RiverCOG to send targeted letters on bills, approves $7,000 auditor payment

RiverCOG members authorized staff to send targeted outreach letters to the regional delegation on pending state legislation and approved an unplanned $7,000 payment to their auditors for work beyond the original engagement.

Staff explained they will send individualized outreach to the sponsor of Senate Bill 151, which would set parcel size and setback limits, and will send additional letters of support for bills that would direct revenue to towns (including a measure to direct a 1% meals‑tax increment to towns and tourism promotion). Susie Beckman said RiverCOG will also advocate for continued microtransit funding and support the legal‑notice modernization bill where possible. "We're going to be sending targeted letters to the delegation," Sam Gold said; the board approved the outreach plan by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

On audit matters, staff described a challenging transition in the finance office as the new financial administrator learned systems previously handled by a departing staffer. Auditors reported roughly $13,500 in extra work; they offered a discounted request of $7,000 to close out FY25. The board voted to authorize the $7,000 payment to preserve the relationship and to allow the auditors to complete the FY25 audit work while staff implement internal process changes to reduce future audit effort.

Members discussed the need to document financial processes and move to more commonly used financial controls to ease future transitions. Staff said they will pursue process documentation, consider system changes and return with budget proposals to minimize future audit overages.