Brenda Sprigman Named Full-Time West Deptford CFO

After a closed-session meeting Tuesday night, West Deptford leaders selected West Deptford resident Brenda Sprigman from a field of three candidates for the vacant CFO position in the township.

"We had three very qualified candidates come and interview," said Committeeman Sam Cianfarini. "After the interview process it was just very obvious that the best candidate was Brenda Sprigman."

The decision means that Sprigman will extend her role as acting CFO until December 2013. Although she is not a certified municipal CFO—one of the qualifications the committee was seeking from its applicants—Cianfarini said Sprigman will sit for that exam in May 2014.

"The schedule of those classes are what delay that," he said. "The tests are only given twice a year, in May and December; she's completed two of them at this point in time." 

The committee also considered West Deptford resident David Leh and Susan Anastasio-Quinones of Millville for the position. Ultimately, said Mayor Ray Chintall, Sprigman's private-sector and on-the-job experience separated her from the pack.

"To me, being here almost every day, there's not a person in this building that does not like Brenda," he said. "It's consensus-building, and she's doing that every day, and that's what we need."

"We've had experience with her actual work product and we feel she's the best choice," Cianfarini added.

Both men agreed that Sprigman will play an important role in getting the books in West Deptford in order as the township approaches its annual budget presentation.

"One-third of our budget's going to be debt," Chintall said. "That in itself is a huge problem. We need a fresh approach."