Brookfield meeting argues about missing money, audit, uncollected taxes

Brookfield meeting argues about missing money, audit, uncollected taxes
By James Russell CORRESPONDENT

BROOKFIELD — The selectmen's refusal to order an independent forensic audit of town finances in light of a former employee being under investigation in the theft of $50,000 baffled many who attended Friday's special town meeting.

The chairman of the Board of Selectmen said the current treasurer, Sandra Kady, does not want that sort of audit, and the chairman told town meeting that the entire board supports her decision.

Beth Conant, who worked for Brookfield for less than two years beginning in 2012, has been charged with trying to empty the contents of a Town Hall safe after she had resigned in July.

"What is the rationale for the Board of Selectmen not hiring an outside expert for a forensic audit?" Trudy O'Connell asked at Friday night's meeting. She is also the former town administrator in Hubbardston.

"Let's get it done — with someone dedicated to that process," she said.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Stephen Comtois said no.

Ms. Kady "does not believe in an outside source — she says: one set of eyes," Mr. Comtois responded. "The board is confident in her work." Ms. Kady did not attend the meeting.

The question on hiring an independent auditor to comprehensively examine the books came to the floor when a resident, who estimated there is about $800,000 in uncollected property taxes, wanted an estimate from selectmen on how much has not been paid.

"Do you have a figure?" the resident asked.

"Not at this time," Mr. Comtois responded.

The chairman said the town's focus at this time is trying to reconcile the books, and that property tax delinquency is currently on the back burner.

Selectman Linda Lincoln agreed, saying the board has gotten advice that working on property tax arrears "is something for a rainy day."

That remark prompted laughter from many in attendance.

Ms. Lincoln then said: "I am glad you all think it is a big joke."

"I can't understand what is more important than collecting the taxes," responded former Finance Committee member Pat Washburn.

"The Board of Selectmen's focus is absolutely ridiculous," she said. "The treasurer is not doing her job — the three of you don't make any decisions — do your job."

At that point Town Moderator Donald Faugno ruled Ms. Washburn out of order.

Finance Committee member Beth Coughlin said the town's regular auditing firm, Scanlon and Associates, for reasons that are not entirely clear, failed to complete an audit in fiscal 2013, and consequently did not charge the town for work they had completed.

Ms. Coughlin says that Dan Haynes, an accountant with the Scanlon firm, and the former Brookfield treasurer, Lisa Mills, had some sort of disagreement, but the exact details were not disclosed.

"For reasons, according to selectmen, related to issuance of some undisclosed threat from our then town treasurer, toward the lead auditor, Dan Haynes, despite the work done on the audit, a management letter and full audit results were never delivered to the town," Ms. Coughlin told the meeting.

She said that due to the "failure to deliver a viable report to the town, Scanlon and Associates has opted to not bill the town of Brookfield, according to the Board of Selectmen."

Jennifer Grybowski, who resigned as the selectmen's administrative assistant this year, and now holds a similar position with the Brookfield Elementary school principal, told town meeting that "Nobody at the school has received correct paychecks for months."

"We need a full audit," she added. "Things are still a mess."

Although Brookfield is part of the Tantasqua regional school district, each of the five towns is responsible for payroll at the elementary schools, as members of Union 61.