"your financial statements are totally in (good order)"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 19, 2009 @ 12:15 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Five more town unions have volunteered to freeze their salaries and make higher co-payments on their health insurance to save jobs, Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting announced at last night's Town Council meeting.

Highway workers, custodians, clerks, tradespeople (such as electricians and plumbers), police and fire dispatcher unions, all of whom fall under the umbrella of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union, each voted affirmatively, Nutting said.

"That will save all their potential layoffs," Nutting said.

In total, those unions have about 130 members, he said.

Read the full article on the Town Council meeting in the Milford Daily News here.

For the live reporting from the complete meeting check here.

Live reporting - Audit report

Susan Gagner
Jim Dacey
Auditor (fill in name later)

no material entries made to start the audit

The audit report can be found here (PDF)

Auditor recommendation to set up a capital account, current capital is budgeted by using "free cash"

Auditor recommendation on formal system to support data for utility abatements and adjustments for DPW

Q - Bartlett, we had a problem with reconciling ambulance reports from last time
A - Gagner, we have reconciled the first 6 months of 2009, we added a report to perform this audit and that why the item is no longer part of the report.

Q - Bartlett, and last year with the School problem
A - Gagner, the separation between entries has been set up, they don't have access to make ledger entries

Q - Bartlett, so this report covers the School's as well
A - Auditor, yes, this is completely covered, no issues found

My analysis of the Audit Report - updated

I went back to the Audit Report from earlier this year and updated my summary and analysis of the report.

My Analysis of the Forensic Report

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: school dept)

This was originally published in February and can be found here

live update - audit update

Miriam Goodman talking about the Town Audit Report and impacts for the school department.

Town Comptroller will make the ledger entry for the School Department
The process currently is for the request to go from Miriam's office to the Comptroller's Office. This has been in place for some time (since last year). It continues under her role now. It will continue under her control.

The auditors findings are for the systematic access to be removed. That will not happen right away but should happen to be in compliance with the audit. The Town controls that overall access.

Overall the findings pertaining to the school department are minor. Amount was against this line item instead of that line item. Meeting to adjust as required to be in compliance going forward.

Town Council Mtg Summary 6/18/08

Franklin Matters: Fiscal Year 2007 Audit Report

"it's a discussion worth having"

"We just can't lay off 45 teachers"

Audit report due at Town Council

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL - agenda - 6/18/08

Franklin Matters: Fiscal Year 2007 Audit Report

One is a series of podcast on Franklin (MA) Matters. This episode presents the Fiscal Year 2007 Audit Report from the Franklin Town Council meeting of June 18, 2008.

Time: 45 minutes, 4 seconds



MP3 File

Session notes:

This is Steve Sherlock with another in a series of podcasts for Franklin Matters.

The Town Council meeting of June 18, 2008 featured a presentation on the audit results for fiscal year 2007. It is interesting for a couple of points.

Here it is June 2008 and we are getting the results of the fiscal year that ended fully one year ago.

Why the delay? Partially priority. Partially schedule conflict.

The report for Fiscal 2006 was presented in June 2007 so there is a history of taking time to prepare the audit and review the results.

One key item driving this is people. The Town of Franklin, contrary to what some folks believe is not over staffed or over manned. There are only a few people involved and they can only do so much. As a result, the schedule conflict created by the school audit which was discovered approx in Sep 2007 and took place during Sep – Dec 2007 prevented the normal fiscal year audit from taking place.

I have chosen to present the full segment from the Town meeting here. It is important and will help place the financial foundation for everything else that goes on. Frank Falvey comments towards the end of this segment to reinforce two points; first, the recommendation made by the auditors to put in place an internal audit process and second for the Town Council/Town Administration to process these audits in a more timely fashion.

The full audit report is available in a PDF format on the town website. You can follow along fairly well with the auditors comments to the pages he is talking to. Be aware there there is a preliminary section with pages 1-3, then the full audit report section also beginning with page one. As I understood it, the references were all to the pages in that second section.

The segment lasts about 40 minutes. Enjoy!

