Gregory Kallfa plans to retire later this month after nearly 30 years as Westfield city treasurer.
WESTFIELD – Meghan C. Miller says she is prepared and ready to begin her new duties as Westfield’s new city treasurer later this month.
Miller received the appointment on a 10-2 vote of the City Council Thursday night to succeed the retiring Gregory I. Kallfa.
She received the unanimous support of the council’s three-member Personnel Action Committee last week as having the educational background and enthusiasm to master the job as the city’s top financial officer.
Miller, a Westfield resident, was one of four finalists for the position. Other finalists were Springfield Treasurer-Collector Stephen J. Lonergan, Palmer’s Treasurer-Collector Paul A. Nowicki and Kathleen Cooley, a fiscal manager at the New England Farm Workers’ Council.
The three year appointment will begin as soon as Miller completes negotiations with the city’s Human Resources Department on salary. Kallfa plans to retire later this month after nearly 30 years as treasurer. Miller currently is an assistant controller at Appleton Corporation in Holyoke, a position she has held since June. Previously, she worked as a senior auditor at Wolf & Company in Springfield.
Personnel Action Committee chairman Councilor Brent B. Bean II said “all four finalists were very highly qualified to succeed Gregory Kallfa. Her experience gives her the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this position.”
PAC member Anne W. Callahan said Miller will “bring fresh ideas to this department.”
Councilor Brian P. Sullivan said “Meghan brought real enthusiasm for this job with her during the interview process. She will master her new position.”
But, Councilor David A. Flaherty said while Miller “has the educational background and is very bright” he could not ignore the experience other candidates brought, specifically Lonergan and Nowicki. “She is very smart and has the talent to get there in the future but a couple other candidates would have been better,” he said.
Council President Christopher Keefe also voted against Miller’s appointment. Last week when the PAC voted to recommend Miller for the job, Keefe also pointed to positions currently held by Lonergan and Nowicki.
Lonergan told a reporter last week that although he was disappointed he did not receive the PAC’s endorsement, the selection process was fair.