Columbia Holds Off On Certifying Court Review

Town of Columbia Board members will wait until after an audit of the Town Court before signing off on the state’s review.

Town Justice John Skinner told the Board members that the state’s Comptroller’s Office reviewed and closed out the books for the court’s 2024 money taken in.

Skinner said a letter was sent about that, requiring Board members to sign off in agreement.

However, Town Supervisor Nathan Seamon and Board members said they have been told an audit will be done of the court’s books from last year.

Skinner said they can sign the letter prior to the audit, but Board members said they were not comfortable doing that.

“We’re in agreement we’re not responding until after the audit,’’ Seamon said.

Councilman Ed Reed said he had questions about one of the financial transactions and couldn’t sign the letter.

A $700 check was given to the Columbia Court in November to take care of fines. It was reported in January.

Skinner said there were no payments taken in for December so he held the check until January.

Councilman Ryan Fagan said the audit might find the delay in reporting the check was acceptable.

He said he preferred to wait until the state reviewed it before saying it was fine.

Reed said the Comptroller’s Office used the numbers Skinner provided.

He also said at an earlier Board meeting Skinner said there were two such checks that had a delay in being reported.

Skinner said there’s a new system for reporting fines paid, and he has a new court clerk in Gene Doremus who started Jan. 1.

Skinner suggested, and Board members agreed, that the Board’s review need not wait until December, but one could be done in July.

Highway Department Superintendent Mark Buddle said the Town will be getting new LED lights for free.

The Town will take care of installing them, the hardware and a bucket truck to use.

The sand building is just over half full for next winter, Buddle said.

Trash Day is set for Saturday, May 3, with five or six dumpsters to be rented by the town.

Buddle said people who plan to bring cans of paint should pop the lid and let the paint dry if there’s just a small amount left before bringing the cans.

Town Clerk Therese Winchester said dog license renewals are coming in at a good pace.

Winchester has office hours every other Saturday.

Six building permits are in the works to be issued.

The Planning Board is having a public hearing ...