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Citizens of Oxford wondered why certain former town employees and current Commissioners lobbied vehemently for the past 20 months against a forensic audit of the town's financial records. Sitting Town Commissioners Norman Bell and Tom Costigan claimed the forensic audit was too expensive and uncalled for. Bell included his opposition in his recent campaign for office.
Now citizens can see why they oppose it. There's something wrong with how Oxford has conducted its business for the past twelve years and town leaders don't seem to want people to know.
A Public Information Act Request was sent to town lawyer Lindsay Ryan on August 30,2024 by resident Scott Rensberger. Here are the first four requests he made: (Ryan's response is in bold)
1) I'm still waiting for any receipts for what is currently being called Dugout Park, Central Park or the Baseball Field. The Town received a grant in 2019, five years ago, for $122,400.00 and the Town purchased something for $29,083.00. Can you please send me an invoice of what was purchased for $29,083.00? Ryan: It appears this amount was paid to Barkers Landing but I cannot find a receipt.
2) I'm still waiting for all of the receipts for the Dog Park. In 2018 the Town received a grant for $37,866.00. Fountains, benches and a fence were purchased and perhaps other things. I've been waiting for this information for several weeks -- maybe months. Ryan: I don’t have copies of receipts but have a copy of the final request for reimbursement, attached.
3) What company put the dirt on top of the baseball field? I'd like the name and the invoice for the work done. Ryan: Barkers Landing – invoice attached see line item 3.8 which I provided to you on August 9th.
4) A grant paid for the resurfacing of the two tennis courts. However, both tennis courts had to be fixed, or patched, and I would like to have that receipt and who did the patch work? Ryan: American Tennis Courts, Inc., invoice attached.
Request for information number 5 is the bombshell: (again, notice Ryan's response in bold).
5. I'm still waiting for the Town to send me detailed information on 6 grants that don't have a project name or the name of the person, or contractor, who did the work. I would like all invoices. Once again, here's the grant list: Ryan: I don’t have information on these grants.
2013 -- $50,000.00
2014 -- $25,000.00
2015 -- $50,000.00
2016 -- $50,000.00
2016 -- $12,000.00
2018 -- $25,000.00
Again, Ryan's response was (as is indicated in bold above and here): I don't have any information on these grants
This is highly unusual since the lawyer DID have some information and gave responses for Rensberger's first four requests. She even had invoices, accounting for reimbursements, and receipts for the other grants. The information from the other grants is at the end of the article.
But the last six? Nada. Not a name, a receipt or even post it notes indicating where the money might have gone. In fact, we can't even find out if these were federal, state, or local grants. The lack of information is alarming.
Did we say the total amount of these grants was $212,000? Yes. It was.
Citizens of Oxford have been demanding more financial transparency and a forensic audit for quite a while. Here are the Easton Gazette Articles and video from Rensberger about those demands:
Town Of Oxford Ignores Seven Years Of Financial Auditor's Concerns - Easton Gazette
Does Oxford Need To Do A Forensic Audit? - Easton Gazette
Auditor Reiterates Weakness And Conflicts In Oxford Financial Procedures - Easton Gazette
Oxford Needs A Forensic Audit - Video By Scott Rensberger - Easton Gazette
Each of these stories explains why citizens wanted a forensic audit. Controversial former Town Manager Cheryl Lewis was the only person controlling the financial records and dealings for the town for her entire tenure. Auditors stated that fact for at least seven years and called it a "weakness" and "conflict" in how the town conducted business. When Lewis left at the end of June, she left a trail of questions behind.
In fairness to the current Commissioners, none of them were in office when these grants were received and the funds dispersed. In fact, all of the grants had one person in common, Town Manager Lewis.
However, with this recent revelation, it's obvious the town needs a forensic audit, immediately. Any normal citizen of the town can see that. Right now, the town office and commissioners are using Lyndsey Ryan as the front person. That’s not her job. Although answering PIA requests are in her purview Ryan can only give the information town staff provides. President of the Commissioners Norm Bell should be telling the other Commissioners and the Town of Oxford that town administration has no information on several past grants, and we need to conduct a forensic audit which could either pinpoint where the money went OR discover potential malfeasance.
That, and perhaps a special investigation.
But, for some reason he is not doing that.
It's time for the taxpayers of Oxford to wake up and demand both.
Below is documentation for some of the grants, but not for the six for which the information is missing:
For more articles on the problems in Oxford, go to the Easton Gazette front page and put "Oxford" in the search bar.
