Proposed Budget Amendment Confuses Board Members

AMENIA — Town Supervisor Janet Reagon’s inability to explain why two 2006 budget lines were overdrawn has miffed some councilpersons and members of the public.

At a recent Town Board meeting, Reagon put two resolutions before the board. One would fill a line overdrawn by $19,000, and another by $6,000.

Councilwoman Vicki Doyle was absent from the meeting.

Reagon was unable to explain the reason for the deficit after Councilman Wayne Euvrard and Councilwoman Victoria Perotti asked her about it.

Both board members voted "no" on the resolutions.

Reagon and Councilman Roger Russell voted "yes," bringing about a tie vote.

"She wasn’t able to explain what the $19,000 and the $6,000 were. That’s why I voted no," Perotti said this past Tuesday morning. "I wanted to know exactly what that was covering."

Perotti made some calls to the town bookkeeper that day.

The bookkeeper explained that the larger overage was caused by the town zoning officer's salary being bundled with the building inspector’s.

The $6,000 deficit came about because town employees worked overtime hours when a car crashed into Town Hall this past July, causing massive damage.

"But you’re really not supposed to have any overdrawn lines," the councilwoman said.

Amenia resident and former Councilman Bill Carroll surmised that Reagon must have known that the lines were overdrawn months ago.

He said he is confused as to why she couldn’t explain the reason at the meeting.

He added that it’s "incredible" that she would expect other board members to vote on the resolutions without background information.

"If it was done in error, then explain that," he said from his home this past Tuesday afternoon. "This is no way to run a town."

"I voted no. I wasn’t going to give her [carte blanche] to move money anywhere," Euvrard agreed. "No line is supposed to be overdrawn in the budget. A budget is something to follow."

Reagon was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Since there was a tie vote, the issue is tabled until the board's reorganization meeting, which takes place Jan. 4.