The meeting opened with a discussion about retaining Roselli as Townsend’s auditor for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The committee debated the best approach to drafting a letter to Roselli that would express the town’s interest in continuing their services, which have been engaged for the past three years. The Government Finance Officers Association’s recommendations to retain auditors for at least five years added weight to this decision. Members emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent auditing partner to ensure continuity and efficiency in financial oversight.

The drafting process for the letter to Roselli highlighted the need for precise language and clarity. Members discussed whether to include specific details about past agreements or to adopt a more general tone. They scrutinized the scope of services, which encompassed financial statement audits, preparation, and management letters, with any additional services incurring separate charges. Attaching relevant documents was suggested to streamline future correspondence and avoid redundant searches for past agreements.

Parallel to this, the committee navigated the complexities of extending their contract with CL and Associates. The focus was on a letter that would request a simple extension of the existing agreement without altering current terms. A draft letter was to be reviewed and finalized on official letterhead, with considerations on whether it required a formal signature or review by another town official.

The committee considered an April 15 deadline for feedback from CL and Associates, providing ample time to incorporate the audit into the budget for the next fiscal year. Timely responses were deemed critical to facilitate budget planning.

In terms of scheduling, the committee agreed to reconvene after April 11. Discussions also covered potential incremental fee increases in future agreements, though no specific figures were established.

A noteworthy point emerged concerning the timing of audit reviews relative to the upcoming town election. Conducting the review post-election would allow new select board members to participate, aligning with the electoral cycle. Receiving the audit report before the scheduled meeting was seen as beneficial, though the timing remained uncertain.