Sherrill,

Statutorily, the Treasurer should only sign checks for payments that have been approved by the Selectboard and sometimes the Treasurer may not want to sign a check for a payment the Selectboard has approved.  In the first scenario, an approval process by
a town department head or manager should have occurred before the payable is entered for payment. If the Selectboard has comfort in the process, then they will normally sign a warrant listing the payables due and approved.  These warrants do not have to b
e signed at a meeting (I believe that has changed over time), but should have a majority of signatures prior to the Treasurer signing and releasing the checks.

As others have mentioned, the payroll is done routinely, and warrants are often signed after release of the checks.

If the Treasurer is uncomfortable signing a check for a payment, two things have been suggested.  Sign the check, but write a letter to the Selectboard as to why you dispute the payment so that the Treasurer is on record.  The other option is to become co
mfortable with the payment by discussing it with the Board or Town Manager.

For $30.00, your town can purchase you the new Town Treasurer handbook from VLCT, which will provide you with numerous tidbits of info whenever you need a question answered or refer you to the statute.  VLCT will answer questions as well.

For your protection, figure out the system that can work for you so that you have Selectboard approval prior to signing checks.  You can always handle an exception by calling a SB member or two and polling them on a payment out of the normal routine.

Cheryl Lindberg
Treasurer
Town of Norwich