Please Attend St. James Township Annual Meeting March 28th
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:06 pm
St. James Township will be meeting with the auditor as a prior post indicated. It is important that the public be there to understand where their money is and how it has been handled. This relates to the EMS program and repairs to Donegal Bay Road, the sewer and other things. I sent the following to the FOIA officer earlier this week who did reply but many questions I had asked of Jean (Palmer) Wierenga (who resigned as FOIA) went unanswered, it appears that records did not exist or were not properly handled. An auditor aquaintance said they had never seen anything like it with all of the corrections and adjustments.
"Ms McNamara:
I understand the township board will be meeting very soon for a board work session/meeting with the township auditor. Please accept this FOIA request for the following:
Copy of the three most recent audits for St. James Township (2013-2014 FY; 2012-2013 FY; 2011-2012 FY).
Copy of any and all documents to be discussed at the work session to be held January 15 or 16, 2015.
I must, at this time, also protest the reestablishment of the 2001 Debt Retirement Fund and Sewer Use Fund prior to such an important meeting with the auditor. Please provide the record of the closing or cancellation of these funds, minutes or any record of same, whom closed it and dates.
If you have any questions about this request, please feel free to contact me. I do understand that you are the new FOIA officer. I appreciate your response to part of the questions I had submitted to the prior FOIA officer. I do understand the potential for delay as such and realize full well that those unanswered questions may not be at your fault but the rule of law still applies. These things put the township in high jeopardy which is very unsettling. As such I ask for a prompt response (5 days) to this request and an expeditious response to the unanswered questions. If it is best for you to transmit same electronically (by email), I am willing to accept same. I would only ask that we exchange acknowledgement. Thank you, Richard Gillespie"
Her response:
Dear Richard,
Attached are copies of the three most recent audits for St James Township as you requested. (2013-2014 FY; 2012-2013 FY; 2011-2012 FY)
Attached is a copy of the 2014 Tax Rate Request form that the board will look at to discuss renewal of Voted Operational Millage, Airport Millage and Transfer Station Millage.
There are no board minutes that record the closing or cancellation of the 2001 Debt Retirement Fund and Sewer Use Fund, but I will contact Karen Wojan tomorrow about bank statements and get back to you.
(I asked how and why this account was closed and by whose authority, this is what Kitty provided which, as a new board member and thrust into a difficult position is all she could give but it is not enough, one board member cannot open and close accounts!)
I met today with Jean Wierenga to review prior FOIA requests that you made - please give me a phone call if you will to discuss the best way to proceed with FOIA questions you may still have.
Sincerely,
Kathleen McNamara, Trustee
St James Township FOIA coordinator"
A small fraction of why questions need to be answered!!
"Ms McNamara:
I understand the township board will be meeting very soon for a board work session/meeting with the township auditor. Please accept this FOIA request for the following:
Copy of the three most recent audits for St. James Township (2013-2014 FY; 2012-2013 FY; 2011-2012 FY).
Copy of any and all documents to be discussed at the work session to be held January 15 or 16, 2015.
I must, at this time, also protest the reestablishment of the 2001 Debt Retirement Fund and Sewer Use Fund prior to such an important meeting with the auditor. Please provide the record of the closing or cancellation of these funds, minutes or any record of same, whom closed it and dates.
If you have any questions about this request, please feel free to contact me. I do understand that you are the new FOIA officer. I appreciate your response to part of the questions I had submitted to the prior FOIA officer. I do understand the potential for delay as such and realize full well that those unanswered questions may not be at your fault but the rule of law still applies. These things put the township in high jeopardy which is very unsettling. As such I ask for a prompt response (5 days) to this request and an expeditious response to the unanswered questions. If it is best for you to transmit same electronically (by email), I am willing to accept same. I would only ask that we exchange acknowledgement. Thank you, Richard Gillespie"
Her response:
Dear Richard,
Attached are copies of the three most recent audits for St James Township as you requested. (2013-2014 FY; 2012-2013 FY; 2011-2012 FY)
Attached is a copy of the 2014 Tax Rate Request form that the board will look at to discuss renewal of Voted Operational Millage, Airport Millage and Transfer Station Millage.
There are no board minutes that record the closing or cancellation of the 2001 Debt Retirement Fund and Sewer Use Fund, but I will contact Karen Wojan tomorrow about bank statements and get back to you.
(I asked how and why this account was closed and by whose authority, this is what Kitty provided which, as a new board member and thrust into a difficult position is all she could give but it is not enough, one board member cannot open and close accounts!)
I met today with Jean Wierenga to review prior FOIA requests that you made - please give me a phone call if you will to discuss the best way to proceed with FOIA questions you may still have.
Sincerely,
Kathleen McNamara, Trustee
St James Township FOIA coordinator"
A small fraction of why questions need to be answered!!