The being said, at first glance allegedly there is over $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 abused in credit card purchases. Sources said that Aaron admitted to making massive purchases at Toys R Us and other similar type transactions. I'm told he is now claiming to have TBI, (traumatic brain injury).
Many are wondering where $100,000.00 went that was donated during the big Puppy Mill situation last year. A major forensic audit is now being arranged to see just how deep this goes.
An interim Director is now in place as Balsamo has been terminated.
66 comments:
What is the difference between the two organizations? Which one is responsible for the shelter and the care of the animals? I am perplexed.
They are the agency reaponsible for ALL wicomico county animal control animal care in Wicomico County. Don't twist it like Wicomico county doesn't use them SOLELY. That place needed a serious intervention before this occurred.
11:05, Let's be perfectly clear here. Wicomico County, Salisbury and other county municipalities take money from their budgets to help fund this NON PROFIT shelter. What ALL media sources tent to screw up on is that they constantly call it the Wicomico COUNTY Humane Society. Simply take the county out of it and you have a Humane Society LOCATED in Wicomico County.
That being said, the HS is 100% autonomous. In other words, they answer to absolutely no one but the HS Board. The County Executive, the Salisbury Mayor and so forth have absolutely NO SAY and or responsibility for what they say or do. They are an independent organization.
The only thing the County or municipalities can do is remove funding from their budgets. For further disclosure, Wicomico County owns the land and building they operate out of and the County charges them $1.00 a year in rent.
So sorry to hear this! Kevin Usilton , who was the director years ago, is in place. The best this county ever had. Thank you Kevin for being there for the animals once again!!!!
But they are the designee Joe. Those agencies exclusively use the HS and it such a poorly run agency. You have serious changes happening in Wicomico County and how animals are handled. County residents should be very concerned with both this happening and what council introduced recently regarding animals in the county.
11:46, Cut the crap! I don't know exactly what you're trying to do here but to pass the buck to ANYONE outside the HS Board Members is way out of line.
The ONLY thing each municipality can do is CUT THEIR FUNDING. Perhaps your a little slow in understanding this FACT.
My Wife and I offered to build a brand new facility back in the Rick Pollitt days on 30+ acres of land we own in Willards. Our incredible offer was that WE would build everything at our expense and simply charge back everyone supporting the current HS for only FIVE years. Once past the five years we would be self sufficient through donation drives and Pollitt turned us down.
You snooze, you lose!
I blame the Board. They hired him. Anyone could tell he's wasn't quite right except the incredibly ignorant board. This is more proof of the backward unsophisticated ways of these people who never get off the Shore.
The city and the county pay to use the service of this shelter when animals are picked up. They don't have like Worcester does with the non profit shelter in West OC and then the country run one down in Snow Hill. The county very well could have not contracted with them. This went on in DE and New Castle ended up contracting to a PA shelter.
Pollitt is another ignoramus in a very long list of them around the lower shore.
OH Wow!
I had wondered , from a past post on here when the H.S.
was asking for dog food, what was happening there , knowing
they'd received extra monies and much help from the community.
The problem is this place needs to be monitered
much more closely than it has been and is. The County
should "Step UP" and see this is done!!! I doubt very
seriously the Board has monitered things there in the
past many years. You have got to make people accountable,
and this is Tax Payers Money coming from the County to
support the people employed there to keep it running in
an orderly and secure manner. That means , accountability from
each and every person working there! I cannot believe the
way this place is being run and citizens should demand more !!
So ,we need to ask County Council -------revise the way this is done and
also you need to revise what you've approved , have more stringent laws for the animals then the Very Few you're planning to change soon. The
New Director , from my understanding is Great and has been there before. Ask him along with with The Committee that was formed , e to speak with
You again about the Laws in this County!!!!!
So disappointed to hear about this but with the
way things are " Set Up " out there , it so easily can happen
again and again , with Tax payers money, blow out the window
and harm to the animals because of lax help and Laws!
I am slowly losing faith in All those involved who are suppose to
run this County effectively , to watch how tax payers monies are
spent, and offer better protection for the animals!!
The H. S. should be audited Each Year.
Tax payers mone y at work.
Election time is approaching , get to
Work and Change Things Wicomico County
Representatives!!!
How was this found out anyway?
God Bless the Person for uncovering it !
I just have a couple of questions. If some of these outrageous charges to these credit cards have been put on the cards since 2016, then why when the yearly financials were done in 2016 2017 and now 2018 was nothing ever done about it then? Or is it possible that because he had the balls to bring justice to someone, that has well know connections in MD, that he now takes the fall. Could this just be another ploy by MD, so that a certain Pilchard can have her case thrown out. According to their website they have a treasurer and a hired accountant, have they been fired now also??
