Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Longtime town accountant Carolyn Olsen is retiring after nearly four decades. She has seen significant changes in town accounting with the transition to digitized systems and improved town finances during her tenure. Angelica Desroches has been recommended to replace her.
Article:
After serving as the town accountant in Montague since 1999, Carolyn Olsen is retiring on September 20th. She first started as the assistant town accountant in 1987 when Town Hall was just beginning to implement computer systems. Olsen has witnessed significant changes in the role of a town accountant over the years, especially with the shift towards digitized accounting.
During her time as town accountant, Montague has seen financial growth, with multiple stabilization funds totaling roughly $4 million compared to one $13,000 fund in the past. Olsen credits the hard work of the team and some lucky breaks for the town’s improved financial situation. She also mentioned that the ability to access financial information online has increased public knowledge of town finances.
Angelica Desroches has been recommended to replace Olsen by the Town Accountant Hiring Committee and the Selectboard. Desroches, who currently serves as Greenfield’s city accountant and a part-time town accountant for Leyden, is praised for her experience working with municipalities of different sizes and her commitment to staying local. Olsen expressed confidence in Desroches’ qualifications and believes that her records will be properly maintained in the future.
In conclusion, Olsen reflects on her long tenure as town accountant, expressing her love for the job and the great people she has worked with. She plans to retire in September, leaving time to train her successor, Desroches, who she believes will continue the work she has put into Montague’s financial records.
