UNION, Maine — A proposal to change the town treasurer position from elected to one appointed by selectmen is causing debate in the community.
Linda McAllister has held the post for 25 years. She was re-elected to another one-year term during municipal elections in June and her term continues through June 2013.
But at their Sept. 4 meeting, selectmen voted 4-1 to hold a municipal referendum on Nov. 6 to have the treasurer position become an appointed job with a one-year term.
Elmer Savage, the chairman of the Union Board of Selectmen, said Thursday there have been several issues that have been ongoing that led selectmen to ask for the change, a change he supports.
He said the audit done by an outside auditor found significant deficiencies. Savage also said that McAllister had failed to appoint a deputy treasurer which left the town in a difficult position in terms of paying bills and getting payroll done.
McAllister has been out for several weeks for medical reasons and Town Manager Jay Feyler said Wednesday that she has informed the town that she will be absent until Oct. 28.
At the Sept. 4 meeting, Feyler said that two public works employees worked overtime but that the extra pay couldn’t be added to their next paychecks because of the absence of the treasurer. Fire Chief Barry Norris told selectmen at their Sept. 4 meeting, according to meeting minutes, that one of his firefighters was owed a day of pay but was not paid.
Selectmen have scheduled an emergency meeting for 9 a.m. Friday to discuss the treasurer issue and the appointment of a deputy treasurer.
McAllister is being paid $37,822 for the current budget year as approved by voters in June. The town also provides a 3 percent retirement match and pays $9,200 for health insurance.
The most recent management letter from an audit was issued in April.
Significant deficiencies known as material weaknesses listed by certified public accountant Ron Smith included:
• Co-mingling general fund accounts with special fund accounts.
• Delays in posting transfer of money from accounts with those transfers often not being done until the auditor arrives.
• Failure to reconcile the general ledger.
“It appears that this was caused by lack of time and attention paid to these reconciliations and disagreements internally amongst management on how to account for town business, including transfers,” the auditor stated.
Selectwoman Sara Moore, who voted against holding a referendum to change the way the treasurer is selected, said it boils down to a personality conflict.
“The people in the town office want this more than the people in the community,” Moore said.
Moore also said she spoke with the auditor and that the matters were simple to rectify, such as by posting in a more timely manner.
Moore is a member of the Union Tea Party but said she is opposed not because of the tea party position but because she believes an elected treasurer is better for the people.
The proposal has been met with opposition by the Union Tea Party.
“There must be a firewall between the expenditures of voters’ monies and the Board’s request for money,” stated Doris Vertz in a letter to the Bangor Daily News. “The treasurer’s position should not be under the control of the town manager or the board of selectmen. It must stand free.”
McAllister could not be reached for comment. There was no answering machine on her home telephone and she did not answer several calls made to her home.
I agree with the TeaParty folks; there needs to be a separation between the TownManager/Selectmen and the treasurer’s position. There also has been some sharp personality conflicts withing the town office; which probably prompted this proposed change.
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Fix this Union. Quickly.
Under State law the Treasurer has not authority to pay or not to pay invoices. Once the Board of Selectmen sign a warrant the Treasurer is required to pay all items on the warrant. To say she is a “firewall” is saying she is breaking the law!
Since Tuesday the Town of Union is unable to pay its bills, pay employees or accept lien payments without a deputy with designated duties. A change from elected to appointed keeps the same person in the position but enables the manager to cross train other employees to take over the duties of the Treasurer in case of an absence.
It is impossible for the general taxpayer to evaluate the performance of an elected Treasurer. Their performance of duties is done outside what the taxpayers see, how can you evaluate the person if you do not see the results of the work?
The last few audits have shown significant deficiencies that have not all been corrected, many of which have been ongoing for several years. One substantial correction was done when the Town Manger hired an outside person to come in and set up the accounts, this was not done by the elected Treasurer although it was her duty.
Because the Treasurer has refused to appoint a deputy with specified duties, and she left abruptly, the Town of Union is currently unable to pay any bills. There has been no effort on the part of the Treasurer, this absence or the previous planned one, to make sure the Treasurers office is staffed and to leave things in order so the bills can be paid! Do you want a person you elected to simply get up and leave the Town in a financial mess?
I understand the Tea Party to be fiscally conservative, so why does the Town of Union pay a Treasurer 40 hours with benefits for a 20 hour a week job? Are you not worried why there are majors errors in the books each year? Last week we found a $60,000 error, and no it was not in our favor. Is money missing and stolen, NO, is it in the wrong place many times, YES. You can’t operate a business this way nor should be operate municipal government this way.
I invite anyone and everyone to come to the public hearing on October 16 and ask any questions you would like. Ask previous Board members and previous employees, do your homework and vote what is right for the Town.
I believe this to be the most significant thing this Town can do to secure the long term financial security and stability of the Town.