Based on comments by Wellington Mayor Bob Margolis at a recent agenda review meeting, it appears that he agrees that expenditures investigated by the inspector general did, in fact, serve a public purpose. It seems odd, then, that he instigated the audit, which cost tens of thousands of tax dollars to perform, when he could have reached the same conclusion by simply looking at the expenditures, in readily available public records.
I hope the village will now proceed without altering its policies on sending greeting and sympathy cards and flowers, providing snacks and water at meetings, providing retirement gifts, and paying for moderately priced lunches when employees are expected to conduct business during their usual lunch times. These expenses have been minimal (as the mayor knew or should have known) and have clearly served a public purpose.
Phil Sexton
Wellington
