POLAND — Selectmen on Tuesday received a revised bill from John Cleveland of Community Dynamics for services on two Poland Spring Water Co. TIF accounts.
The amount was $6,900, the original estimate for sorting out the financial history of the two Tax Increment Financing agreements between the town and the company between 2008 and 2014.
In May, Cleveland submitted his report and an invoice for his company’s work in the amount of $12,725.
In July, selectmen and residents expressed dismay at the difference between the December estimate and the May bill.
The Auburn resident and state senator running for re-election was soundly criticized for what many took to be overbilling.
In submitting the reduced bill, Cleveland said in assisting with the TIF agreements that the town entered into a number of years before his arrival his purpose was to act in the best interests of the town. He said he figured he had underbilled the town on numerous occasions over the years in the range of $36,000.
“This has been more than a job assignment for me,” Cleveland said, noting he undertook the assignment because he thought it was important for the town’s economic development efforts to go forward.
Selectman Walter Gallagher thanked Cleveland for saving taxpayers money.
The other selectmen echoed Gallagher’s remarks.
After Cleveland left the meeting, Joe Cimino, a member of the Community and Economic Development Committee, told selectmen they shouldn’t pay the invoice until they had a full report from the town’s auditor to make sure Cleveland has completed what he was supposed to do under the terms of the contract.
Resident Tom Muller criticized Cleveland for missing his deadline and not providing selectmen with monthly billing or calling for assistance if he found the task more difficult and time-consuming that anticipated.
Resident Arthur Berry also advised selectmen to hold off payment of Cleveland’s bill and voiced his disappointment that Cleveland had chosen to give his statement and leave so he doesn’t have to listen to what taxpayers have to say.
Selectmen indicated they would not be making payment right away. Their intention is to try to wrap up a final settlement on the separation of the financial records of the two TIFs after Cleveland had met with Ron Smith, the town’s auditor.
Cleveland said he has been trying to arrange such a meeting for some time but Smith has been busy.
Selectmen agreed they wanted this to happen before their Sept. 2 meeting so they could proceed with efforts for amendments to the TIF agreements. They agreed to hold a workshop Sept. 30 on the matter before their Oct. 7 meeting.
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