SPicy has no beef with former HDC Director Gayle Summers, but Kevin Driscoll's June 6, Highland Villager Article HDC's fiscal woes traced to years of negligent bookkeeping reeks of claims of being a victim.

The article reads that Summers had been aware of her shortcomings in bookkeeing for over a decade.  Summers says "When I first saw the problem (in 1998), I didn't want to face it."

Didn't want to face it? For 10 years Summers buried her head in the sand.  She goes on to say that she wasn't hired for her bookeeping. "My talents are as a community organizer." While this may very well be true, Summers managed to get her paycheck deposited regularly, she was good at this aspect of bookkeeping.

Six years ago, which SPicy believes coincides with the financial troubles faced by another DC in Saint Paul, she says the council discussed hiring an outside service. But the District Council chose not to pursue this option.  She later states, "There should have been more oversight." Selfish victimhood. 

SPicy has got to ask, if she knew that there were serious bookkeeping shortfalls during these discussions, why didn't Ms. Summers bring the issue to the attention of the board then? Ms. Summer's distinguished career as a community organizer will forever be tarnished.  SPicy thinks that this is too bad.  SPicy also thinks that the admission by Ms. Summers that she was aware of the issues is more deeply troublesome now that she is claiming to be the victim of the situation.

Whether the loss to the HDC is $1 or $100,000, the only victims are the Saint Paul taxpayers. Not you Ms. Summers.  Give it up.  Ms. Summers has agreed to assist in sorting out the situation. SPicy thinks the board would be wise to decline her review of finances, after all, she admitted she's no good at bookkeeping.

SPicy thinks the Highland District Council area is being well served by the newly elected members of the board. Having reportedly run on the basis of accountability and performance, SPicy wonders just how much longer this irresponsible behavior would have gone on without the changes.

 

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