We like firefighters. We admire them quite a bit, actually.
The amount of work these men and women have to do, and what they do on our behalf, is truly Herculean. It is sort of what Superman’s life would be like if he had to fill out a mountain of paperwork to document how he followed the rules safely every time he saved the world.
We respect our firefighters, but, even with that said, they are still public servants.
Historically the volunteer fire companies that serve almost all Lincoln County towns are non-profit companies. They are almost all supported by taxpayers, and rightly so for the services they provide, but they are privately operated, nonetheless.
In Newcastle, the board of selectmen has asked the fire company to come up with an independent audit. This year, the selectmen have asked every agency seeking taxpayer support to produce such an audit.
We take up the issue this week, because the fire company has yet to produce something to the satisfaction of the board, and we have a respected local citizen taking up on the fire department’s behalf in our letters section.
We come down on the side of the board in this case.
The selectmen are responsible for the operations of the town. They have the right, in fact we would argue, the obligation, to determine as best they can who is asking for the public’s money and how that money is being used or will be used.
We don’t think it is beyond the pale to ask for the financials of any group that is seeking support from the taxpayers, and we can’t quite figure out why the fire department hasn’t found a way to comply.
The best the department has managed so far is a letter signed by one of the trustees attesting he has examined the books and found them satisfactory. The letter is signed by another trustee who is the son of the first trustee, and both are active members of the fire department.
No one is questioning the integrity of anyone concerned here, but, with all due respect to all involved, the letter doesn’t pass the straight-face test.
If this were any other organization parrying a formal request for an audit, with a statement by one of its principals saying everything is in order, that body wouldn’t stand a prayer of getting their request before the taxpayers.
This letter is not an audit, nor is it independent. If the department needs to budget the money for said audit, and funds are scarce, ask the taxpayers for help. Not just in Newcastle, but all around the county, indeed all around the state, citizens want to support their fire departments. Fire departments are pillars of the communities they serve and are, rightfully, sources of civic pride.
We commend the Newcastle Board of Selectmen for holding the line in this case. We don’t see this as micromanaging the department, and we would be inclined to be extremely critical of the board if we did.
