After viewing the management letter and delving into the body of Salisbury’s audit, it is difficult to fathom how one can have any confidence in the current administration.
For the past several years, in issue after issue, questions posed by citizens have been met with bobbing, weaving, and half-truths, or worse, total falsehoods. We have seen administrative incompetence regarding the WWTP, the Salisbury Zoo, the handling of the Mall property, and the TIF process. We have witnessed money being committed and spent prior to being authorized by the City Council. A department head was hired for a department not yet created at the time of the hiring. Questions about a $10 million firehouse built on land appraised at $175,000 and purchased for $350,000 go ignored and unanswered. This merely skims the surface of the reprehensible actions of the mayor and those residing under her thumb.
Unfortunately for the mayor, we may have come to the end of the road. There is no way to avoid the issue of the just-delivered audit. It can’t be dodged, and it can’t be swept under the rug. The audit can’t be fully explored in this short letter, but phrases like “no management review process”, and “deficiency has impaired the City’s ability to report reliable financial data”, and “new cash account of $5.3 million which had not been reconciled to the general ledger” speak volumes. The ineptitude exhibited in handling and documenting the City’s funds is staggering. The lack of adherence to fundamental accounting procedures creates a Petri dish ripe with the opportunity for fraud.
Empty promises and deceptive statements won’t make this go away. . It’s time for sunshine in the inner workings of Salisbury. It’s time to demand accountability
Bob Caldwell
And isn't Barrie Chair of LGIT,insurance agency for municipalities all over Maryland?
ReplyDeleteUh.........what a joke.
Let's let LGIT know about this mess.
Well said, Mr. Caldwell, very well said.
ReplyDeleteThis is Enron-ish. Such creative accounting principles by Barrie and Oland must be reported to the State Prosecutor and to Oland's licensure board.
ReplyDeleteOland must be fired; she is totally inept. Even Geary said in one of his recent presentations that she had no experience in municipal accounting. If Perdue will take her back, she should go back to counting chickens--'cause she's been the fox in our City henhouse and she's got to go.
Clearly, Geary wasn't putting his license on the line and could no longer be bent to Barrie's will and these statements have come forth.
why isn't this in the Daily Times yet?
ReplyDeleteFF
Enron, indeed. The mayor loves to talk about "creative financing."
ReplyDeleteI hope they televise all the spin and excuses coming forth on this one. I'll put on a second Superbowl spread for it.
Bob and Donna: Thank you both for bringing to our attention the total ineptitude of this city administration. So, here we have some $10.2 million laying in unaccountable accounts, that our leaders had to know about when they hit us for a 14 per cent tax increase. That's enough "loose change" to more than fund the over priced new firehouse. Yes, Ms Oland has to go along with the others, including Louise, the mayor and her close friends on the council (the two large ones), plus some others. We need an overhaul at city hall, so lets make it happen!
ReplyDeleteA. Goetz
Geary may have been a bit more bold with this years management letter than he was last year but you can still smell the sugar coating on this pile of crap.
ReplyDeleteDIDNT GEARY KNOW THIS??
ReplyDeleteIf Geary didn't know it, he knows it now, he found it and documented it. I seriously doubt Herb Geary is going to lose everything he has worked to build in his life over the likes of Barrie Parsons Tilghman and the city of Salisbury.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Herb Geary should be the one contacting the state prosecutors office.
Report Geary immediately to the licensing board. Trice-Geary (the corporation) should not tolerate the fuzzing up of the financial details here. They are supposedly a professional certified public accounting firm--Geary should grow some backbone and stop whimping out to Barrie. However, am sure she could take him in a wrestling match--she spends lots of time bulking up those abs! I see her working out and it's not pretty.
ReplyDeleteAll the shady dealings are finally starting to come to light. It is about time. No, it is way past time. I personally believe Geary and the other principals were aware of this when he spoke a few council meetings back. He bought his cronies some more time, but in retrospect, I think he knew this was going to explode on all of them. When a so called expert in their field cannot stand tall, look you in the eye, and speak with authority and conviction, it is a clear signal that something is being swept under the rug. Just look back as recently as this last council meeting when the new public works person, and the Messick person were standing at the podium speaking to the drainage project. Mr. Messick looked down a majority of the time he was under those hot lights for what must have been an eternity. The new public works guy was a nervous wreck. I got a sneaky suspicion it was more than just because he was on TV. Poor fellow-he got caught in a web when he accepted his position under this regime. Yes, regime. I have said it before, and I say it again. I think this city government reeks of totalitarianism. I believe in light of these major gaffes in accounting procedures, contracts, and ill conceived projects, that a moratorium be put on any more spending until a full investigation is completed and all questions are explored and answered satisfactorily by the only 2 council members that give the appearance they care about how the city government conducts its business. And if and when this happens, it needs to continue in a public forum (PAC 14)for all to see. Folks, again, this is OUR TAX DOLLARS that are being screwed with. I don't know about you, but, unfortunately I cannot afford to just bleed money out of my pockets.
ReplyDeleteI have only been in the city 2 years, but believe me--the horrible taste that is welled up in my throat is making me ill. I, unfortunately have made the decision to leave. I will move back to the county or to Sussex.
Just as a point, I want to make it clear that I am not in cohoots with anyone. I don't know anyone on the council, the city government, or this blog on a personal level. But even a blind man knows when he's being screwed.
Louise, I am asking you to STOP gaveling down Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Campbell. It is not playing well with the viewing public. And either get the mayor in line with her antics during these public meetings, or be prepared for anarchy. Just remember, You are on TV, and we are watching. Next time those antics are displayed, she needs to be called to task just as you so ably do with the 2 council members I mentioned earlier. Notes passed also need to be exposed. At least make an effort to look like you are trying to be fair, or do you just not give a damn?
Something everyone needs to realize and understand. Should Barrie ever be indicted she will squeal like the pig that she is. She will not go down alone. Anyone having any ties to this woman had better start covering their collective butts now and sever all ties to her. Remember how she treated her own father then ask yourself what is it that you could possibly mean to her. Answer: NOTHING.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Barrie do to her own father? What ever happened with her daughter and her baby, did she marry the Babys daddy? Wow Casey Tilghman and Shanie DO have alot in common after all!!
ReplyDeleteThe nuts don't fall far from the tree~!! Manic's?
ReplyDelete