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June 23, 2005Officials pushed for auditByand Record-Eagle staff writers TRAVERSE CITY - Glen Lile and Beth Friend ran for elected office in East Bay Township last year under the premise that township incumbents lacked fiscal accountability. They promised to restore the public's trust with a fresh audit of township books. "I went to township board meetings for three years and never got two-plus-two equals four," Friend said. Shortly after taking office Friend, a trustee, and Lile, the new supervisor, pushed to replace Dennis Gartland & Niergarth CPA as its auditing firm. "We had the same auditor for 15 years or something and any good audit firm said every four or five years you should have a fresh set of eyes look at the books," Lile said. Fresh eyes, in the form of an audit conducted by Plante & Moran, led to criminal charges Wednesday against longtime clerk Janice "Jan" Gee. Gee's job was to keep the books and write the checks for East Bay Township, and authorities said she used that position to steal public money. Gee, 59, is charged with seven felony counts of embezzlement less than $20,000. The charges involve payroll irregularities, one of several issues Lile, Friend, and new trustee Susan LaRose raised over Gee's bookkeeping. Not everyone believes Gee dipped into the township till, including former East Bay Township supervisor Joseph Bartko, whom Lile defeated in the August primary. "You've got to be joking," Bartko said when asked about Gee's arrest. "They are trumped-up charges. You are barking up the wrong tree. "There is nothing wrong there. It will prove itself out in court. She is an honest woman, more honest than some people," he said. Friend this year said she discovered a large number of checks were missing at the township. She demanded the board be provided copies of all voided checks. Friend asked to see copies of all credit card charges and when Gee refused, Friend obtained them through the state Freedom of Information Act. Friend turned those records and other documents over to the auditors. In May, the township board battled with Gee and treasurer Debora Watson over how bills were paid. Board members wanted purchase orders filled out for all expenditures and wanted to see documentation on all bills before they were paid. When documentation wasn't forthcoming at the May meeting, board members voted not to pay the bills. Watson and Gee retaliated by sending letters to the township's suppliers that said the township board refused to pay bills and couldn't guarantee future payments. "We couldn't even buy gas to cut the grass," Lile said. After the board received documentation it discovered Watson improperly paid herself mileage for driving to and from work. Watson is repaying the funds. Lile said he doesn't know what options the township board has regarding Gee's employment status, since she's an elected official. "I suppose she could be back tomorrow writing the checks and spending the money," Lile said. Evelyn David, information director for the Michigan Townships Association, said the township board is powerless to act against Gee until the criminal "issue is resolved." David said if an elected official is convicted of a felony, the township board can make a determination that the office has been "vacated" and make an appointment. "It is business as usual until something comes about from the investigation or the charge," she said. "At this point, the township board does nothing because there is nothing they can do." The board set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday at township hall with its auditor, its attorney, and the county prosecutor. Friend said auditors raised a wide array of bookkeeping issues, but declined to discuss specifics until after Monday's meeting. Lile told township employees not to comment on Gee's arrest until after Monday's meeting. "They don't know that much anyhow and everyone will find out Monday," he said. See Related Stories: East Bay Township Clerk charged with embezzlement felonies - June 23, 2005 East Bay Township treasurer pays herself $887 to drive to work - May 26, 2005
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