The acquisition of cash registers is a small part of addressing issues plagueing the Fairgrounds Arena and the Recreation Department. Tonight, the CPA who did the audit of finances there will answer questions about her report from City Council.
While it won't rival the Army-McCarthy hearings for drama, it will be a pointed questioning about just what is happening in a City government where a macro look at finances looks great but a micro look is staggeringly bad.
I have noticed different constituencies blaming different people, with some calling for "heads to roll" and others insisting if the Recreation operation were its own department that would solve issues.
What I do know is that as commercial operations have flourished where it used to be kickball and swimming, we have seen a fight over money and the means to make money. We have seen outside interests push and push hard a small staff to get use of facilities for commerce.
When the hearing is done, my focus is on two things. The core mission of providing recreation services; and an adherence to the law and good fiscal practices to protect the taxpayer's ability to fund those programs.
Tonight's discussion will be illuminating as its the chance to flesh out the 22 page report last week from CPA Laurie Podvin. Her in-person observations will add much to that document.
Watertown Daily Times City: 2 cash registers coming for ice arena will satisfy audit
7 comments:
Every company I have ever worked for subbed out these type of things to experts. Congel made his millions doing that. Pyramid is not an expert in retail or food service, they just provide the facility and take a big chunk of the profits. That is how the city should handle things too.
Mayor, the more you attempt to make P&R look like small stuff, 'Two Registers with POS,' the more it starts to stink politically. You and Matt Doheny are politically speaking strange bedfellows. One may be accused of cooking books on ‘Wall Street’ and you’re open to not being able to keep the books; even with a City Manager doing the addition for you. Hmmmm.
‘Middle-Class Mike’
I'm not sure what Mikey is trying to say. Linking the Parks and Rec problem, WHICH IS REALLY A GENE HAYES PROBLEM AT DPW, with Matt Doheny is a very strange thought pattern. Then he throws in the City Manager too. Mike, what about the Russians? Weren't they involved?
OUCH geese MCM pull the claws in
Department heads should be expected to lead their departments by example. They should be able to ensure that people work together so taxpayers can receive their money's worth from their tax dollars. When people ten feet away from each other cannot speak. When office manager's cannot travel to other offices. When screaming at each other is commonplace and accepted, not only by the department head but by the City Manager who knows about the situation, it is time for a change in leadership. Gene Hayes should resign. Or, learn to do his job. If you think the purchase of a cash register and the retirement of Mr StCroix fixes this problem, you are mistaken.
“Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
Translation…no accountability.
You're right 10:21, It's embarrassing.
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