The Ethics Of Check Writing

          “ Is it ethical for Gormley and Desmarais to sign checks as Selectman when some of the money in those checks goes to them personally?

            Well, what do YOU THINK? Look at what they are doing in light of what is going on in this country. Business as usual for the politicians, local or otherwise.”

Here we go again.  Suggesting that Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais are doing something unethical if not illegal. 

Every check that comes out of Town Hall is signed by the Board of Selectmen. That includes the Fire Pay and Incentive Pay checks.  Those checks are then deposited in the MVFD checking account and the MVFD Treasurer writes checks based on the MVFD fire pay records, and the “Vonk Formula,” ( The Incentive Pay Formula.)

Neither Tom Gormley nor Bob Desmarais play any role in determining how the money is paid out. Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais receive Fire Pay. Mr. DeAngelis is attempting to suggest that somehow this is unethical.  He also tries to clump them in with the stereotypical politician, which is not only untrue, but incredibly unfair.  The self-proclaimed “conscience of Middlebury” seems to be lacking one.

Mr. DeAngelis is also forgetting that Mr. St. John and Tom Proulx were also Selectmen as well as firefighters, who also signed the same checks that were delivered to Fire Headquarters during their tenure.

To answer Mr. DeAngelis’s question.  Yes it is indeed ethical to sign checks as Selectmen, when some of the money goes to them personally.  After all who would sign their paychecks?