Town Pays Vendors Late

[amherst resident]

An article on the front page of the Amherst Bee reveals that the Town has paid its vendors late and officials are concerned about penalties.

The Town of Amherst is late paying 46 bills including a $678,320 payment to Independent health. The reason for the late payment is that Mohan wanted to personally sign all of the checks.

Some of the larger bills paid late or still have not been paid include a $215,760 payment to National Grid.

I never heard of a utility company waiving a late fee.

But don't worry "Mohan said he will personally pay any penalty assessed the town due to his signing the checks."

[Gandalf]

At this rate, he'll go broke long before his term ends!

[left wing]

And this is just the bills piling up. Town employees could tell you about the routine forms, etc. that the Supervisor has to sign, as well as important things that come up everyday to keep government running and Satish is sitting on everything. This is the "day job" he doesn't have time to do because he is busy schmoozing the media. Gridlock's a'comin!

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by left wing
And this is just the bills piling up. Town employees could tell you about the routine forms, etc. that the Supervisor has to sign, as well as important things that come up everyday to keep government running and Satish is sitting on everything. This is the "day job" he doesn't have time to do because he is busy schmoozing the media. Gridlock's a'comin!

He says with a big smile.....

Here's the link so that everyone is on the same page:

http://www.amherstbee.com/news/2006/..._Page/001.html

[therising]

From that article:
- - - -
Council Member William Kindel is concerned Amherst is late in paying about 46 of its bills, including Independent Health’s bill, which was due Jan. 1.

Kindel said he found out about the past due payments from employees who were concerned that the town’s phones would be disconnected due to lack of payment.
- - - - -


So.....the bill was due January 1st. When did Mohan take office, again?
And he's being blamed for this??

[WNYresident]

He does have to get that silly check signing out of his head.. He can easily look at a payout list printed.

[WNYresident]

Originally posted by therising
From that article:
- - - -
Council Member William Kindel is concerned Amherst is late in paying about 46 of its bills, including Independent Health’s bill, which was due Jan. 1.

Kindel said he found out about the past due payments from employees who were concerned that the town’s phones would be disconnected due to lack of payment.
- - - - -


So.....the bill was due January 1st. When did Mohan take office, again?
And he's being blamed for this??

GOod point...

what were the last crew doing all of december? He's been in there only 24 days.

[hacktivist]

Before the whiners jump all over Mohan, let me quote from the article: (and please keep in mind that Mohan was sworn in on January 6, 2006):
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a $678,320 payment to Independent Health, ..., which was due Jan. 1.
. . .
A bill of $16,619 was due to DBA Metropolitan Telecommunications on Jan. 7.
. . .
$159,873 due to STS Truck Equipment due on Dec. 17, 2005
. . .
$100,000 due to the Williamsville Library on Jan. 3
. . .
$64,404 due to Fleet Maintenance on Dec. 16, 2005
. . .
Amherst had about 46 outstanding bills, some dating to this past November...

Blaming Mohan for bills due in November/December is a tad excessive, wouldn't you say?

Lets assume, for argument's sake, that you want to hold him personally responsible for the fines accrued due to the bills being paid late past January 6th; then why not hold Grelick accountable for the bills overdue from November and December?
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, as they say...

[amherst resident]

Maybe the money to pay the bills are available in the 2006 Budget, that didn't become effective until January 1st.

For instance, didn't the Town Board approve the money for the library as part of the 2006 Budget?

[WNYresident]

So if late fees are added it was because thier budget wasn't ready?

So there were that many bills do that weren't paid on time.. seems excessive.. is it like that in all towns?

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by therising
From that article:
- - - -
Council Member William Kindel is concerned Amherst is late in paying about 46 of its bills, including Independent Health’s bill, which was due Jan. 1.

Kindel said he found out about the past due payments from employees who were concerned that the town’s phones would be disconnected due to lack of payment.
- - - - -


So.....the bill was due January 1st. When did Mohan take office, again?
And he's being blamed for this??

Kindel is a political animal that will do anything to make Mohan look bad. This is a typical Kindel tactic since being a board member and an elected official the past two decades.

He did this to the late John Shearer when he assumed his office.
Kindel will do anything to make himself look good in the public eye. Unfortunately, instead of working with Mohan, he is trying to sabotage him anytime he gets the chance.

[Gandalf]

Were these bills brought up from Finance and just waiting for a signature? Dr. Mohan can only sign whats in front of him. Don't expect him to do everyone elses job!

[Dvoakley]

Mareen Cilano was aked about the bills during the WS.She said she brought the bills to Satish's attention. Satish admitted he had the vouchers to sign but he was checking over everyone and will not sign them until he was satisfied as to their accuracy. My thinking on that is when I get my utility bill, I pay it. If I have a question I call the company and get it resolved. I don't let it sit til I get through raking the leaves.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by Pauldo
Kindel is a political animal that will do anything to make Mohan look bad. This is a typical Kindel tactic since being a board member and an elected official the past two decades.

He did this to the late John Shearer when he assumed his office.
Kindel will do anything to make himself look good in the public eye. Unfortunately, instead of working with Mohan, he is trying to sabotage him anytime he gets the chance.

Believe it or not, I absolutely agree with you. I remember thinking when they were making "peace" over Kindel's bigoted remarks that Dr. Mohan was going to learn a hard lesson: You can't trust Kindel. IMO, Dr. Mohan should not have intervened and just nature take its course.

[Smiley]

Originally posted by Dvoakley
Mareen Cilano was aked about the bills during the WS.She said she brought the bills to Satish's attention. Satish admitted he had the vouchers to sign but he was checking over everyone and will not sign them until he was satisfied as to their accuracy. My thinking on that is when I get my utility bill, I pay it. If I have a question I call the company and get it resolved. I don't let it sit til I get through raking the leaves.

Good point Dono! Most people know that if a bill is not correct, you pay it and then after it is all checked out, you would get credit applied to your next months bill if one is due, but you pay it before things get shut off or policies are terminated. As far as accuracy goes, Mohan could have signed everything to keep the bills current and no penalties, if any, would be added, and check for any discepencies at his leasure and not under the gun.

It's hard to place blame on who's fault it was regarding the Independent Health bill, as it was voted on in late December and was due by Jan 1, 2006. I guess a question would be: did they need to wait until Jan1, 2006 to pay as it wouls be coming out of the 2006 budget? What is the budget year for the Town? If it does run starting from Jan 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006, then it could not be paid until after the Jan. 1st date, if thats when it was budgeted for. BUT to wait so late in the month to sign?