By Michael Howell
The Town of Stevensville’s Finance Officer Roxanne Wagner gave the Town Council an update on the annual financial report. She said that the FY 2014-15 audit report could not be completed due to a cash reconciliation issue.
“We need to figure out the cash and do a prior period adjustment for 2014, 2015, and maybe 2016 including August,” Wagner told the council.
“Once we determine what that prior period of adjustment might be, we can make an entry and the auditors can finish the 2014-2015 audit and we can start the 2015-2016 audit. Once I get a number for cash I can go back and do bank reconciliations for July 2016 through March 2017,” said Wagner.
Wagner said at 20 hours the contract work being done on this was still under the $5,000 amount that was approved.
Later in the meeting, at the time for general public comment, Brandon Dewey brought up the Finance Officer’s report and said, “So to date, our cash is not reconciled and we are two audits behind. It’s been very clear, at least to me, that this council and mayor are out of touch with the financial status of this town. You do not ask questions, and you are failing the citizens in your duty to keep us financially sound. I’d like to know how you expect to create and enact a budget without any true and accurate balances?
“The previous administration worked tirelessly to correct this same problem and worked hard to get us up to date. Why would you want to go through this again? You are responsible to the town of Stevensville. Please do not take the public trust for granted.”
Mayor Jim Crews thanked Dewey for his comments.
As part of its business agenda the Council approved a lot line reconfiguration for property located at 512 and 518 Church Street. According to the Mayor the change in lot lines resolves a longstanding dispute between neighbors that was compounded by an error in the way the lots were surveyed. He stated that Bell and Hindle, the property owners were both agreeable to the resolution.
The Council agreed to refund the infrastructure fees on the new home proposed to be built by Habitat for Humanity in Twin Creeks subdivision. Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity explained that any way they could save on cash expenses helped make their program that much more viable. He said it was through donations and volunteers that the process can work. This will be the fourth Habitat house to be built in Stevensville. The $4,885 infrastructure fee refund was approved unanimously.
The Council approved a rule change to make their new meeting date consistent through the rules.
Consideration of a new Personnel Manual was tabled until April.
The Council approved a resolution adopting a Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use Policy. There was some discussion about the random drug testing required for employees who are approved to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The motion was amended to make it explicit that the random drug testing applied only to employees working at the Waste Water Treatment Plant and in the Streets and Alleys Department and did not apply to any other employees who may happen to hold a CDL.