Over the last several months, citizens of Poland have been distraught over town finances and the selectmen and town manager’s handling of same. There has been much finger-pointing and name-calling. There is now perhaps a remedy at hand.

In the lobby of the Poland town office, there are free copies of the town’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2005. The letter included accountant Bruce M. Nadeau’s audit report dated May 9, 2006.

Mr. Nadeau addresses Poland’s $2 million deficit and offers three pages of suggestions, some 20-plus specific items, which, if acted upon, would improve Poland’s financial control and operating efficiency.

It would be a suggestion that the board of selectmen appoint a committee comprised of townspeople most vocal and upset about the condition of the town’s finances, and that this committee focus on Mr. Nadeau’s list of suggestions.

Some committee members covering specific items could deal with school department finances, some citizens, fire and rescue, others the trust fund activities, town assessing, etc. These committee members could report back to the selectmen, then hold the selectmen and town manager accountable for seeing these suggestions of Mr. Nadeau implemented.

We are fortunate to have a list of financial suggestions to act upon. Continuing the name-calling and bickering gets us nowhere. Pitching in together to help fix what isn’t working benefits us all.

Barbara Strout, Poland