Mangano To Leave As Finance Director
Photo: amherstma.gov
It was reported at the July 31 meeting of the African Heritage Reparations Assembly that Amherst Finance Director Sean Mangano is stepping down on August 30, 2023. He has held the position of Finance Director since April. No additional information has been forthcoming from the town or from Mangano. Apparently, he will no longer be working for the Town of Amherst.
Mangano has been employed by the town for over a decade, serving as budget analyst, accountant, and then Finance Director for the Amherst Pelham Regional School District before being named Finance Director for the town. His departure comes several months after long-time Comptroller Sonia Aldrich retired in the spring. No information has been released on who will be named acting Finance Director or when a search for Mangano’s replacement will begin.
Sean Mangano is a gem of a Finance Director and person and he will be sorely missed. Please note the turnover of stellar staff in Director positions for the town. By Town Manager (and Council) policy, Town of Amherst staff is extremely underpaid and overworked in comparison to other towns. I hope Sean has found or finds a town that appreciates his amazing skills and his calm, reassuring composure under pressure.
Over the years, I have copied Sean Mangano on my INDY comments about the Jones Library Trustees’ and Town Council’s Library construction grant fiscal roulette.
Bottom line: Unless these officials provide the Massachusetts Historical Commission with the detailed planning data needed for the Commission to identify their project’s adverse effects on the Library’s historic features, and unless these officials participate in the Commission’s public process to eliminate, minimize, and mitigate these adverse effects, applicable law provides both that the Town of Amherst will get no more grant money, and that it will have to return the millions it has received already. Even if the Town has already spent that money. Oh, and there’s interest.
I see no evidence that the Trustees and Town Council intend to end their scofflaw ways.
What’s a Town Finance Director to do then?
Fortunately for Mr. Mangano, it won’t be his nightmare.