The County doesn't want to be responsible, that's
why the place is set up as is. Yet, they take County
taxpayers money to support it! That being so, the people of
the County should have say as to how the County
delegates responsibility and accountability of their
money and as to the Laws set forth for the protection
of the animals.
Things have Got to Change people!!!
I can think of a few people who might want to take him out back and give him some TBI.
He was disfunctional and when board tried to hold him accountable he would just ignore them he was never prepared when required to present before the council.
Be at the public comment session for the animal control bill going through council now!
Great points!
Hope charges will be filed
Joe there is no "crap" to cut. Read the print in the county bill they posted in January that went to council recently. The "designee" is the HS when it comes to animal control. The animal control picks up animals they end up at HS. No one is saying the guy worked for the county. If this guy worked at the county rest assured Bob would have handled that years ago. However the county is just as responsible for who they choose to fund and choose to be the designee. I'm not blasting the county. If I were going to blast the county I have a lot worse things to air than a few puppy kickers. The county is passing a new bill that will lead to more animals being mistreated at the HS because HS is the county designee. This is why I want people to pay attention to the county at this very moment. The county has ZERO power of oversight over HS but the bill will exempt the county or its designee from ALL liability after an animal is picked up. How is that good for people or animals? It is no different than congress exempting themselves from laws so they dont apply to them. The county is giving the HS a free pass with the bill to do what they do. This article barely scratches the surface of how bad the HS is here. I wish you were able to build that facility because it would have had some oversight.
The problem I have with all Non-Profits including churches is if people are that passionate about something why do administrators need to get paid and it be their income. There are plenty of successful young retired folk that made their way creating and running businesses and managing employees. You just need someone smart that knows how to raise money manage a budget and volunteers. Many animal lovers will foster unwanted pets with their own money with shelter agencies and help find homes for them. It makes it kind of hard though when you have complete dingbats running these places and getting paid for it. Compassion is not a JOB.
Question??? HS is not County run or operated. They rent the building and land from the county for $1.00. Then why do their vehicles have county tags? Correct me if I’m wrong. Who has been checking behind Aaron for two years? Was he given an open checkbook and credit cards to spend without any checks and balances?
WOW I applied for this position after 31 years of Law Enforcement and 11 years running a non-profit and they didnt even consider my resume. I see that worked out well, now my question is are they going to charge this man .
6:12: nonprofit is a tax status, not a business model. A good mission based business with nonprofit taxi status earns most if not all of its operating costs through its lines of business. Well run nonprofits are amazing and are not run by volunteers, rather credentialed professionals who know how to manage and run a business. The WCS board is incompetent.
5:27 Where did you hear about the County/H.S.
would be exempt from ALL Liability after an animal is
picked up? That's Horrible News. Anybody can do
anything they want to do if that goes through. Who on
the Council proposed such a Law!! Trying to cover / protect
their Ass, huh. Oh , this County is sooo sly. I think
Bob is one of the few you can trust!
People should be told about this . I do not
get the paper , was it posted there?
"It is actually called the Wicomico Humane Society"
According to the lettering over the door of the building and their Face Book page, it is "Humane Society of Wicomico County. The employees of the Humane Society of Wicomico County drive vehicles with county tags. The Wicomico County budget allocates moneies to the Humane Society of Wicomico County/ This has lead to folks confusion of ownership all these years.....
10:09 it is in the 40 page bill they are pushing through for animals. 40 pages! Posted for the 8-7 meeting.
Yes, this is Aaron’s doing, and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; but the board has a legal responsibility to ensure internal controls are in place, that there is regular oversight of financial transactions, and there is segregation of duties. At the very least, it’s clear that the credit card statements were not being reviewed monthly by the Treasurer and bookkeeper-or they were, and they were in on it. The county should take this opportunity to leverage the continuance of their contract and require that the entire board steps down, there are policies and procedures put into place to ensure that accounting best practices are being followed, and a retro audit should be done going back to FY16. The county should also require that a county employee representing the County Executive is appointed to the board, and that the board members have term limits in their By Laws. Taxpayers, donors, community members, and animal welfare advocates everywhere shouldn’t let up on the pressure until real action is taken. It’s clear that this board has no understanding of their roles and responsibilities and this county’s animals will suffer as a result of their complacency.
