LIVERMORE FALLS – Town Clerk/Treasurer Kristal Flagg said Tuesday that it has been an “extremely stressful time” and “extremely difficult time” over the last three months while trying to deal with $102,000 stolen from the sewer account.
Former Sewer Clerk Faith Nichols has admitted to taking the money and has reimbursed the town $20,000. The Androscoggin County Sheriff Department is investigating the matter.
Flagg thanked everyone who supported her and counter clerk Dawn Young during the trying time.
However, Flagg said she took exception to a letter to the editor that appeared in a weekly newspaper last week, where the writer chastised town officials and auditors for not having stricter oversight of sewer department and not picking up on the missing money sooner.
Flagg also took offense to a former selectman pointing the finger at her for being responsible for the missing money at the last selectmen’s meeting.
Flagg said the sewer department has operated with no problems for 30 years or better.
“The present circumstance that the sewer (department) is in is caused by a dishonest employee. Not because of the treasurer or the board,” Flagg said.
Flagg said she works two hours each week for the sewer department and two hours each week for the sewer treatment plant, which is co-owned by Jay. When she had been presented information by the former clerk it balanced.
“We have a town manager form of government. The town manager oversees all the departments within the municipality. Each department has a department head. I am neither the town manager nor the department head of the sewer. All important information, problems filters to the town manager and then on to the selectmen. The selectmen only can make decisions that are brought forth from the town manager,” she said.
The town has operated without a town manager since late July until Monday and was down two other employees, including a sewer clerk after Nichols resigned.
Flagg said she has been handling the town manager’s job, helping auditors, working the counter and doing the sewer tasks for no extra pay.
Former Selectman Clayton Putnam said questions need to be asked of town officials.
He also said “If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.” He did, he said.
Resident Denise Rodzen said that residents do have the right to ask questions, but they also owe common courtesy to people who try to help others. Just because there is one bad apple doesn’t mean the bushel is all bad, she said.
Chairman Ken Jacques clarified that the audit that was done this year covered July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005. Most of the money went missing in 18 months from late September with the majority of it taken in a nine-month period. The next audit will cover July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, Jacques said.
In other business, residents voted to accept a federal grant for $130,973 for firefighting equipment and personal protection gear and agreed to take the town’s 5 percent match of $6,893 from the general fund balance account.
The department also recently learned it has been awarded a $15,394 grant from Homeland Security for communication and vehicle stabilization equipment.
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