--- after the Town Council segment ---

This has been another podcast in series on Franklin (MA) Matters. You can visit the web site at Franklin Matters blogspot dot com. If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve dot gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Audit report due at Town Council

The Town Council agenda package for Wednesday's meeting is now available for download here (PDF).

Pages 5 through 54 cover the audit report for the fiscal year ending 6/30/07.

Yes, it took a while to prepare the report. This was Frank Falvey's point during his recent citizens comment.

Read the report, go to the meeting prepared with one or two questions.

Ask them. Yes, you can do it.

Do it for me. Unfortunately, I won't be there.


If you need a question or two, let me know (via comment or email).

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL - agenda - 6/18/08

Agenda - June 18, 2008 - 7:00 PM

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS – Annual Committee Appointments
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

Annual Audit Report
NuStyle – Grove Street
Amendments to Town Code Chp 125-Peace & Good Order

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 08-46: FY 2008 Capital Budget

2. Resolution 08-47: Authorization to Borrow – Library Repairs

3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-617: Amendment to Chp. 185, Town Code: Water Resource District – 2nd Reading

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-618: Amendment to Chp. 185, Town Code: Biotechnology Uses – 2nd Reading

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-619: Amendment to Chp. 185-5: Zoning Map - Biotechnology Use – 2nd Reading

6. Bylaw Amendment 08-624- Amendment to Sewer System Map – 273 Country Way – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Citizens comment - Frank Falvey (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 6/4/08.

Time: 4 minutes, 18 seconds



MP3 File

My notes as recorded during the meeting were:

Citizens comment -Frank Falvey

with Fiscal year completed, audit report should have been completed by now
audit should be ready for the election, in case there is something revealed that could have bearing on the vote

why hasn't this been completed?
Audit firm probably should not be renewed for next year

procedures for comments and feedback for dialog is flawed
Inappropriate and incorrect

on an unrelated matter, what is being done in Franklin with regards to the sale of cigarettes to minors

Contract Signings (audio)

Miriam Goodman, the new School Business Administrator, signs her contract to start working in Franklin April 29th.

There is also a contract signing for the School Nurses.

The committee breaks for two minutes to process the paperwork.

Time: 5 minutes, 6 seconds



MP3 File

SchCom: Miriam Goodman

SchCom_MGoodman, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Miriam Goodman, the successful candidate for the Business Administrator position for the Franklin School Department, signed her new contract this evening and wil start work April 29th.

Given the FY09 budget situation, she will have her work cut out for her!

I wish her all the best.

Interview: Miriam Goodman (audio)

The Franklin School Committee interviews Miriam Goodman, the fourth of four candidates for the vacant School Business Administrator role. Each member of the committee took a turn asking questions. The same set of questions was used for all candidates.

Time: 24 minutes, 27 seconds



MP3 File

Interview: David Proule (audio)

The Franklin School Committee interviews David Proule, the third of four candidates for the vacant School Business Administrator role. Each member of the committee took a turn asking questions. The same set of questions was used for all candidates.

Time: 27 minutes, 54 seconds



MP3 File

Interview: Ann Giombetti (audio)

The Franklin School Committee interviews Ann Giombetti. The second of four candidates for the vacant School Business Administrator role. Each member of the committee took a turn asking questions. The same set of questions was used for all candidates.


Time: 24 minutes, 31 seconds



MP3 File

Interview: Patricia Lange (audio)

The Franklin School Committee interviews Patricia Lange. The first of four candidates for the vacant School Business Administrator role. Each member of the committee took a turn asking questions. The same set of questions was used for all candidates.

