A meeting convened at 7:30 PM in Town Hall.
Members in attendance: Croft, Herbster, Kenney, Martin, Putnam, Smith and Swanson
Members absent: Bothwick, Carr
Others present: Town Accountant, Town Administrator, Police Chief and several police officers
Mr. Herbster presided.
NEW MEMBERS
Sam Martin and Ralph Smith were introduced.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER
Police – The Town Administrator explained that 15 years ago $10,000 was appropriated to establish an account for police detail pay. The purpose was to be able to pay the officer for his detail work the following day, subject to there being money in the account. A very loose accounting system has been in place to bill for and collect monies due from detail customers, and has been a deficit approximating $50,000 at one time. This system has been a concern that has appeared in the auditor’s management letter for several years.
Within the last several months, the former Police Chief, the Town Administrator and the current Police Chief have recovered some of the deficit. The records are inconclusive as to why there has been no reconciliation. The Police Chief has established a formal accounting system, and from here on the account will be reconciled. At the end of fiscal 2007, $26,225 was transferred into this account from the Essex Prisoner account.
Currently detail payments to police officers are two months in arrears. Verizon is a big offender, and it is not possible to tell them they cannot do the work until they pay. The Town Administrator will meet with them and attempt to establish a better payment system.
Some suggestions are:
- Collect a $20,000 administrative fee up front
- Discount administrative fee if the bill is paid in a timely manner
At Special Town Meeting the BOS and FinCom will recommend an appropriation of $18,950 to the Reserve Fund.
Mr. Kenney MOVED “to transfer $18,950 to the Police Detail Revolving Account, and that the billing and collection system be checked every thirty days”. The MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MINUTES
The minutes of 7/17/07 were adopted as written, with Martin and Smith abstaining.
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Sabella, Clerk
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