Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 6 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
mailed, that funds due the town are collected, that taxes are paid, etc. Mr. Gooch implied that data must be personally entered in the computer by the treasurer, water bills personally printed and stuffed in envelopes, etc. I believe the treasurer’s responsibilities include personally overseeing these activities, reviewing the materials, directing their production, signing them, etc. His job includes the town’s financial decision-making and directive responsibilities. It does not have to include licking the postage stamps.
Acceptance of a, philosophy that the treasurer must personally do all the data entry, etc. would virtually make an administrative assistant useless and place an excessive burden on an elected official who works voluntarily for this town.
The previous Town Council approved an administrative assistant, although they did not hire one. Brad Fisher has long supported hiring one. He reiterated this to me in private meetings before and after the election and addressed it at Town Coucil during the review of the budget for his year. Several years ago he proposed and began receiving a salary for his position. He did this, in part, to encourage the town to become accustomed to paying for the extensive administrative services required. Those services go beyond what is reasonable to ask of volunteers.
In relation to the transfer to the new council, I would note that Brad Fisher has been the one person who has generously offered his time, both to support Tom Zumwalt and me and to close out the books from the previous council. The town is, of course, continuing to pay his salary as a sensible way to support the transition. Tom and I have met with Brad frequently. Additionally, Tom has spent many hours alone at the Town Hall addressing the financial records and preparing for our audit. This effort began shortly after the election and continues. We know we need to learn our jobs.
The statement in the newspaper that we are failing to seek the help of the previous council in learning our jobs is simply false.
At the other extreme, the Rap pahannock News recommends that Dean Morehouse be extended as the
See Letters, Page A-5
92.3%