Select Board Interviews Candidate for Top Job

Select Board · Meeting of May 5, 2026

Brookfield Select Board interviewed a finalist for interim town administrator and flagged a staffing crisis in the treasurer's office. Chair Sarah Campbell, Select Board members Richard A. Chaffee and Beth L. Coughlin, and Town Accountant Lori Barkas questioned candidate David Snowden, a former Shrewsbury assistant town manager, on town meeting prep, procurement and budget priorities ahead of June's town meeting. Barkas said the treasurer's office has had "third person staff in less than a year" and now relies on a paid interim firm after cash reconciliation fell roughly three months behind.

Campbell cited a $30,000 shortfall on the town's IT contract as proof of procurement gaps, while Chaffee pushed grant writing to stretch Chapter 90 road funds. The board planned one more interview Wednesday and said it would decide by Thursday afternoon.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• [00:36:07] — Lori Barkas, Town Accountant
• [00:50:09] — Beth L. Coughlin, Select Board member
• [00:21:11] — David Snowden, candidate for interim town administrator
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Brookfield's community access TV: Select Board meeting, May 5, 2026
• The complete report: 763 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of May 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.