Alna selectmen on June 3 wondered why the town’s last audit didn’t expose the problems that have led to fines over payroll taxes. If the board had known sooner about the problems, some of the fines might have been avoided, Second Selectman Melissa Spinney said.

“If it doesn’t pick up something like that, what is it good for,” Spinney asked about the audit.

Town Clerk Amy Warner recalled former treasurer Aaron Miller saying he tried to make tax payments using the town’s QuickBooks software; in that case, QuickBooks would have shown the payments even though they didn’t go though, Warner said.

However, board members wondered if some part of the auditing process should have revealed that the payments were missed.

Selectmen said the auditing firm, Maine Municipal Audit Services of Levant, did not identify an issue with payroll tax payments; however, the firm recommended that town officials regularly review transactions and keep information up-to-date on the town’s software.

In a Feb. 23 letter, the firm’s owner Mindy Cyr states: “During our audit it was noted that the cash receipts and cash disbursements were not always entered into the QuickBooks system in a timely manner. It is important that the QuickBooks file be updated on a regular basis to assure that the information is accurate and complete.”

Selectmen discussed possibly having a conversation with Cyr. The Wiscasset Newspaper’s attempts to reach her were not immediately successful.

Buildings reviewed

Two trees behind the Puddle Dock School could fall and should be looked at for possible removal, according to a new review by the town’s insurer. The same review points out possible problems at the Alna Meetinghouse, the town office, and the salt and sand shed.

Board members questioned whether the trees at the Puddle Dock School pose a hazard. They are live, selectmen said.

The action plan from Maine Municipal Association Risk Management Services calls for a railing outside the meetinghouse to be removed.

“(The railing) has deteriorated to the point where anyone falling against it, or leaning onto it, could break the railing and fall, presenting a potential liability hazard against the town,” the plan states.

The item the report describes is a horse-hitch, not a railing, and is being looked at for possible work, according to Warner, who leads the Committee for Alna History as its chairman. She did not know when the hitch was installed at the 1789 meetinghouse. Regarding the report’s citing of peeling paint and plaster, Warner told selectmen that a scraping and cleanup will be done. “That’s our short-term fix .... We’re not looking at painting any time in the near future.”

The report states that a second-floor dormer at the town office has possible wood rot; that the paint on the building’s exterior is peeling; and that the salt and sand shed’s metal roof has extensive corrosion.

Selectmen said they were not sure how much work will end up having to be done at the buildings. Board members discussed writing back to the insurer. “If we at least respond, then that will help,” First Selectman David Abbott said.

“And hopefully they won’t answer,” Third Selectman Doug Baston said.