Don't Drink the Water

At a recent Milan Town Board meeting it was announced the water from the well at the Recreational Park in Lafayetteville is unsafe. After a heavy discussion, the Gang of Four came up with a solution to the problem. They are going to put up a sign,”DON’T DRINK THE WATER”. That will solve everything. What has Milan become, a third world country where travelers are advised not to drink the water?
This bunch has no problem in spending tens of thousands of our dollars on every crazy scheme Williams and Lord Kingman can think up to curb our rights as citizens of Milan. Their solution to the problem of the drinking water is put up a sign. I just wonder when was the last time any member of that bunch was at the Rec. Park and needed a drink of water.
They have spent an untold amount on our money in lawyers’ fees on their Wetlands project. It’s another plan to deny us freedom of our own property. Instead of throwing money to the lawyers why not to up signs, “Don't go near the Wetlands”, as they are going to do with the water problem in the Rec. Park. It would cost a lot less than they are spending on lawiers and would be just as effective.
If they want to do something to benefit the people of Milan, give us back our gas station. Some of us have jobs and need gas to for the morning commute. But three of the Gang of Four are unemployed and the other is unemployable.

Mr. Talmage's Creative Bookkeeping

Milan United points out another example of the peculiar accounting practiced by Mr. Talmage. In April he recorded on payroll for a non-existent deputy town clerk and then his removal of half the amount. Here are some more from the same Talmage April monthly report.
The March payroll gave Mr. Talmage had a particularly difficult time. He has been on the job 3 1/2 years and still hasn’t figured it out. He needs more practice that is the reason he will be asking you to re-elect him in November.
Let’s start and take a look at his creative bookkeeping. Remember it is your money he is playing with. He deducted $239.76 from the supervisor’s contractual expenditure line – Bookkeeping Services – “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” Payroll and contractual budget lines are separate categories of expenses: So how do you fix a payroll error by changing the funds in the contractual line? And what was the $239.76 error in the first place?
He added $4,184.41 to the Justice Clerk payroll expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He added $1,030.38 to the assessor clerk line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted $485.47 from the deputy town clerk expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” There still remains a bogus charge of $485.47 to this line item because the town had no deputy town clerk in March.
He deducted $16.13 from the social security expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted another $470.00 from the social security expenditure line as an adjustment. Adjustment for what reason? There is no further explanation.
He deducted $3.75 from medicate “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted another $100 from Medicare as an adjustment without giving any explanation..
He deducted $469.68 from an account numbered 6560 “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” There is no such expenditure account in the 2007 budget. There is no explanation for this deduction.
In total, Mr. Talmage made nine accounting errors totaling $2,999.58.
There are some other items that deserve to be questioned.
Why did the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals each order 3 sets of small tax maps at a cost of $130.00 per order? Can’t they both use the same sets?
Why did the town pay a $185 bank service?
Why does Mr. Talmage continue to include in his totals accounts receivable and payable due from 2006? Why hasn’t he paid what is owed and collected what is due? And why does he treat an account payable as receivable and a receivable as payable?
Why did Mr. Talmage charge an $80.37 publication expense against the town clerk’s accounts when the abstract shows it as a charge against planning?
Why did the town pay $45 for a sign for the Rescue Squad breakfast out of town hall funds?
Why did Mr.Talmage charge the disability insurance premium of $68.40 against planning Why has he allowed 3 accounts to be overdrawn by $8,443.91, in violation of state law?
Did you know that a reporter called the town attorneys to confirm a story on Milan, the attorneys billed the town $45.00