Eleanor Beck's letter to the editor (9/27/07) in reference to the Cuddy and Ward audit misleads the reader to conclude that the problems outlined in the audit are not new ones for the town.
That is simply not true. The grievous problems outlined in the 2006 audit did not exist prior to January 1, 2006.
In December 2005, the new supervisor fired the veteran bookkeeper and the water billing clerk.
Thus began the town's fiscal problems. Frustrated by numerous attempts to encourage Supervisor Badman to make changes in the bookkeeper position, the Town Board unanimously supported hiring Cuddy and Ward to do an audit for 2005 and 2006.
The 2005 audit presented to the Board in November of 2006 said among others “Significant problems noted for 2006.”
It also noted that not all accounting transactions had been entered into the accounting software, bank reconciliations had not been prepared during the entire year, bond payments and employee retirement contributions had been paid late and serious concerns about the accuracy and timely mailing of water bills.
It was apparent to Cuddy and Ward, working with the new supervisor that the town was in serious fiscal trouble.
The bookkeeping position became a revolving door serving at the pleasure of the supervisor.
The board heard the results of the 2006 audit at the Sept. 14, 2007 meeting.
The “Significant Problems noted for 2006” were identified. The audit was harsh. Nineteen comments were made, a few minor, most of them serious and several alarming.
Some grave enough for further investigation.
These problems are new for the town, Owasco's reputation as one of the best had been tarnished. Supervisor Badman resigned in February 2007.
In March 2007, the deputy supervisor rehired the veteran bookkeeper and has been working with the town board to rebuild our fiscal house.
As a candidate for supervisor and a member of the town board, the lessons learned from the chaos that befell us is that the good people in Owasco deserve great leadership.
Experience, communication, cooperation, and listening skills are mandatory to conduct the business of this wonderful town.
John Klink
Owasco
In December 2005, the new supervisor fired the veteran bookkeeper and the water billing clerk.
Thus began the town's fiscal problems. Frustrated by numerous attempts to encourage Supervisor Badman to make changes in the bookkeeper position, the Town Board unanimously supported hiring Cuddy and Ward to do an audit for 2005 and 2006.
The 2005 audit presented to the Board in November of 2006 said among others “Significant problems noted for 2006.”
It also noted that not all accounting transactions had been entered into the accounting software, bank reconciliations had not been prepared during the entire year, bond payments and employee retirement contributions had been paid late and serious concerns about the accuracy and timely mailing of water bills.
It was apparent to Cuddy and Ward, working with the new supervisor that the town was in serious fiscal trouble.
The bookkeeping position became a revolving door serving at the pleasure of the supervisor.
The board heard the results of the 2006 audit at the Sept. 14, 2007 meeting.
The “Significant Problems noted for 2006” were identified. The audit was harsh. Nineteen comments were made, a few minor, most of them serious and several alarming.
Some grave enough for further investigation.
These problems are new for the town, Owasco's reputation as one of the best had been tarnished. Supervisor Badman resigned in February 2007.
In March 2007, the deputy supervisor rehired the veteran bookkeeper and has been working with the town board to rebuild our fiscal house.
As a candidate for supervisor and a member of the town board, the lessons learned from the chaos that befell us is that the good people in Owasco deserve great leadership.
Experience, communication, cooperation, and listening skills are mandatory to conduct the business of this wonderful town.
John Klink
Owasco
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