Select Board Won't Sign Off On Cash Report

Select Board · Meeting of September 21, 2026

East Brookfield Select Board refuses to certify year-end cash report over unexplained deficits. Town Accountant Donna flagged a negative $143,000 petty-cash figure and two closed bank accounts carrying deficits since 2023, one near $36,000, that she said the treasurer has not reconciled despite a July 20 order to do so monthly. Select Board member Amber said by phone, "I am not comfortable signing the form the way it was submitted, and that is how I will stand." The board will summon the treasurer to explain before seeking free-cash certification ahead of a Nov. 9 special town meeting.

Separately, the board voted unanimously to spend up to $60,000 in Chapter 90 matching funds to repave Route 9 before Nov. 1, authorized the chairman to sign a USDA grant application worth up to $35,000 for fire station repairs, and learned two town complex heating units serving the library and police station are failing, with replacement quotes running $80,000 to $90,000 and 16-week lead times.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,903 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.