Time: 42 minutes, 6 seconds



MP3 File

School Committee Meeting 3/11/08

Candidate photos

Sherku: School Choice

Candidate Background Summaries

Candidate Questions

Interview: Patricia Lange (audio)

Interview: Ann Giombetti (audio)

Interview: David Proule (audio)

Interview: Miriam Goodman (audio)

SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR / INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

3 minutes: Candidate overview - tell us who you are as a professional and why you are looking to leave your current position

2 minutes: How would you define the role of the School Business Manager/Director?
(Paula)

2 minutes: What safeguards do you employ to insure the budget is balanced annually? What recommendations would you make to the superintendent in the event the budget had to be reduced? (Paula)

2 minutes: Citing specific initiatives or activities, how do you report financial information to Principals/Directors; the Superintendent; and to the School Committee and Town Council? (Ed)

2 minutes: Describe measures you have put in place to streamline and build efficiency into the management of the Business Office. (Ed)

2 minutes: Describe the process you employ to collaborate with the Special Education Director to oversee reimbursement programs (Circuit Breaker/Medicaid) and grants?
(Roberta)

2 minutes: Have you ever found yourself in a compromising position whereby your supervisor requested you take action that you felt was not appropriate? If so, how did you handle the situation and whom did you share information with? (Roberta)

2 minutes: Please discuss your skills with respect to conflict resolution-describe a situation whereby you had to resolve a conflict between two colleagues or two staff members?
(Matt)

2 minutes: What has been your most difficult budget issue? (Matt)

2 minutes: Why do you want to work for Franklin Public Schools? (Susan Rohrbach)

2 minutes: Please discuss your experience in overseeing payroll functions-what type of accountability /checks and balances have you put in place? (Cora)

2 minutes: Describe some of the challenges you have had to overcome working with elected officials and municipal administration and explain how you established positive working relationships. (Jeff Roy)

5 Minutes: Follow-up

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Candidates - Background Information Summary

Candidate: Ann Giombetti
• Current Employer: Not employed, resigned from Lexington after one year due to extraordinary workload and after spending the year fixing a financial situation similar to the one Franklin faced this year.
• Experience: 20 years in school finance in well regarded, large and complex districts such as Newton, Framingham and Lexington
• Education: MP A BA Economics
• Other information: Strong skills in all aspects of Business Administration including Food Service, and Transportation, MUNIS experience.
• References from several superb superintendents (Irwin Blumer/retired from Newton and Mag Giffune/ Uxbridge) who both have state and national reputations.

Candidate: Miriam Goodman
• Current Employer: Woonsocket Public Schools
• Experience: 13 years experience in school business administration. Currently employed in large urban district with large budget.
• Education: MA Business Administration Rutgers, NJ / BS Early Childhood BU • Other information: Experience in food service, re-districting and transportation. Strong experience in finance professional organizations. Uncovered finance scandal by employee and was a whistle blower. MUNIS experience
• References in process of being verified.

Candidate: Patricia Lange
• Current Employer: Hudson Public Schools
• Experience: 5.5 years in education
• Education: MBA Babson / BA Economics
• Other information: Strong skills in accounting/ finance, experience overseeing food service and built strong relationships with municipal employees.
• References from a highly regarded superintendent (Sheldon Berman) who has a state and national reputation in school finance.

Candidate: David Proule
• Current Employer: Framingham Public Schools
• Experience: 14 years School business administration
• Education: MA Education/School Business Administration Boston College BS Business / Florida State University
• Other information: Strong experience in Food Service and Transportation.
Involved in MASBO and experience in MUNIS.
• References-worked with Chris Martes in Medfield and Framingham.

In the news - School interviews

School finance director candidates interviewed

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

The School Committee last night interviewed four candidates for the school business administrator job left vacant when they ousted Dolores McCoy to leave last fall. Officials put McCoy on administrative leave following numerous accounting problems, which School Committee member Susan Rohrbach described as "pretty complicated." The School Committee interviewed Ann Giombetti, who recently resigned from Lexington schools; Woonsocket Education Department Business Manager Miriam Goodman; Hudson public schools' Director of Finance Patricia Lange; and Framingham public schools Director of Business/Financial Operations David Proule.

Read the remainder of the article here.

School Business Administrator Candidates

School Business Manager Candidates, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Four candidates for the vacant business administrator position were interviewed by the Franklin School Committee Tuesday evening.

Patricia Lange (top left), Ann Giombetti (top right), David Proule (bottom left) and Miriam Goodman (bottom right) answered a series of questions.

More info on the interviews to follow.