Community's State of Turmoil Due To Selectmen's Mismanagement

We read with dismay the opinion article in the Patch dated February 20, 2013 signed “Amherst Cares”.

We are hesitant to respond to people who are willing to run a smear campaign against an individual without the backbone to identify themselves.  But this is an exception.

Mr. O’Mara was the Superintendent of the Valley Street Jail for 21 years.  He has a stellar record of performance in a very demanding job.  Because of that position Mr. O’Mara is very familiar with the laws and rules of running a government entity in the State of New Hampshire.

Mr. O’Mara was on the Amherst School Board for a number of years and was effective in bringing about positive change in the management of the School System in a financially and legally responsible manner. 

Let us ask some questions – and we will do it using our names – novel – you think?

1.  Since the law sets up and requires certain formal paperwork be in place prior to a check being issued by the Treasurer, how is it that Mr. Barry was allowed to pick up a check for the purchase of a truck and take it to Concord to pay for the truck without a signed manifest and approval by the Selectmen?  Was Mr. O’Mara even aware that the check had been issued?
2. Is it true that an employee went out of their way to falsify computer activity in Mr. O’Mara’s name and then ask the Selectmen to take action against Mr. O’Mara?  If this happened and Mr. O’Mara was found innocent of the charge, was the employee disciplined?
3. What exactly prompted the selectmen to hire an outside law firm?   Appears they had no idea of the cost until after the fact since they stated they would let us know how much it was when the bill came in.  The bill has been received and it is $12,000.  The Selectmen state that "No wrong doing was found on the part of any town employee."  Aren't we the citizens entitled to the details of the report or at least a letter from the investigating firm stating this fact?  
4. Is it a fact that some of the Selectmen still want to get rid of Mr. O'Mara.  If so, our guess is it is because they don’t like being made to follow the rules. Which ones?  

* Payments way over policy for departing employees for things like vacation, etc. Now that all this has come to light they are changing the practice as of 6/30/2013.  

*Purchasing way outside their own policy, guidelines and even legal requirements for a government, taxpayer supported entity. 

The practices that Mr. O'Mara is attempting to change date back years.  They were in practice when Marilyn Peterman was a selectman, years ago.  The questions that are being asked by the ACA (Amherst Citizens Association) and the news media are questions about the operation of a government entity – our town.  They are being asked by people who make their names public on their website and hold regular meetings that the public is invited to attend.  They aren’t afraid to have their names published because they stand up for what they believe in.

We will not cast a vote for someone recommended by individuals who throw personal insults and accusations at others but are afraid to show their faces or their names and hide behind Amherst "Cares".

If you care, consider casting your vote on March 12, 2013 for Mr. John D'Angelo and Mr. Dwight Brew. If we elect these two gentlemen we believe we can make a lot of progress in running our town in a responsible and legal manner.

Respectfully submitted,

Dave Fagan and Jan Bunker