Nonprofits have to be audited every year or they can lose their 501c3 status. They probably have been audited but that wouldn’t necessarily uncover this, if he was covering his tracks. Auditors don’t go through credit card statements or to that level of detail.
The H.S. was poorly " set up " by the County.
I know of no other business but this where
people are 'THEIR own Boss" making/breaking'
what rules they want , lying to people, getting
away with it , nothing being done and oversite
of taxpayer money .
Our County should be responsible for the H.S.,
from beginning to end, like other Counties do.
People should be outraged as to how things are
run there-----there is no responsibility or
accountability on their part and things Need to
be changed NOW !!
Can't believe our local News Stations had no
more info for the Public then they did, BUT
then again I guess I should have expected that!
the "Board " must be trying to get their stories
straight so they look like they have been doing
the job they should have been doing for Years now!!!
Thanks to you Joe for getting this out so soon.
Hopefully , you'll have " inside information" that
we viewers Know will be factual!
A body independent of those operating the shelter needs to conduct a fudiciary audit. Can’t Believe that a board of trustees would appoint a director and not supervise what is going on. Neglect can be harmful not only to the animals, but to the reputation of the Human Society.
Last month I was looking into adopting a cat.
When SBY posted about certain locations having free adoptions, I started with Wicomico . I looked on Petfinder and emailed them about a certain cat.
Did not get a response but knew they were probably busy with the promotion. When I finally called the gal that answered the phone said....oh we never monitor emails that go thru petfinder. She then asked what cat I was interested in and she said he had been adopted a few days ago. I said well he is still on the web as available.
She said ...well we just haven’t updated lately.
She never encouraged me to come in and see what they had available and seemed in a hurry to get me off of the phone. Needless to say I was surprised at the whole conversation. I ended up adopting from a much smaller and encouraging rescue group and gladly paid their adoption fee. Maybe the whole house needs to be cleaned over there and start fresh.
Hmmmm! Seems this is par for the course and keeps happening at the HS. Time for a new board of directors.
Only an idiot would oversimplify the issue to that level.
This surprises you? WMDT and WBOC are punchlines to very bad jokes.
Problem is Usilton has bailed on the Camden shelter. You can't run 2 facilities at the same time. I guess First State's board of directors are as stupid as Wicomico's. These shelter directors are all crooks.
Looks like Bonnie Gordy and Charlotte Littleton need to step down after many years of problems including The David Fitzgerald fiasco with the Eden puppy mill.And I agree with Joe. Him and his wife and the best people I have ever seen helping animals around here and I wish Pollitt did not have his head up his butt when Joe proposed a new shelter.If that had happened you would not be reading about this Aaron clown on here.
I absolutely agree!!!! This MUST BE CHANGED !!!!!!
This place needs a whole “house cleaning “ when it comes to the Board of Directors!!!
So I imagine Brandywine will take this one over also. I think Adam Lamb and Usilton have a master plan. Rumor has it Brandywine has already infiltrated Fisrt State's Shelter and implementing it's policies. Who's getting paid off for that?
Have you looked at Usiltons record? He's a number playing, killing machine. Do some reserach before you praise.
The entire board needs to be replaced too. They are clearly NOT doing their job! Bonnie Gordy has the nastiest attitude; she runs it like a high school clique of friends & don’t even think about disagreeing with her. I hope the attitudes of the employees will improve with new administration/management too - they are ungrateful & dismissive. I truly believe the funds donated for the Eden MD poms have been mismanaged, on many levels! It’s time for a clean slate at HSWC - period!
4:57 Are you meaning he's a Gambler?
If so, what an opportunity the way
the H.S. operates for monies to
magically disappear.
Mr. Culver, your help is needed ,
Council can't seem to direct how
this place is run properly!
Anonymous said...
They are the agency reaponsible for ALL wicomico county animal control animal care in Wicomico County. Don't twist it like Wicomico county doesn't use them SOLELY. That place needed a serious intervention before this occurred.
August 24, 2018 at 11:05 AM
They are NOT responsible for all Wicomico County animal control. They are basically a volunteer organization ran on donations. Educate yourself before you flap your jaws.
Now is the time for Wicomico County to turn "Animal Control" over to the Sheriff's Office and make them the sole law enforcement agency for all animals.
Let the humane society go back to feeding stray cats.
That Douche Bag walked around with a badge on his hip as if he was important. I'm glad he got caught. Look at that creepy looking face.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
OH Wow!
I had wondered , from a past post on here when the H.S.
was asking for dog food, what was happening there , knowing
they'd received extra monies and much help from the community.
