The City of Methuen has received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice requesting re-payment of $170,000 in grant money associated with the five year weed and seed grant. While the letter is not good news it fails to cite detailed findings on why the DOJ feels Methuen owes this money. Based on that fact I have written back to them seeking clarification, and detailed findings relative to the money in question. While that process continues Methuen shall make no payments pursuant to this request. This grant, as well as an earlier one in which Methuen was cited, occurred before my tenure as Mayor began. In response to both I have taken two steps designed to protect Methuen in the future. The first was an executive order requiring all grant management to be done through the City Auditors office, with one person charged with that responsibility. The second step was to change the way our Police Department handles payroll and the work detail associated with payroll. We have created a manual system to accompany our computerized payroll, adding a level of detail that creates a far more transparent system. These management reforms will lead to more accountability, and will help us avoid some of these grant problems into the future.

Link to the Eagle Tribune story here.