To the Editor:

I am writing to apologize to the citizens of Wareham who read the news this week that our community faces a $919,000 financial deficiency which has yet to be explained. I know for myself that when I received this news for the first time this week, I was shocked.

It is the Board of Selectmen’s responsibility to ensure that fiscal mismanagement does not occur. I take my responsibility to you very seriously and I am embarrassed by this situation.

I believe strongly that our financial professionals should have made the Board of Selectmen aware of this disastrous situation far in advance of Wednesday evening’s Finance Committee meeting regarding the fiscal year 2010 audit.

In my opinion, the Town Administrator should immediately dismiss the Town Accountant and/or provide the Board of Selectmen with his own immediate resignation.

I assure you I take my role seriously and I will do everything in my power to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again on my watch.

Sincerely,

Cara A. Winslow

Selectman