Supervisor Chairman's Financial Mismanagement Leads to ...

More Waste of Your Tax Dollars

For those of you that don’t attend the monthly Township meetings, we thought it important to tell you about yet another loss (waste) of tax dollars to the residents of Windham Township.  The Annual Auditor’s Report to the Township for 2006 link was given at the March monthly meeting link.  The Auditors reported that $3,256.74 was paid for the medical insurance premiums of Bill Thetga for six (6) months; however Thetga had RESIGNED from the Township.  When Chairman Larry Brown was asked if the insurance company was notified when Thetga resigned he said, "yes."  At that point Chairman Brown was asked to seek a refund from the insurance provider and he agreed.  Why did Chairman Larry Brown need to wait for a citizen to ask him to correct what should never have happened in the first place?

At the May 2007 Township meeting link Chairman Brown stated that the insurance company "was never notified" and therefore would not refund the payment.   Brown's comment was something to the effect that "things like that happen!"  Now we have Chairman Brown in a direct contradiction of himself.

That’s it?  $3,256.74 wasted and "things like that happen"?  We think not.  According to the Township Code Article VI: Section 607 link.  Duties of Supervisors: - The board of supervisors shall: (1) Be charged with the general governance of the township and the execution of legislative, executive and administrative powers in order to ensure sound fiscal management and to secure the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the township.

ARTICLE XXXV VIOLATION OF ACT GENERALLY (Township Code PL-350): Section 3501. Violation of Act Generally; Penalty: - Any township supervisor, elected or appointed township official or employee, road master or contractor or any other person, including any corporation officer or employee, who violates any of the provisions of this act, other than those for which specific penalties are provided, or who fails to carry out the provisions of this act commits a summary offense.  All fines collected for violation of this act shall be paid to the township treasurer and credited to the general township fund.

As taxpayers in Windham Township you need to demand that this money be returned to the Township Treasury. Windham has been raising taxes often and you can see why with actions like this.   We believe that the Township Secretary was negligent in her duties however the manager (Chairman Larry Brown) is responsible for the financial management of the Township.  Did Bill Thetga knowingly benefit from this?  Was this done as a "Favor?"  We do know that this money MUST be returned to the people of Windham. Chairman Brown's comment: "things like that happen!" is never an acceptable response for wasting our tax dollars!  Come to the meeting the first Monday of each month and ask for this money to be returned.

You may also send an email to Chairman Larry Brown at windham@epix.net and ask him why he allowed this to happen and what he intends to do about it?  The link is hot, just click it and send your message.

Windham Citizens for Open Government