Carroll named comptroller
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Darlene Carroll

The Town of Amherst has its fourth comptroller in 21 months.

In a 4-3 vote, the Town Board approved Darlene Carroll, supervising accountant, for the position, thus denying the reappointment of Frank Belliotti. He had served since his appointment in August 2006, filling a vacancy created when Maureen Cilano left in April 2006.

Financial consultant David Hanley, of the firm Freed Maxick & Battaglia, served as an interim comptroller from April to August 2006.

"I have spent so many years in the office, almost 10," Carroll said. "I felt I was the best candidate to fill the vacancy. I know the budget, the finances, the laws."

Carroll said she applied for the position after the job opening was posted on the town's Web site and in the newspaper, which suggested Belliotti might not be considered for reappointment.

She was hired by the town in 1998 as an assistant to the director of finance, around the same time Cilano was hired as comptroller.

In those 10 years, Carroll, who is also a certified public accountant, said she has seen many changes to the department, especially in leadership roles.

Prior to her appointment, board members highlighted issues from the past two years. Deputy Supervisor Shelly Schratz, who was named to the post moments before, said she would not support Belliotti's reappointment because of the handling of some of those issues.

She also noted that in Belliotti's first year it was Carroll who created the tentative budget with Supervisor Satish Mohan.

Mohan, who presented Carroll's appointment, said he felt he had no control as chief financial officer and wanted changes in the department.

The resolution to appoint Carroll also stated that the comptroller will also function as a finance director, accountable to the supervisor as chief financial officer, until a Finance Department is created and a separate finance director is appointed.

Council Member Dan Ward disagreed with Mohan's motion, saying that as worded, the finance director would report solely to Mohan instead of the board as a whole.

Ward had a resolution under his report to reappoint Belliotti, but Carroll's appointment was approved before that resolution could be brought to a vote.

Council Member Deborah Bruch Bucki was also in support of retaining Belliotti.

"I believe there is space for Frank Belliotti and Darlene Carroll in two positions, and name Darlene the finance director," she said, adding that Belliotti had been appointed at a difficult time but has resolved many issues, doing an excellent job.

Belliotti left the reorganizational meeting prior to the appointment. He was not at the comptroller's office the following morning.

The board also approved the reappointment of Town Attorney Tom Jones and deputy attorneys J. Matthew Plunkett and Alan P. McCracken. The reappointment of the third deputy, Christopher P. Moen, was held until the Jan. 22 meeting. He was appointed in June, following the death of Mark Jasen in May. Board members said they wanted to meet with Moen before reappointing him.

• The board did not approve the holiday schedule. Mohan questioned why 14 holidays were granted when the national average is 10 for municipalities. The board agreed to give all employees Martin Luther King Day off but would review the list. If an employees' contract requires a certain number of holidays, that number can't be adjusted while the contract is in effect. A change would affect mainly department heads and nonunion employees.

• The office hours were set as: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for general offices; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the Town Clerk and Youth offices; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Senior Center and Recreation Department; and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Refuse and Highway. Hours are for Monday through Friday.

• Ward's proposal to have eight meetings in various schools and fire departments around town failed. The 2008 meetings will be held at Town Hall, 5583 Main St., on the following days: Jan. 22, Feb. 4 and 25, March 3 and 17, April 7 and 21, May 5 and 19, June 2 and 16, July 7 and 21, August 4 and 18, Sept. 2 and 15, Oct. 6 and 20, Nov. 3 and 17, and Dec. 1 and 15, and Jan. 5, 2009.

• The Amherst Bee was named the official newspaper for the town.

For other appointments from the reorganizational meeting, visit www.amherst.ny.us.