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Resident and state representative press council on audit MD&A omission and communication about testing-site lease
Summary
A resident read auditor findings saying Management’s Discussion & Analysis was omitted from FY22–25 reports and asked why; State Representative Tiffany Roberts urged better meeting protocol and said she received a Secretary of State letter indicating the Norton Street testing-site lease was not renewed, raising concerns about public notification.
A resident and a state lawmaker pressed the South Berwick Town Council on transparency and communication at the council’s May meeting.
Ashley Orson, who identified herself as a town resident, read aloud excerpts from the independent auditor’s report and asked why the town’s financial statements for fiscal years 2022–2025 omitted the Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) that the auditor said is required supplementary information. Quoting the report, Orson said the MD&A “provides an objective and easily readable analysis of the government's financial activities” and asked why the town finance team had elected to omit it.
Representative Tiffany Roberts urged the council to tighten meeting procedures and improve how the town handles public-email disclosures and FOIA reviews so personally identifiable and privileged information is managed before release. Roberts said she had reviewed last week’s workshop and offered procedural suggestions, including clearer rules on points of order and designating who rules on procedure, to build public trust.
Roberts also said that, after contacting the Secretary of State’s office, she had obtained a letter indicating the town chose not to renew the lease at the Norton Street testing site effective June 30 and that the Secretary of State’s office had been informed. She said that raised concern because the office appeared to learn about the town’s decision before the council or public had been clearly informed. Roberts said she would forward the supporting email and document to the council.
Town staff acknowledged the comments and said the resident and representative would be provided with follow-up; no formal votes resulted from these comments. The council did not adopt new FOIA or email-disclosure rules at the meeting but agreed to consider process clarifications and follow up on the testing-site correspondence.
