Long Time Clerk Treasurer Not Reappointed

Village Corrective Action Plan

Alexandria Bay:

Mayor Jury called me today to brief me on some recent changes that have taken place in the village offices. All the members of the village board were present at an emergency meeting that was held today.  Long time Clerk Treasurer Sharon Cullen was not reappointed.  Judy Cornick was appointed in her place.  Ms. Cornick has many years of municipal accounting experience.  Molly Briere was reappointed as Deputy Clerk

Village officials started preparing a corrective action plan to the NYS Comptrollers audit in December 2011  The priority was to segregate the duties of the Deputy clerk and the clerk treasurer positions.  The change in duties could not be made until a public hearing could be arranged.  As a result, appointments to the two positions could not be made until after the hearing. The earliest possible date was Jan 10.  The hearing was held on that date and the segregation of duties was passed with no objections from the public.

I questioned Mayor Jury as to why Cullen was not reappointed.  Mayor Jury would not elaborate , stating that this was a personnel issue and could not be discussed.  She did say that certain events had occurred within the village office that prompted the emergency meeting that was held this afternoon.

Bloggers Note:

I have recently covered the auditors findings which you can  read by clicking the following links:

Audit of the Clerk Treasurer Records and Reports

We Got The Money

Smoking Gun

Based on everything that I have read in the Audit reports, it is not to difficult to understand what has led up to this change in the village office. 

VB Meeting 1.10.12 [Audio]

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1000 Islands "River Hockey Classic" Tournament

The Clayton Marina, Clayton NY

River Hockey Classic is a Pond Hockey style event.  Clayton has lucked out with the perfect location and of course the cooperation of Mother Nature.  The tournament started at 8am this morning and will continue into the evening under the lights. A Chicken Dinner Barbeque is also available. More games are scheduled on Sunday.  Next weekend, Alexandria Bay will hold the first annual Labatt's 1000 Island Pond Hockey Tournament, February 10th - 12th.  Weather and ice conditions permitting.

Video from today's tournament.

Hearts For Youth Chili Cook Off 2012

Alexandria Central Hearts For Youth group

Of course everyone  knows about the Chili Cook Off at the Watertown Dulles State Office Building.  HFY is competing again this year.  The preparation and cooking is done, and the right amount of heat has been added to their Chili recipe.  The video below shows all the hard work that the HFY put into competing against all the chili cooks.

Hearts For Youth  (HFY) is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing opportunities, services, and support, so the youth in the Alexandria Central School community will become healthy, educated, respectful, and productive citizens.

Smoking Gun?

In the past few days I have heard from people with or without a business interest in the Bay.  These individuals had donated money to help offset the repair costs to the Upper James St Dock.  They are upset to find out that the village board had been unwittingly  sitting on a large amount of un-earmarked money.  This was in response NYS Comptrollers audit findings of the Board Oversight and Internal Controls Over the Clerk-Treasurer’s Records and Reports.

The following sound byte is from the 1.26.10 village board meeting several weeks after finding out that a 300 foot section of the Upper James St Dock had to be replaced.  The board discusses the various accounts they could pull a $100,000 from, only a portion of the estimated $350,000 price tag, bonding the $250,000 balance.  The board at that time was Mayor Robb, trustee's:  S. Jarvis, H. Roy, R. Drake, and newly appointed trustee D. Jury.  How long does it take to accumulate a significant undesignated cash surplus on deposit?  Did the village have the beginnings of this surplus back in 2010, or was it sooner?

Fishing Derby and Breakfast in the Bay

The Great Chefs of the Masonic Lodge in Alexandria Bay will put their talents together to offer another outstanding breakfast this Saturday morning.

The Masons each year help the Alexandria Bay Fire Department during the annual Fishing Derby. They will be serving a breakfast from 5:00 AM until 10:00 AM at the Alexandria Bay Fire Hall.

WE GOT THE MONEY!

According to the August 24th 2011 village board minutes under new business:  Mayor Robb asked for a motion to pay the Recognition of Direct Draft on Dock Bond Payment for $70,000 on September 15th 2011.  The direct draft will be $14,000 plus interest.  The motion was made by Trustee Drake and seconded by Trustee Williams.

In contrast, item #5 under new business in the Agenda for that same meeting  called for a Recognition of Direct Draft of Dock Bond Payment of $50,000 on September 15th 2011.

At the September 13th 2011 village board meeting item #1 under old business called for a pay off of the Water B.A.N. Principal $1,565,000 and Interest of $78,032.64.  Item #2 called for the payment on the Dock Bond Principal Payment  of $70,000 and interest of $4,000.  Mayor Robb asked for a motion on both.  Trustee Roy made the motion to pay off the Water B.A.N. plus the interest, it was seconded by Trustee Drake.  Trustee Drake made a motion to make the payment on the Dock Bond and interest, it was seconded by Trustee Williams.

I thought it was odd that the village could pull that kind of money.... seemingly out of nowhere!  How did the pay off of $1,565,000 plus interest of $78,032.64 miraculously appear as old business at the 9.13.11 meeting?  Should it not have been new business, since it was never discussed like the Dock Bond payment was at the 8.24.11 meeting?  Almost like someone was trying to slide it through... unnoticed!  At the time, trustee's seemed surprised at the 1.5 million plus interest pay off.  Trustee Roy did question it, and it was quickly "explained" by Mayor Robb and Clerk-Treasurer Cullen.  

In retrospect, at the time of the 8.24 and 9.13 meetings,  it is very clear that the trustee's had no knowledge of the excess money totaling 2.3 million.  I bet you can guess who did know about the excess funds.  The lesson to be learned?  If someone pulls a large amount of money out of nowhere..... it obviously had to come from somewhere!

The following audio clip is from the September 13th 2011  Alexandria Bay Village Board Meeting.