Longtime Dalton Town Accountant Set to Retire
DALTON, Mass. — After more than two decades with the town, Town Accountant Sandra Albano will be retiring effective Oct. 2.
During her tenure, she collaborated with the town's departments to manage and document finances, enabling informed budgetary decisions.
Over the past 25 years, Albano balanced the town's financial books, estimated revenues, recorded all receipts and expenditures, and prepared financial reports, to ensure compliance and accuracy in municipal accounting.
Her dedication to Dalton shined amidst the stacks of numbers, decisions made on the foundation of fiscal responsibility, and several testimonials from her peers.
Interim Town Manager Henry "Terry" Williams III, was a longtime Finance Committee member and chair, and has worked with Albano since 2000.
During that time, she has been meticulous, paying close attention to detail, and possesses a deep understanding of municipal accounting, which involves managing various funds such as the general fund, special revenue funds, trust funds, and stabilization funds, he said.
Her consistent updates to the budget worksheet and careful management of free cash and local receipts have significantly impacted the town's financial stability and budgeting, Williams said.
"I would describe her legacy as leaving behind a sense of doing things the right way and not taking shortcuts. She leaves a legacy of realizing that your financials are only as good as the amount of effort you're willing to put in to making sure that all transactions are recorded properly … I'm really hoping that her successor will be ultimately as good as she was and will last as long as she has, too, because that's given the town a lot of continuity," he said.
"Believe me, our bond rating is somewhat a result of the fine financial statements that she's been able to put together over the years. So I can't overestimate, really, how great she's been and the service of the town."
Albano's been in the accounting business for 35 years, with her first job working as an accounts payable clerk with Martin Marietta in Maryland, shifting into government accounts during her time there. She took a break for motherhood and went back to work for Lipton Energy when her children entered school.
It was her instructor at Berkshire Community College, Donald Dwyer, "who absolutely put the still of love of accounting in me, just how he taught," she said. "I had him for two years … he was enthusiastic about what he was teaching, and he just made it be real to me and the way he taught me to do things, I carry back into the jobs that I do."
She was the unanimous choice of the Select Board and the search committee to fill the position left by Christine Regan in 2000.
Select Board Chair Robert Bishop emphasized Albano's dedication to the town and highlighted how if he owned a business she would be the first person he would hire.
"[Albano] will be missed big time! She was/is one of the most dedicated town employees I have ever seen. I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for Dalton," he said. "It was a pleasure to have worked closely with her when she stepped up and became the interim town manager …Wishing her all good times in her well deserved retirement."
Town Clerk Heather Hunt also highlighted Albano's time stepping up to be interim town manager when the longtime town manager retired four years ago.
"Although [Albano's] job as accountant has always kept her super busy, when asked to step in and help out, she of course accepted and gave it her all, while continuing to be the Town accountant and keeping her department up and running," Hunt said.
Albano is a team player focused on the town's best interests, offering support and guidance to various town departments, including the highway department, police department, assessors, and tax office, Hunt said.
"She will be sorely missed but I think I speak for all of us that have had the pleasure to work with her. We wish her rest and happiness in her retirement as she has earned every bit of it," she said.
Albano has been a tremendous asset to the town because of her plethora of knowledge surrounding the town's finances and laws, Finance Committee Chair William Drosehn said.
"It will be very difficult to replace such an asset. She is the kind of person that when she leaves there will be a large void that needs to be filled in so many different ways," he said.
"As Finance Committee chair, I leaned on her for so many things with relation to what is needed to make things happen with the town finances. She very deeply cares about this town and how it runs and that it remains healthy financially.
"I would like to thank her for all of the time and unpaid hours she has put in not only with her position but with teaching others how this town works financially. Thank you, we will miss you."
Christine Bialobok, assistant accountant, said Albano had a vast knowledge and was always there to answer questions and help find solutions.
"Such a wealth of knowledge its going to be hard to replace," she said.
Tami Flatley, assistant clerk, that during the brief time she has worked with Albano she has noticed her unmeasured dedication.
"She spends countless hours of her own time every week for the town. She is always making sure the town's needs are met to the best of her ability. She is a kind person, always willing to help, and will be hugely missed," she said.
With just a month left in her position, Albano left words of advice for her successor — be helpful because you work with all the departments and they work with you. So, be helpful, be nice, and be courteous.
"Get to know your fellow employees, because you're the all around person that does everything for each department. That means you have to record from each department. It would be good for you to not keep your door shut and go out and meet them," she said.
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