To The Telegram:
Jan Newsome has indicated in his column that the town of Wascott has not had an annual financial audit for the last eight years. This statement is incorrect. The town of Wascott has used the services of Kerry Drew, a public accountant for each of those years.
In July of 2000, the previous Wascott Town Board requested a proposal from Kerry Drew, based on a reference from the town clerk of Maple. They and other towns had used her auditing services since 1984 and earlier. At that time the Wascott Town Board voted to accept her proposal for auditing work for the town and she has remained the town auditor since.
Recently, it has been brought to the current board's attention that a Certified Public Accountant is required for these services. The town clerk and town board members have requested proposals from several CPA firms. The other board members and I are awaiting those responses. Once the town board decides on a CPA, we will contract with them for an audit for 2008. The Department of Revenue has informed me that it would be a town board decision whether to redo the audit for 2007. Therefore, Ms. Newsome's statement of "blatant disregard for public accountability" could not be further from the truth.
This town is not in the business of criticizing previous town board actions, as I am sure that we all make mistakes time to time. When this situation was brought to our attention. we took immediate action and will bring the township into compliance with a little known state statute.
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-- Bernie Bergman,
chairman, town of Wascott
