A Hennessey trustee continues to press for an audit of the town’s finances, but says he continues to get stonewalled.

“I’m tired of being told I’ve stepped over the line and told that it is none of my business,” said David Jones at the Thursday, June 15, town board meeting.

“State officials have assured me that as an elected official I have the right and authority to investigate,” he said.

After the meeting, Jones told the KT&FP he has talked about his concerns with Brenda Holt, director of the Forensic Auditing Division in the State Auditor and Inspector’s Office.

He said she was a speaker at an Oklahoma Municipal League convention he’d attended last year.

Senior Trustee Bert Gritz said the board was told during Oklahoma Municipal League training that only the board should decide on investigations, not individual members.

“Financial oversight is a trustee’s responsibility,” Jones said. “I’m frustrated. I want to see stuff.”

“I don’t want us to micro- manage,” said Mayor Clif Vogt. “If you have questions, go to the department head, then the administrator, then come to the board.”

“Our auditors (Arledge and Associates) gave their approval in their annual (2021-22) review,” Gritz said, “and we look at financials every month.”

“No we don’t,” said Jones. (Note: Some monthly financial reports haven’t been available for two months due to a glitch in the Colorado provider for the town’s computer. Also, town hall employees need training.)

“We’ve had quarterly reports,” said Gritz. “In an eight-hour OML training session, we were told it wasn’t a matter if we can or can’t, but it’s should we or should we not.”

“We’re responsible for every penny,” said Jones. “We only sign the purchase orders.”

“Do you want to look at every check?” Gritz asked. “I trust our employees and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have voted to hire them.”

“I’m very frustrated,” said Jones. “I’m going to ask the state auditor’s office to brief you about seeing records.”

“Bring them on,” said Gritz. “It’s not our job to watch what each employee is doing…Am I hearing that you think someone is trying to hide something from you?” Gritz asked.

“I haven’t said that, yet,” answered Jones.

Citizen Complaints to Trustees

Jones brought up his financial concerns during Gritz’s agenda item: “Discussion with possible action on written policy or resolution regarding the handling of citizens’ complaints presented to individual Trustees.”

Gritz said he came up with the resolution after he got three early morning phone calls over the weekend from the person about a problem.

“That’s not our job,” he said and added that one minute someone will call because the cars and trucks are going too fast on their street and then later complain that a family friend, or member, was given a ticket for speeding.

The resolution, in part, called for the trustee to tell a citizen to call the town administrator during work hours.

If the complainant isn’t satisfied by that resolution, then the item is to be placed on the next board agenda for discussion.

The complaining party must be present at the board meeting and if the complaint involves an employee, then the matter must be discussed in executive session and list the name of the employee on the agenda.

If the complaint has to do with action by a police officer, then the police chief may review a recording from that officer’s body camera, or other recordings, and give that information to the town administrator.

Any employee complaints involving town personnel which have not been resolved may be viewed by the town board in executive session.

That resolution was approved by the board in a 3-2 vote.

Voting yes were Vogt, Gritz and Trustee Randy Bohnstedt with no votes from Jones and Trustee Harold Shaw.

A Police Officer’s Body Cam

Jones said he’d been asked by a family friend to see a police officer’s body cam in action taken, but since it was a friend, he asked Shaw to get involved.

Jones said it has been more than 13 months ago and no action was taken by the police department.

“He hasn’t seen it yet,” Jones said and added that he didn’t blame Police Chief Aaron Pitts.

“This is exactly why our last manager left,” said Gritz. “Her leaving has cost the town thousands and thousands of dollars.” (He referred to Tiffany Tillman, who resigned in February after 17 years because of conflicts at meetings.)

Open Bulk Sewage Disposal

“Why can’t we open up the sewage disposal?” asked Shaw during board member reports.

“Good question,” said Vogt.

“It wasn’t on the agenda,” said Gritz.

“It wasn’t on the agenda to close it either,” said Shaw. “It’s been closed for more than a year.”

“I was told after the repairs not to open it until the board voted on it,” said Bryan Burch, sewer superintendent, from the audience.

Shaw said the town is supposed to have a card system, locks on the gate and know costs to charge.

“You’re right,” said Vogt, “but we need to do it right.”

“I guess we’re just going to play dumb and go on… and not have any money coming in after we had it fixed,” Shaw said.

At The Meeting

Town staff at the meeting were Treasurer Shelley Burch, Clerk Kelley Vaverka, Interim Administrator David Treanor, Pitts and Burch.

( Ed. note: See upcoming issues for more action and discussion during the board’s three-hour meeting.)