WILTON – Fayette resident and former Selectman Tom Welch questioned the balances in several of the town’s accounts during the town’s annual meeting Saturday, including the Starling Hall Reserve Account.

Town Manager James Collins said that while the balance for that account is shown at $4,513, other funds approved at last year’s town meeting will be added when the fiscal year has ended.

Officials often disagreed about the amount and details of various accounts and needed clarification. In addition, some account balances listed in the town report were incorrect due to what Collins said was a difference in the way the town and the town’s auditor handle the accounts. “I’ve never been to a town meeting where there has been so little information about the amount of monies we have,” Welch said.

Welch also questioned a raise in the town manager’s pay. Collins said the raise represents a 3 percent increase over last year. Last year, Collins’ salary was $47,000. This year it is $48,400. Welch said voters agreed to give the town manager $30,000 during a previous annual town meeting. He questioned how raises could be given without a town vote. But Moderator Darryl Brown said selectmen determine the town manager’s salary by state law.

Welch motioned to amend an article that included administration and staff pay by decreasing it by $10,000. Brown explained to voters that, according to the Maine Moderator’s Manual, while they could decrease the total funds raised for the account, they could not specify that the funds be taken from the town manager’s pay. Voters approved the reduction, 17-12.

Welch said a group of 15 to 20 residents, calling itself Concerned Citizens for the Welfare of Fayette. The group plans to look into the financial practices of the town. “I don’t think anyone is purposely doing anything wrong with the finances, but I do think some things need to be done differently,” Welch said.

Resident Joe Young passed out a handout listing recommendations and findings of the state Department of Audit and Purdy Powers and Co. over the past three years.

The handout asks Fayette citizens to consider that state law requires the town treasurer to submit financial reports to selectmen at least every three months, and says officials have not followed recommendations by the auditors. The handout also claims that a recent embezzlement of town funds could have been prevented.

Collins passed out a letter from Purdy Powers and Co. in response to concerns about a recent management letter issued by the company. The letter states that while the company believes some improvements could be made, it does not audit the town’s internal control systems.

“Our letter does not indicate that the town’s system of recordkeeping is dysfunctional or contains severe and pervasive flaws. Also, nowhere in the letter is it stated or intended to represent that the town is being financially mismanaged or its employees incompetent,” the letter reads. It is signed by Richard E. Emerson Jr., a certified public accountant.

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