WILTON – Town Administrator Scott Butcher and Administrative Assistant Pam Atwood resigned abruptly in the middle of a meeting of the Select Board on Monday, leaving no personnel in the selectmen’s office.

While tensions in town hall have been rising, especially since town meeting and the election of William Chalmers as town treasurer, the precipitating incident appeared to be the sudden resignation of bookkeeper/office assistant Caityn Martin over the weekend and how to find a temporary replacement.

Butcher said his job description and his authority were being undermined and “challenged every day,” and suggested that Selectman Kermit Williams, among others, was doing it.

Butcher told the board he planned to hire an interim bookkeeper, perhaps a temporary-to-hire person. Martin’s leaving, he said, “left us in a bind.”

Williams said he would rather contract with a bookkeeping service who could provide somebody knowledgeable with the systems being used while a new person was sought. He suggested a six-months contract.

Board member Kellie-Sue Boissonnault said the position “was more than just a bookkeeper, she works with all the departments,” and said the new person “could work into the position.” She added that Butcher’s job description gave him the power to hire “and we should let him do it.”

New board member Matt Fish said perhaps the administrator’s job description should be revisited and the Select Board get more involved in the hiring of personnel. “I think we should all be equal here.”

Boissonnault said the job description had been put together by the selectmen, one of whom was Williams.

The role of the administrator, she said, “is to take some of the responsibilities from the board,” including hiring.

Williams made a motion to contract with a bookkeeping service and Fish agreed.

At that point, Butcher stood up and announced his resignation, effective immediately, and left, followed by Atwood who also said she was resigning. Butcher said he “wished the town the best of luck.”

Butcher had just completed his first year in office. He was the town’s first administrator and the transition did not go smoothly. During the past year, four department heads were changed. Ambulance Director Gary Zirpollo accepted a potion with another service; Fire Chief Ray Dick and Police Chief Brent Hautanen retired, and Public Works Director Steve Elliott was dismissed. Except for Hautanen, the departures were accompanied by numerous rumors and innuendos of friction with Butcher, which were never officially acknowledged or denied by the town office.

William Chalmers caused more friction. At the last several board meetings, he claimed to be unable to sign checks because he could not get needed information, could not see bank records, didn’t know how much money was in the town’s checking account, and his name was not on the approved list to sign checks. He didn’t know the status of the town’s short-term investments and questioned audits. He said he had been in contact with the state and the Department of Revenue, although he was asked at a previous board meeting “to direct all of his questions to the town office.” Chalmers said he was unable to determine what previous treasurer Jerry Greene had done, that he had left no records. He did not accuse Greene of any wrongdoing.

Butcher said, concerning Martin’s resignation, Chalmers “has been less than cooperative,” and implied that it was due to Chalmers. He added, “We need to move forward and get vendor bills paid while we settle these issues. We need to function while we’re fixing them.”

It was noted that the payroll was being paid, but other bills were not, and some had late charges.

After Butcher’s departure, Williams said the town was supposed to have a “financial procedure policy,” but apparently had never had one. They will now work with Chalmers to develop one.

Williams also said he was under the impression that Butcher had come to the meeting intending to resign. He and Butcher had apparently had an earlier discussion, but Williams did not elaborate on it.

The entire Select Board planned to meet at the town office early on Tuesday to determine what needed to be done to secure records and continue business. Town Clerk Jane Farrell was given charge of the office.