The Board of Selectmen is scheduled on Tuesday to vote on a measure that would see a veteran of municipal government finances hired as interim CFO for the town, according to a public meeting agenda.
Sandra Dennies—formerly CFO in Wilton and director of administration in Stamford—would take on the role for a two-month period “subject to a review of candidates for a permanent assignment,” according to the selectmen’s agenda for a 9 a.m. meeting to be held at Town Hall.
The prospect of a new municipal finance director comes two months before current CFO Dawn Norton was expected to retire, in July.
It also follows a decision from the town’s highest elected official to appoint a new, in-house “overseer” of the finance department—a change that members of the Audit Committee said allowed them to support the town’s annual financial report for the year ending June 30, 2016.
It isn’t clear whether the imminent vote on an interim CFO means Norton will retire sooner. Town officials declined to comment, citing personnel matters.
Norton has held the position for about five years.
The state of the finance department took center stage in March when New Canaan’s elected town treasurer listed before members of the Town Council during a public meeting a number of concerns—concerns later pooh-poohed during a meeting of the selectmen.
No wonder they pooh-poohed the complaints. Even with Dawn Norton in place they are still not “up to speed ” How long does it take to be accepted by an Audit Committe? Always one excuse or another.