Town Lawyer Says Town Accountant Can Be Interim Town Manager

STOUGHTON, MA — The town accountant is allowed to perform the duties of the town manager at the same time, according to the opinion of town counsel.

Responding to concerns that one person could not fill two roles. Interim Town Manager William Rowe told the selectmen Tuesday night that by law, the treasurer can’t release money without the permission of the selectmen and the town manager’s signature is not required for warrants approved by the board.

Since taking over as interim town manager, Rowe has left the town manager’s signature blank and has had Scott Curtis, the assistant town accountant, sign the warrants.

Rowe has been the interim town manager since July 1, when Michael Hartman's contract expired. Hartman, who has sued the town, says he was never formally discharged as is required by the town charter. In a past press release, Chairman David Sousa said Hartman ceased being a town employee when his contract with the town expired.

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Selectman Robert O’Reagan questioned the opinion of town counsel.

“That’s the function of the town manager to approve the warrants,” he said. “The problem of an inherent conflict in how these relationships exist still exists and I do not believe that warrants are properly presented for the board to approve or properly presented for the board so the process the law requires the issuance of taxpayer’s money is complied,” he said. “It would be a mistake to issue taxpayer money until we are satisfied. We are not there yet.”

Town counsel Brian Winner reemphasized that there is no requirement for the town manager to sign warrants presented to the selectmen. A motion to pay the warrants passed 3-2, with O’Reagan and Michael Sullivan voted no.

In other town manager news, an agenda item title “To Consider and Appoint an Interim Town Manager” was moved to a Thursday meeting.

The case between Hartman and the town was scheduled to be heard in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Tuesday afternoon, but that has been rescheduled to potentially July 24 according to the court clerk’s office.