Sargent Township officials say the Missouri attorney general’s office has been asked to begin an investigation into the actions of the former treasurer of the governmental body amid charges of violating the state’s Open Meeting and Records Law.
According to documents distributed at a public meeting last week and in a separate visit by the township clerk to the Houston Herald, members say Jack Hines resigned at a May 21 public meeting following turmoil on the board. Hines refused to turn over township records and a checkbook, causing bill payments to come to an end, said Board President Joe Marsillo.
A report was later filed with the Texas County Sheriff’s Department to obtain financial records that eventually were turned over by Hines to the Texas County Commission. However, Marsillo said some unflattering documents — already copied in township files —weren’t turned in the commission.
Hines began serving in April 2011. Marsillo says the issue has not risen to the level of concern he’d like from the commission, who are all Republicans. The reason, he says: Hines is expected to be the Republican nominee for county collector-treasurer. Marsillo says party affiliation should not matter.
In information released publicly, the board clerk, Norbert Mayer of Cabool, is opening up his records and encouraging anyone to review the situation.
The handout alleges:
•The former treasurer failed to provide data to an insurance firm to ever obtain a bond and didn’t pay the township’s workman’s compensation policy until it was cancelled.
•Bank statements were never reconciled, and no handwritten register was kept for the public or road board to review.
•A U.S. Department of Labor’s Disaster Recovery Jobs Program used in the township was terminated there, five lost their jobs and the program was cancelled after he wanted a friend, a fellow board member, to oversee it. According to the board, no fuel costs were submitted for the program in December, January and February until the day of Hines resignation. About $4,000 was in arrears. Employee tax information also was in error, Marsillo said.