Taxpayers Are Concerned Too

Dear Mr. Pollitt and Wicomico County Council Members:

Thank you for your attempts to resolve some of the current problems that Wicomico County currently faces.

Unfortunately, as a property owner and taxpayer in Wicomico County, I feel that again we are being led "down the Primrose Path" regarding the "hiring" of a local accounting firm for your audit purposes.

I would appreciate a response to the following questions regarding the audit:

1. Was a contract put out for public bid so other accounting firms could submit their proposals?

2. Was the firm that was hired the low bidder on the audit contract?

3. Why hire a local accounting firm (what is being "covered up" now?) instead of an out of the area firm?

4. If no other public bids were solicited, why?

Is this contract award another example of the Wicomico County government's "Good Old Boy System" at work, whereas you scratch my back, and I will scratch yours?

Unfortunately, I am sure that everyone is stressed by the events of the last two (2) weeks, but the auditing firm selection process leaves several unanswered questions.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to express my concerns regarding this matter.

Mr. Pollitt Responds:

I alone am responsible for the speedy selection of the Salisbury accounting firm of Twilley, Rommel & Stephens PA to conduct the special audit of the public works department. Having met with Sheriff Lewis and members of the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation on Saturday it was my judgment that we needed immediate and competent assistance in determining how such a scheme of thievery could occur and how to best prevent future crimes. TR&S has no official relationship with the county government and they have an impeccable reputation for integrity and efficiency. We have asked them to conduct a forensic audit or, as some may call it, a programmatic audit. It will be divided into two phases. The first will uncover what happened, how it happened and why we didn’t catch it earlier. This will be conducted starting immediately and the results will be shared with the public as soon as we have them. The second stage will involve a systematic review of all of the county’s policies and procedures to help us develop better safeguards for future operations.

I realize and appreciate the skepticism you express. However, I have full confidence in the ability of local, independent auditors to guide us through these troubled times and I am even more confident that we will emerge stronger and better organized than before. Realizing that the public trust has been violated (as has our own trust in some members of our county system) I respectfully ask that you have patience and give us the opportunity of getting our house in order before passing judgment on us. I am as outraged as you are about what has happened and when we have identified those responsible, as I said to Channel 16, “there will be hell to pay.”

Thanks for your note and, hopefully, for your support.

Rick Pollitt

Wicomico County Executive

P. O. Box 870

125 North Division Street

Salisbury, Maryland, 21803

Phone: 410-548-4801

Fax: 410-548-4803

E-mail: rickpollitt@wicomicocounty.org