ROCKPORT — Two of the three finalists chosen earlier this month for consideration to fill the post of town accountant have told the town thanks, but no thanks.
With only one finalist remaining at the end of a months-long search to replace Bernie Halupowski, who just retired from the financial post this month, town officials have opted to start over.
The finalists, selected from 11 applicants, were current Town Treasurer/Collector Roberta Josephson; certified public accountant, Nancy Hoofnagle; and Michael Kern, an inn owner and a former member of the town's Finance Committee.
According to Town Administrator Linda Sanders, who was charged with constructing the seven-member search panel, Hoofnagle, of Lanesville, withdrew her name from consideration citing unexpected family obligations.
At that point, selectmen indicated they still wanted to choose from three finalists and asked that the search panel reconsider one of the other applicants.
But early last week, Kern, who runs the Eden Pines Inn, announced he was presented with another opportunity and that he was no longer interested in the accountant position.
"We're back to square one," Selectmen Chairman Andrew Heinze said.
"I felt very good about sending the three finalists to the Board of Selectmen because any one of them could do the job," Sanders said. "(Roberta) Josephson could do the job, but there's currently no selection. If our panel just sent (the selectmen) one finalist who was already an employee, some would say it was planned that way all along."
Josephson was appointed treasurer/collector in February 1999 by the Board of Selectmen. Prior to working for the town, she was an accounting manager with Pilgrim Insurance Company in Boston.
A Rockport resident, she was elected to her first three-year term on the Essex Regional Retirement Board in November 2006, representing the treasurers of the 19 towns and 21 special districts comprising the retirement system.
But Josephson, who earned a $3,000 stipend as a retirement board member, voted consistently with now-ousted Essex Regional Retirement Board Chairman Tim Bassett. As a member of the embattled board — she also approved Bassett's half million dollar retirement package — and against a request from 17 of the 19 towns to have their employees assets moved to a state-run account.
When questioned about the vote, she said she felt the retirees were not being represented in the debate to move the money; however, supporters of the money transfer note that member communities and their taxpayers, not their retirees, are on the hook to make up the difference when retirement board investments fail to generate enough money to cover the cost of the pension payouts.
As treasurer, Josephson will have earned $66,235 by the end of fiscal year 2010. In that same time span, the accountant stood to earn $68,195.
According to the job listing distributed by the town, the accountant is a full-time, salaried position with a pay range of $65,000 to $70,000.
As the search for applicants gets underway, Assistant Town Accountant Debbie Gillis, a member of the search panel, has assumed added responsibilities. The Personnel Board is considering a request to temporarily increase Gillis' salary until a new accountant is named.
Responsibilities of the position include managing two staff members; assisting in the preparation of a $25 million budget; monitoring all budget revenues and expenses; maintaining comprehensive financial records, among other duties.
The town is requiring a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field plus five years of experience in accounting or financial management with experience in municipal accounting preferred.
In addition to Sanders and Gillis, the search panel also included Finance Committee Chairman Frank Hassler; Jim King, a member of the Personnel Board; former town accountant Bill Parsons; Dick Kingston, the town's external auditor; and Halupowski.
The deadline for applicants to submit their resumes is Aug. 27.
Once the field is narrowed to three finalists, the Board of Selectmen will hold public interviews ahead of making its final decision.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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