I could write for a month and still not fully discuss all of the dirt uncovered by Salisbury's auditors. One of the subsets of information that disturbs me the most are comments from the city's auditors themselves - Trice, Geary and Meyers.
At last Thursday's work session auditor Herb Geary commented regarding the misplaced $10.2 million that this was basically much ado about nothing. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it." Maybe the city council should appoint another auditing firm!
In their zeal to protect a lucrative contract, it seems that the auditors just couldn't criticize the Tilghman administration publicly. IF all of the items cited in the audit and in the auditor's letters were so insignificant, why mention them at all? The answer is a simple one. They are significant and Geary could face litigation (or worse) by failing to do so. It just seems that the auditors resent having to show up and explain the actions of their client.
Another related concern was a comment by one of Trice, Geary's people (not Herb Geary) that was heard outside of the council chambers. The gist of the comment was, "This is why the audit should be for the Mayor and Council only. The public just isn't smart enough to understand it".
That's right folks, you're too stupid to understand the information and the problem. Personally, I'd be willing to compare the intelligence of every member of the public attending Thursday's meeting against the Mayor and several members of the Council.
For the gentleman from Trice Geary, here's the bottom line:
We do understand that you are only expressing an opinion on the financial statements in your audit opinion. We do understand that when you give an unqualified opinion you are stating that those (and only those) numbers are correct to the best of your knowledge. We also understand what you refused to explicitly state - those numbers would not have been valid if you hadn't done a great deal of work for the city's Finance Department that was THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. We also understand that there was a cost to the taxpayer, both financially and in the confidence they have in their city government, for having you do that work.
We also understand that Mayor Barrie Tilghman, City Administrator John Pick, and DIS head Pam Oland have repeatedly and deliberately deceived both the public and their elected representatives on the city council. We accept the fact that Ms. Oland may need more staff. What we will never accept are the excuses given by the auditors for the disgraceful performance of the Salisbury finance department. Do not excuse poor performance by claiming that Ms. Oland is overworked because of her additional responsibilities for procurement (or future responsibilities for HR). Oland accepted those responsibilities. Tilghman is the one who demanded that procurement be placed under a new department of Internal Services. Whenever pressed on the issue Tilghman, Pick and Oland all would state that the problems cited in last year's audit were being remedied. This obviously was not the case.
Contrary to what the folks at Trice, Geary may believe, the public is not a mound of mushrooms. They (the auditors) should be ashamed for thinking it, much less stating it aloud.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, Herb Geary, Barrie Tilghman, Pam Oland, John Pick, audit
At last Thursday's work session auditor Herb Geary commented regarding the misplaced $10.2 million that this was basically much ado about nothing. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it." Maybe the city council should appoint another auditing firm!
In their zeal to protect a lucrative contract, it seems that the auditors just couldn't criticize the Tilghman administration publicly. IF all of the items cited in the audit and in the auditor's letters were so insignificant, why mention them at all? The answer is a simple one. They are significant and Geary could face litigation (or worse) by failing to do so. It just seems that the auditors resent having to show up and explain the actions of their client.
Another related concern was a comment by one of Trice, Geary's people (not Herb Geary) that was heard outside of the council chambers. The gist of the comment was, "This is why the audit should be for the Mayor and Council only. The public just isn't smart enough to understand it".
That's right folks, you're too stupid to understand the information and the problem. Personally, I'd be willing to compare the intelligence of every member of the public attending Thursday's meeting against the Mayor and several members of the Council.
For the gentleman from Trice Geary, here's the bottom line:
We do understand that you are only expressing an opinion on the financial statements in your audit opinion. We do understand that when you give an unqualified opinion you are stating that those (and only those) numbers are correct to the best of your knowledge. We also understand what you refused to explicitly state - those numbers would not have been valid if you hadn't done a great deal of work for the city's Finance Department that was THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. We also understand that there was a cost to the taxpayer, both financially and in the confidence they have in their city government, for having you do that work.
We also understand that Mayor Barrie Tilghman, City Administrator John Pick, and DIS head Pam Oland have repeatedly and deliberately deceived both the public and their elected representatives on the city council. We accept the fact that Ms. Oland may need more staff. What we will never accept are the excuses given by the auditors for the disgraceful performance of the Salisbury finance department. Do not excuse poor performance by claiming that Ms. Oland is overworked because of her additional responsibilities for procurement (or future responsibilities for HR). Oland accepted those responsibilities. Tilghman is the one who demanded that procurement be placed under a new department of Internal Services. Whenever pressed on the issue Tilghman, Pick and Oland all would state that the problems cited in last year's audit were being remedied. This obviously was not the case.
Contrary to what the folks at Trice, Geary may believe, the public is not a mound of mushrooms. They (the auditors) should be ashamed for thinking it, much less stating it aloud.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, Herb Geary, Barrie Tilghman, Pam Oland, John Pick, audit
Powered by ScribeFire.
8 comments:
That quote really pissed me off! If you were reluctant to "mention" something of this magnitude what other trivial items did you not report? If ten million is laying around on Pam Olands desk how much was really unaccounted for? This isn't nickel and dime people this is fraud on a large scale, don't let the fervor die down, this could be the legal leverage the city residents need to finally make Barrie and her cronies accountable for their illegal acts.
The other person with Herb Geary was Jason Gidge. He worked with Pam Oland and her staff as the lead auditor.
I hate to say this, but the city has treated all of us residents like mushrooms. They have kept us in the dark and fed us shit. Now, we are starting to stand up and take note and demand accountability.
Should we make the auditors accountable for their verbal statements as well?
Oh, let's!
Cato, your absolutely correct in your analysis again. I was thinking last night that I served as the Library Director for some 18 years, went thru 18 audits for the Wiciomico Library and the Eastern Shore Regional Library and never once was found to have (by comparison to the City) hundreds of thousands of dollars "laying around " in unaccounted accounts, and I am sure I, my asst. and my accountant would have been fired had we had such!
So, I think we the people should fire the Mayor, Mr. Pick, Ms Oland, and the three no accounts on the city council, and hire people who can do the right thing for the tax payers. Might as well fire Mr. Wilber too, since he has to be somehow involved in this mess.
Those are my thoughts on this and I hope Bob Caldwell reads this and can get the ball rolling on doing this.
A. Goetz
Dear Mr. Geary:
We are smart enough to know when the City needs another (and much better) auditing firm. RIGHT NOW!
Vox Populi
Dear Readers -
I want to make one point very clear. There was no fraud or misappropriation of funds regarding the $10.2 million. The money was simply misplaced.
Now this sin is grave enough. However, we all should refrain from using words like fraud for two reasons:
1. There was no fraud. Words like mismanagement, laziness, or incompetence may be far more accurate.
2. If people scream fraud, Barrie will produce evidence from the auditors that there was none. The newspaper and other media may then portray her as a sympathetic character to the rest of the public. This is something that we clearly don't want.
Remember, Barrie "is taking full responsibility" and showed her great concern for the Salisbury taxpayer by her presence (or lack thereof) at last Thursday's audit work session.
The only people I have heard use the word "missing" to describe this money are those involved with this money. No one I know has said at any time that the money was missing. What has been said is "what idiot graduates college with a degree in accounting and doesn't post to the general ledger?" Now that has been said more than once and continues to be said.
As far as fraud goes, Barrie Tilghman is a fraud...PERIOD. She poses as a human being on a daily basis. If that ain't fraud what is?
Post a Comment