allard said she enjoys the practice of revenue forecasting and that she recently finished a 10- year plan in Hubbardston.

At the end of the interview Allard was allowed a chance to ask questions of Hay and Fairbanks. She asked each of them what qualities they were looking for in an accountant.

Hay said he wanted someone who can communicate the details of the budget with the selectmen and the residents of the town.

Fairbanks said he was looking for someone who was a team player and not afraid to take on projects.

"I have a hard time with people who say they are here 8 to 5 and that's it," Fairbanks said. "I think the Town Accountant and Treasurer are vital to how we do our job."

Allard said one of the things that concerns her about the position is that the town's treasurer/ collector is an elected position. She said she respects Gallant and does not have reservations about her work, but it could be a concern in the future.

Fairbanks agreed with her and said the position may change to an appointed position in the future.

Allard is expected to start soon so she can train with Roomian before he retires.

Selectman Thomas O'Toole was absent from the meeting.

In other business:

+ Selectmen awarded the bid to Contois Construction in Gardner to repair the roof on the bathhouse at Crocker Pond Recreation area.

The bid was for $3,056. The only other bid was for $6,000 from Ledger Construction.