Could Poland be headed for desperate times with a possible dysfunctional board?

To the Editor:

Why is it that the former town manager Kulow authorized the Library Trustees to invest $300,000 the way they wanted to, when it had already been determined that the Board of Selectmen was the only one who had the authority to do so?

Ms. Kulow had no authority to do this. Then when the prior board questioned this action, all of a sudden the Trustees of the Library and their friends formed a committee to oust former selectmen for doing their appointed duties.

These recalled Selectmen were doing their jobs by protecting the town. However this group wanted to protect Kulow and the Chairman of the Trustees instead of their elected officials.

Michelle Arsenault is concerned about the well being of the Town of Poland, yet she and her committee thought nothing about costing the taxpayers of the town money to have two special elections that cost us in the area of $800 to $1,000 each.

It has been rumored that there have been many intrusions from Ms. Arsenault interfering with the daily functions of the town office staff, far above the normal number of times a citizen might have a few questions. She has done this with our last three Town Managers. This takes time away from their regular duties. This is an expensive proposition that she has cost the town.

At one time there was discussion about the possibility that the privacy of the citizens of Poland may have been violated when information got out from the town office.

This was information that should have been confidential and had no business getting out into the community. It was a State and Federal violation and could, again, have cost the taxpayers a lot of money and may still do so. The former board was seeking prosecution. Will this continue with the new board, or will it be swept under the carpet?

The attacks these people have cast on Rosemary Roy are ridiculous. The number of times that Mrs. Roy has filled in as temporary town manager has more than proven her capability and worth in this position. Her manner of conducting town matters and functions proves to be far above the expectations you could get on a resume. That was proven by the previous town manager who was legally relieved of her duties.

Now we have a new Board of Selectmen. The first thing these liberals did was to spend money for a building which may only be beneficial to the taxpayers of Poland perhaps for a parking lot. It’s another case where the Library Trustees and their friends want control of the town funds but they don’t want the Selectmen to control them in their funds.

Not only is this costing the town money to purchase this house and land, but in addition to that it will cost money to do something with it. It has been said that the house needs lots of work. For example, it has lead paint in it, and now we have also taken this property off the tax map. This is money we don’t have right now.

It’s no secret that the State of Maine and Federal funding is being cut back. Townspeople may have to dig deep into their pockets to make up the difference. This was not a good time to use money in our fund balance to purchase a building and land. This town doesn’t need a bunch of liberal spending people who are spending our hard earned taxpayers’ money.

I would like to express my thanks to Wendy Sanborn, Larry Moreau, and Jim Fernald for their efforts as Selectmen for the Town of Poland. Even though they have been slighted by this group of people who are supposedly trying to run our town now, I hope to see them run for office again in the future. They will have my support.

Greg Herrick

Poland