Things That Make You Go Hmmm.
By Jim Conley • April 24th, 2007 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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Ever wonder why people in Brookline Town Government resist the idea of a mayoral form of government? Ever wonder why there is no real audit of the Town’s finances (only financial statements reformatted by an accounting firm)?
Ever wonder why the DPW was so hell bent to get the Parks Mob and Brookline PAX (with soon-to-be-Selectman Jesse Mermell carrying their torch) to shout down former Selectman Michael Sher when he wanted to start poking his nose into that department?
Ever wonder that?
Well, the answer may come from the City of Everett. The Boston Herald says an audit of finances there has turned up lots of no-bid contracts, over-billing by vendors and payments well in excess of estimates. Seven city employees have been suspended.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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I’m curious whether someone in Everett’s City Hall blew the whistle that brought about the audit. I don’t know if Everett has adopted a Whistleblower Policy under the state statute: GL Chapter 149, Section 185. The Town of Brookline finally after 13 years did adopt its Whistleblower Policy after some prodding. But Brookline’s Whistleblower Policy does not encourage Town employees within the spirit and even the letter of the law. So perhaps Town employees should drop off information over the transom regarding any miscreant supervisors. IF BROOKLINE HAD AN ENCOURAGING WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY, THAT COULD SERVE AS A TRANSPARENCY CONTROL THAT MIGHT REDUCE ANY IMPROPER ACTIONS OF TOWN OFFICIALS THAT TOWN EMPLOYEES MAY BECOME AWARE OF.