Report and Observations of the November 11, 2017, Town Council meeting and possible initiatives of the Citizens for Accountability, submitted by Marty Seitz

 

1.   The Police Department will be unable to provide a report of sufficient detail to address the requirements of motion #1 (see below). The Police Department will stonewall this request. Clearly the Police Department cannot justify the use of earth-moving equipment, a full tracked tractor, 17 gas engines and 43 pairs of extreme cold weather trousers, to name a few items, for “bona fide law enforcement purposes.” The citizens should be prepared that a report from the Police Department will never materialize.

2.   The citizens must assure that motion #2 is implemented at the next Town Council meeting. The motion specifies that the Town engage auditors to “perform certain agreed-upon procedures” that will include scrutiny of any funds generated by the Police Department, the Beach Patrol and Building Inspector.

3.   The citizens can look forward to a review of the Police Department and Beach Patrol such as that for which Dr. Gregory Warren (page 12 of the special investigation report) had previously been hired, but never engaged.

4.   The citizens should review the minutes of the November 11 meeting (when they are available) to be assured that the motions are properly recorded.

5.   The citizens may wish to examine the recommendations in the special investigation report to see if additional actions by the Town are required.

  

Notes by Marty Seitz regarding actions taken by the Town commissioners at their November 11, 2017, meeting. The meeting was videotaped and is now available on the Town’s web site. (http://www.townofdeweybeach.com/Council-Meeting-Broadast)

 

All commissioners were present for the Town Commissioners’ meeting of November 11, 2017. Commissioner Gary Persinger (50 minutes into the meeting) gave a good summary of the issues associated with the federal surplus property program. For example, Gary said that the intent of the program is to provide law enforcement agencies equipment and supplies needed for “bona fide law enforcement purposes.” All of the points made by Gary are specified in the recommendations from the Dewey Beach Audit Committee. (The recommendations are provided as supporting documents for the November 11 meeting, titled “Agenda_5_Potential_Actions…”). Relevant motions, as best as I can specify based on the video record, are as follows. All motions were passed by unanimous vote of the commissioners.

 

Motion 1: The Town is to obtain from the Police Department a full exposition of their participation in the federal surplus program, including that the Department provide the following information for each of the surplus items obtained; description of the law enforcement use provided to the government to justify acquisition of the item; department’s cost to acquire the item; source of funds used to acquire the item; physical location of item after Department took possession; actual use of the item by the Police Department; date placed into service; date removed from service, if applicable; disposition of item. If the item was sold: was authorization required to sell the property? From whom was authorization obtained? Date sold. Sale proceeds. How were sale proceeds utilized? (62 minutes into the meeting)

 

Motion 2: That the Town Council approve the recommendation that the Audit Committee unanimously recommended on October 27 that the Town engage auditors to “perform certain agreed-upon procedures” that will include scrutiny of any funds generated by the Police Department, the Beach Patrol and the Building Inspector. Also the council may ask for guidance from the Audit Committee regarding application of the “agreed upon procedure” audit of other activities of the Town. (64 minutes into the meeting)

 

Motion 3: Commissioner Persinger moved that the Town obtain a full review of the Police Department and Beach Patrol. Certain policies and practices of the Beach Patrol may not be fully compliant with the law. A comprehensive review of all policies and practices within the Police Department and the Beach Patrol should be conducted by an independent consultant tor consultants with appropriate expertise. The Town Manager will provide to the Town Council at least 2 proposal to conduct these reviews. (66 minutes into the meeting. This motion follows the investigative report recommendation 7, page 21)