Expressing Lost Confidence with the Budget Process, Wenham FinCom Chairman Resigns

The chairman of the Wenham Finance Advisory Committee resigned on Monday night after "losing confidence in the integrity of the (budget) process."

Catherine Harrison said in her resignation letter that her resignation was effective Tuesday - about a month before the Annual Town Meeting. Her concerns have developed over the past 4-5 months, she said.

"It has been a struggle to balance my desire to fulfill my obligation as a FinCom member (“to advise and make recommendations to town meeting on the budget and other areas of finance…”), with my dissatisfaction with the process," she said.

Harrison said that one of two guiding principles, both as a professional and a volunteer, is to follow "a good process that is carefully crafted, and then followed." It is "essential for a good outcome," she said.

Harrison has been on the FinComm for three years and its chairman for the past two years. Her terms runs through 2014. The committee's chief job is to review the town budget and present it to the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting voters. The committee's recommendation regarding all financial articles is always included in the Town Meting warrant.

Before the FinCom, she was a member of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District Committee for 15 years.

"Tonight, with the voting for town meeting budgets essentially complete, I’ve reached the point where I must compromise my desire to finish what I have begun," she said in her resignation letter on Monday night." The fact that I haven’t agreed with a few of the votes is immaterial -  and actually healthy in decision-making groups; The issue is that I have lost confidence in the process."

She was not available for further comment on Tuesday but said she would be available for an interview on Wednesday.

"I wish the rest of you much luck as you approach the Warrant Hearing and Annual Town Meeting," she said in the conclusion of her resignation letter. "And for those of you continuing to next year--I hope you spend at least a little time defining the process you want to use—and ensure that it is followed."

This story has been corrected to include the correct number of years Harrison was on the School Committee.