Harwich Loses Another Finance Director

HARWICH – The town has lost another finance director/accountant. Kathleen Barrette, who served the community for 14 months, resigned on Aug. 2. Over a two-year period, three finance directors have resigned. The select board has affirmed the appointment of Eric Kinsherf as an interim finance director while beginning the hunt for a new one.

In May 2022, Finance Director Carol Coppola resigned to take the top finance job for Barnstable County. Coppola was succeeded by Anne Marie Ellis, who served the community for seven months before departing to become the treasurer/tax collector in the town of Yarmouth. Barrette, the former town accountant in the town of Sandwich, became finance director in June of 2023. She lasted 14 months.

The Chronicle requested a copy of Barrette’s resignation letter to the town. Select Board Chair Julie Kavanagh said the document is a public record, but she first had to check to see if there were any personnel provisions before releasing the document. It has not been provided to The Chronicle.

Barrette said on Tuesday her resignation letter was pretty straightforward, thanking the select board for her appointment, and the time she has spent here. Barrette said she appreciates the people who are working in the finance department, and said the department is in good shape.

“They are incredibly hardworking, dedicated people and the town is very lucky to have them,” Barrette told The Chronicle.

She singled out Police Chief Kevin Considine and Fire Chief David LeBlanc for being very supportive and helpful during her tenure, calling them very professional and competent, and adding she is very grateful for their assistance.

“I learned a great deal working for the town of Hawich and appreciate the opportunity I was given. I’m proud of my work, I was a very busy person,” Barrette said.

Barrette said she has taken another finance director position in an off-Cape town, but she did not want to identify the municipality.

The town has lost several members of the finance division to retirement in the past couple of years. Treasurer/tax collector Amy Bullock retired in December of 2022. Assistant treasurer/tax collector Nancy Knepper also left in December of that year. Assistant town accountant Wendy Tullock retired at about the same time that Ellis left for the Yarmouth position.

The town hired Betty Clark MacLeay as treasurer/tax collector to replace Bullock, but MacLeay was terminated at the end of her six-month probationary period last August. The town has yet to fill the full-time treasurer/tax collector’s position and is operating with an interim person.

The select board affirmed the appointment of Eric Kinsherf upon the recommendation of Town Administrator Joseph Powers to serve as the interim finance director. Kinsherf’s company, Kinsherf CPA, LLC, is located in Bourne. Kinsherf is a certified Massachusetts municipal treasurer and tax collector. The town’s interim treasurer/tax collector, Ed Spellman, comes from that company.

“We offer qualified and professional accounting and financial services to Massachusetts cities and towns. Our goal is to deliver an unsurpassed level of quality service and results to our clients,” its website reads. Kinsherf’s company has already been working with the town; he gave a presentation to the select board on June 3 updating the town’s tax title status.

White the town has been seeking to fill the treasurer/tax collector positions for a year, it now begins advertising for a new finance director.

“The Town of Harwich is accepting applications for the position of finance director/town accountant. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration and five years of progressively responsible municipal finance work. A master’s degree in public administration, accounting or finance is preferred,” the posting reads. “A thorough knowledge of the Municipal Finance Law of the commonwealth, and knowledge of the statutory operational responsibilities of each of the three departments in the finance division (accounting, treasurer/collector, assessing). MUNIS experience is preferred. The position is full-time with an annual starting salary of $145,000 to $160,000 per year. The successful candidate will receive an attractive compensation package including health and retirement plans, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position will remain open until filled.