TURNER -Members of the Turner Athletic Association met with selectmen Monday night to question the how’s and why’s of the town’s request to oversee their organization’s funds.

The association became a town entity in 1997, by request, so officers and directors could be covered under the town’s liability insurance. When that occurred, its yearly request for a donation from the town became a recommendation for appropriation through the budget committee. The organization was asked to submit monthly reports on how those funds were spent.

Town Manager Jim Catlin emphasized during the discussion that there had been no question of improprieties concerning the account and officials do not question the contribution the organization makes to the town’s youth through its many athletic programs. However, Catlin explained, the auditors are requiring that the town be accountable for tax dollars being spent.

This same procedure has been implemented for several volunteer groups in town including the Fire Fepartment, the rescue department, the Boofy Quimby Memorial Center and the Leavitt Institute.

“You can do what other groups have done and form a separate group and put sponsorship, fund raising and donation money into a different account,” Catlin said. “But town appropriations need to be handled through the town books and, I believe, if it’s a TAA activity such as registrations it also should.”

Angello Terreri of the association voiced several concerns of the organization concerning the use of any balance at the end of the year, having to get checks from the town office when all the volunteers are working during the day and having to get board approvals for expenditures. He was told that none of those things should be a problem and that several boards carry over balances and that only expenditures more than $5,000 fall under specific bidding procedures.

Terreri also voiced concerns that even though his organization believed that coaches and volunteers were covered under the town’s liability insurance, they have not been. The association is currently checking on private insurance for that purpose at a cost of $1,200 per year.

Catlin explained that he had spoken with the town’s insurance carrier and they would be happy to meet with the group and get that coverage put in place through the town.

Terreri said he would go back to the association board, and they would discuss the situation. The group can choose to go back to its non town-affiliated status and ask taxpayers yearly for a donation instead of an appropriation.