To the Editor:

Three out of four Wareham Selectmen showed a clear lack of fiscal responsibility through their votes on warrant articles for October Town Meeting. Selectmen Schneider, Begley, and Cruz voted to appropriate money without knowing whether the town can afford the purchases. Selectman Holmes was absent, and Selectman Winslow, who clearly understands fiscal responsibility, voted no.

How can anyone vote on money articles when the 2010 fiscal books have not been closed and when the $919,000 of “unaccounted for” money has not been fully located? How can anyone vote on money articles when no monthly variances had been turned over in more than two years? How can anyone vote on money articles without a completed 2010 audit? How can anyone vote on money articles without any certified free cash? Yet three selectmen did just that.

Many Town Meeting voters look to the votes of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee to guide them in their own votes. However, the Finance Committee has been completely left out of the loop by the Town Administrator until the past week when only two months of variances were given to them. Previously, the FinCom had not received any requested balances or figures in more than 14 months. And now we know that we can’t trust the votes of some selectmen.

With only Ms. Winslow watching out for our tax dollars, I suggest that voters ignore the votes of the BoS when they vote on money articles at Town Meeting. It would be fiscally irresponsible to vote in the affirmative on articles that involve money without having the whole picture. Let’s wait until next April to decide how we spend our tax dollars. That is if we have some figures to work with by then.

Tony Scarsciotti

Wareham