BUCKFIELD —In a highly unusual move, the town audit for fiscal year 2019-20 was presented to the Select Board during an hourlong executive session Tuesday.

Auditor Ron Beaulieu of Ron L. Beaulieu & Co. of Portland insisted on the closed-door meeting.

When an objection was raised by the Sun Journal, the stated reason for the session was that part of the discussion involved personnel, and that the audit itself would not be discussed behind closed doors. The board also told members of the public watching on Zoom that the audit would be presented and discussed after the executive session.

When the board returned to public session, Beaulieu was no longer present and Chairperson Cheryl Coffman acknowledged the board had indeed discussed the audit in closed session out of public view. She also said the board was not going to discuss the audit and if residents wanted information on it they could read it on the town website.

When questioned by members of the public, Coffman said the contract the town signed with the auditor stated that he would only present his report in executive session.

The Select Board did not discuss any of the findings in the audit.

The 2019-20 fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, but the audit was not begun until January, prompting outgoing interim Town Manager Bradley Plante to criticize the delay before he resigned last month for health reasons.

The five board members, Coffman, Robert Hand, Cameron Hinkley, Janet Iveson and Mike Iveson, and Beaulieu were the only ones in the executive session.

New Town Manager Lorna Dee Nichols, who started Monday, was not in the executive session and waited with members of the public for it to end.

She was welcomed by the board and town staff and praised for her enthusiasm and vision.

Nichols comes to the office following a tumultuous year as Buckfield saw four town managers since August 2020. She said she was impressed with the staff and volunteers who have stepped forward to help the town.

The board appointed Nichols as town treasurer, which caused some concern from residents who wondered who would serve as the check and balance if the town manager also writes the checks.

Coffman insisted the appointment was only temporary.

Residents Glen Holmes and Martha Catevenis urged the board to start holding meetings in person and not just on Zoom.

Cory Nicholson, representing the group Equity Buckfield, told the board about the sign his group recently put up at the recreation center that said “Support all Buckfield children” and was stolen three hours later. Frustrated that someone would remove the sign, he said he plans to post another with the same message with help from the Recreation Department.

« Previous

Two Oxford Hills school administrators given expanded roles

Next »

Part craftsman, part performance artist, Ryan Adams forges ancient trade