The problem is this place needs to be monitered
much more closely than it has been and is. The County
should "Step UP" and see this is done!!! I doubt very
seriously the Board has monitered things there in the
past many years. You have got to make people accountable,
and this is Tax Payers Money coming from the County to
support the people employed there to keep it running in
an orderly and secure manner. That means , accountability from
each and every person working there! I cannot believe the
way this place is being run and citizens should demand more !!
So ,we need to ask County Council -------revise the way this is done and
also you need to revise what you've approved , have more stringent laws for the animals then the Very Few you're planning to change soon. The
New Director , from my understanding is Great and has been there before. Ask him along with with The Committee that was formed , e to speak with
You again about the Laws in this County!!!!!
So disappointed to hear about this but with the
way things are " Set Up " out there , it so easily can happen
again and again , with Tax payers money, blow out the window
and harm to the animals because of lax help and Laws!
I am slowly losing faith in All those involved who are suppose to
run this County effectively , to watch how tax payers monies are
spent, and offer better protection for the animals!!
August 24, 2018 at 2:15 PM
What is it that you don't understand you ignorant Bastard! Mr. Albero cleary pointed out that the County, Wicomico County, has nothing to do with the Humane Society and how it is ran. Wicomico County means the County Executive and the County Council.
Again!! Wicomico County has NOTHING to do with the way the Humane Society is ran!!
JoeAlbero said...
11:46, Cut the crap! I don't know exactly what you're trying to do here but to pass the buck to ANYONE outside the HS Board Members is way out of line.
The ONLY thing each municipality can do is CUT THEIR FUNDING. Perhaps your a little slow in understanding this FACT.
My Wife and I offered to build a brand new facility back in the Rick Pollitt days on 30+ acres of land we own in Willards. Our incredible offer was that WE would build everything at our expense and simply charge back everyone supporting the current HS for only FIVE years. Once past the five years we would be self sufficient through donation drives and Pollitt turned us down.
You snooze, you lose!
August 24, 2018 at 12:04 PM
Exactly Joe! WTF is a "designee??"
Anonymous said...
The H. S. should be audited Each Year.
Tax payers mone y at work.
Election time is approaching , get to
Work and Change Things Wicomico County
Representatives!!!
August 24, 2018 at 2:27 PM
Quit the threats you stupid idiot. The county has no authority to audit anyone.
Maybe one day the County should audit you and see how you spend your money.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Joe there is no "crap" to cut. Read the print in the county bill they posted in January that went to council recently. The "designee" is the HS when it comes to animal control. The animal control picks up animals they end up at HS. No one is saying the guy worked for the county. If this guy worked at the county rest assured Bob would have handled that years ago. However the county is just as responsible for who they choose to fund and choose to be the designee. I'm not blasting the county. If I were going to blast the county I have a lot worse things to air than a few puppy kickers. The county is passing a new bill that will lead to more animals being mistreated at the HS because HS is the county designee. This is why I want people to pay attention to the county at this very moment. The county has ZERO power of oversight over HS but the bill will exempt the county or its designee from ALL liability after an animal is picked up. How is that good for people or animals? It is no different than congress exempting themselves from laws so they dont apply to them. The county is giving the HS a free pass with the bill to do what they do. This article barely scratches the surface of how bad the HS is here. I wish you were able to build that facility because it would have had some oversight.
August 24, 2018 at 5:27 PM
After reading your comments it sounds to me like you are Butt Hurt and you have a personal agenda against the Humane Society.
My gut feeling is that you got caught mistreating animals and now you are posting anonymous comments in order to inflame residents to attack the Humane Society and the county.
Anonymous said...
10:09 it is in the 40 page bill they are pushing through for animals. 40 pages! Posted for the 8-7 meeting.
August 25, 2018 at 8:50 AM
What is it that you are afraid of with that bill?? I read that bill and it protects animals from people like you.
Anonymous said...
The H.S. was poorly " set up " by the County.
I know of no other business but this where
people are 'THEIR own Boss" making/breaking'
what rules they want , lying to people, getting
away with it , nothing being done and oversite
of taxpayer money .
Our County should be responsible for the H.S.,
from beginning to end, like other Counties do.
People should be outraged as to how things are
run there-----there is no responsibility or
accountability on their part and things Need to
be changed NOW !!
August 26, 2018 at 10:38 AM
This same person is running their mouth over and over again. What part of "the County is not responsible" for the humane society don't you understand?
