| Financial Audit Not Specific To Assessors | |||||
Reporter PHILLIPSTON Board of Assessors Chairman Gerhard Fandreyer held a discussion about the assessor’s audit during the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday to determine why the state requested an audit after an investigation in October regarding their hours. According to Selectmen Vice Chairman Terry Dymek, the audit is part of the Community Compact application process through the State’s Department of Revenue. Dymek explained that Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will come to Phillipston to sign the compact on May 17 at 9 a.m. “It’s to examine financial management with not just the Assessor’s Office, but the Treasurer’s, Accountant’s and Tax Collector’s Office,” Dymek said. “That way, no one is singled out. “ Fandreyer explained that every municipality is required by state law to conduct an audit every year to accept state funding if the towns apply to be part of the Community Compact. Phillipston is no exception. The accounting firm Roselli and Clark of Woburn will conduct the audit. Fandreyer said that the audit isn’t a bully practice to single out the Assessor’s Office. Dymek explained that the idea behind the Community Compact process is to ensure that the town has the best financial practices. “We’re going for financial management and Complete Streets (a road improvement program),” Dymek said. “They’re going to use the Financial Management Review in 2014 as a benchmark.” The October investigation revolved around the fact that some people went to the office during posted office hours, but they said that the door was locked without an explanation. Fandreyer said that was before a second assessor’s assistant was hired. There was only Assessors Assistant Kelly Garlock present, and she went home sick that day. “We posted a sign on the front door, and on the Assessor’s Office door, but someone in town would take those notices down,” Fandreyer said. “We’ve also had problems with someone turning off lights in the hallway and foyer. Is he or she playing games?” Assessor Dave Manty suggested that an alternative is to put a lock on it. Anthony Membrino, the second assessor’s assistant who he was referring to, said that was there was good, honest discussion on Monday. “(Concern about the audit) was either a simple miscommunication or a misuse of words, not a malicious intent,” Membrino said after the meeting. “I don’t know what the cause of animosity toward one another would have been.” Since he is new to the Assessor’s Office, Membrino said he wasn’t familiar with what a Community Compact is, but he’s glad that Dymek and the other selectmen broke it down for him. Membrino said since Fandreyer and Garlock are proficient in their positions, he doesn’t foresee any problems with the audit. |
My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
Templeton is also scheduled to be part of the Community Compact signing, but the audits for Templeton won't begin until later this month.
ReplyDeleteAnother statement made by the town administrator at Monday night's selectman's meeting, is that after a preliminary look at FY 13, it looks like there will be a deficit for that fiscal year. If that deficit materializes, then that deficit will be corrected with money from Free Cash (by the DOR).
So before the selectmen make recommendations for using free cash for ANYTHING, they might want to determine the actual amount of free cash.
Templeton has not had access to free cash (because the DOR won't certify it - rightly so) for a few years now. If the audits go well( doubtful), then in my opinion , free cash won't be certified for use until this time next year. That is if there is any free cash left to certify after the audits ( probable but not certain).