8/27/2020 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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4 Finance Committee Minutes August 27, 2020 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Ed Larkin Deputy Moderator; Update on filling vacancies on Finance Committee: (continued) Deputy Moderator Larkin indicated the Annual Town Report lists the year of the term of Finance Committee members. It is the only committee that does not have a specific day and month of expiration. As we move forward Mr. Larkin in his duties as Deputy Moderator will verify the exact dates of the Finance Committee appointments with the Town Clerk to co-inside with the three year appointed term to ensure the process is duly followed. Mr. Brady was appointed by the Town Moderator on August 27, 2020. His respective term will therefore be effective from the 27"' of August hence three years. In considering the previous inquiry regarding the responsibilities of the Finance Committee as it relates to the Charter, Mr. Larkin indicated the Town Charter Committee functions primarily on the essential structure and operation of Town Government. Mr. Larkin has served on the Town Charter Review Committee and the regular review of the Charter has been recently changed. It is now permissible to conduct a review in less than a 10 year period. Mr. Larkin recommended that more attention be given with regards to correct procedure. This includes timely and equal advertisement as with other town positions when a Finance Committee vacancy arises. Deputy Moderator Larkin indicated he would ensure there is adequate advertisement for the vacant positions. It was noted the Board of Selectmen publish a periodic vacancy list that does not include the Finance Committee as the Board of Selectmen are not the appointing authority. The Town Moderator makes the appointment, and the Finance Committee has always been an independent committee. Finance Committee member John Miller offered to draft a procedure to facilitate the goal to include the sequence of events when a vacancy is created until the Town Moderator would make the appointment. Mr. Larkin agreed to follow up with this request with the Town Moderator. It was determined if any work is conducted with the Town Moderator it will not be considered as a required task of the Finance Committee. In other matters Deputy Moderator Larkin indicated the Finance Committee is responsible under the mandates of the Town Charter to request that an annual independent audit. Although using the same auditing firm may represent a cost savings, it was recommended that an auditing firm take on the task for a period no longer than 3-years. In closing Mr. Larkin wished the Finance Committee a very good success and commented in high regard to the Finance Committee Report prepared by the Finance Committee for the benefit of the citizens of the Town of Mashpee to assist in their review of the Town Meeting warrant.