The county made a donation of land to help the animals. They are NOT required by law to run an animal shelter 'like other counties.' If you want your tax dollars to increase or skyrocket then you should go to the next county council meeting and demand that your taxes are increased so that the county can add another unnecessary department.
YOU sound like a Butt Hurt Libtard that doesn't pay taxes and always demanding something for FREE!!
9:15 pm Perhaps you should read 10:38 remark
again.
That person isn't saying the County is responsible for the H.S.
Rather ----- they Should Be Responsible.
It's been said enough on here that County isn't
responsible, and that has been understood from "Way Back
in the post" when Joe explains how they're operated.
Reading with understanding is needed !
What's the update on dufas Balsamo???? He should have to pay back every dime he's STOLEN from the humane society. Ridiculous. Been a member for years donating, donating, donating. Was he not paid enough, that he had to STEAL from us?? I want an update!! What the hell is the holdup? He needs to be held accountable and repay all monies he stole. Have they done an audit yet? Of course, it's a little too late!
If this is true, Aaron needs to sit in a cell with Susan Murphy. Stealing the money designated to help these animals is as evil as the abuse the puppy mill owners inflicted. Don’t buy the trauma as a reason to steal. How pathetic.
He needs to sit in jail with the Murphy’s. Stealing money that was donated to help pets is just as evil as the abuse by the Murphy’s. Trauma doesn’t make you steal, my friend. How sick you are, Aaron, if this is true.
He was terrible in Pittsburgh. Came to work late and high every day. Put him in jail. Crook
I was in a love affair with this clown, until I caught him having sex with my horse. I did not know this wack job was in to beastiality until I caught him having sex with my horse. I honestly hope that he did not do this to the poor shelter animals. I felt bad for his wife but he was my Fred and I was his Velma. He also stole thousands of dollars off of me for his coke habit. He is a true disgrace to flag and the military. M.A.G.A.
I was in a love affair with this clown, until I caught him having sex with my horse. I did not know this wack job was in to beastiality until I caught him having sex with my horse. I honestly hope that he did not do this to the poor shelter animals. I felt bad for his wife but he was my Fred and I was his Velma. He also stole thousands of dollars off of me for his coke habit. He is a true disgrace to flag and the military. M.A.G.A.
I was in a love affair with this clown, until I caught him having sex with my horse. I did not know this wack job was in to beastiality until I caught him having sex with my horse. I honestly hope that he did not do this to the poor shelter animals. I felt bad for his wife but he was my Fred and I was his Velma. He also stole thousands of dollars off of me for his coke habit. He is a true disgrace to flag and the military. M.A.G.A.
M.A.G.A.
If that is true why didnt you tell his wife.
I worked under Usilton in Dayton, Ohio. He is a numbers player. No, he doesn't gamble (that I know of). When shelters give the county it's animal control numbers for the year (to account for the budget) only the live rate counts and gets them more money. Especially if they are "no-kill". Usilton would play those numbers and lie. He got caught. Then he was Hetti Browns boy with the Safe Haven fiasco in Delaware. No he's here in Wicomico. NOT an improvement.
If you look at what services Wicomico HS offers and their financial intake is you might be mind blown. The USDA gave granted them over 10,000 dollars last quarter to provide FREE spay/neuter. Call them, see if you can get a free or any low cost appointment. MARS Petcare gave them truckloads of free food to pass out to pet owners in the community that need it. Call them and ask. You'll be told they have none to give. All under Balsamo.
The BOD are the ones mainly responsible. I have been to the county council and presented them with all kinds of paperwork/evidence. So we will see what they do from here for animal control services. Part of the problem with prosecuting animal cruelty is collecting evidence and documenting it so that it can be used in court. My own experience with Sheriff Lewis on this is that he tries. But he has zero training in investigating animal welfare complaints. This is why when people called over and over again about the Eden Puppy Mill, he didn't do anything about it. He was clueless. Then again with the Quantico/Hebron horses ... years of complaints and something was only done because they got embarrassed by the news report by WBOC. So yes, Joe, I do hold the county responsible for the suffering of over 500 animals. And that is just the larger cases. They were entrusted with the safety and care of the public. They failed to do that by hiring Wicomico Humane Society. It will continue to be a misuse of county funds as long as this BOD continues to appoint unethical people. And they have a very long history of doing this and the county has been aware all along.
Did ya’all see that there is a trial date set? His lawyer has filed documents to try to get the case thrown out. What the hell of a kind of world do we live in that freaks like him can steal from precious ANIMALS!
Hey are there any updates on this case or has it just dissapeared??
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