Community Corner
Stories of the Year: MYA Comes Under Scrutiny Over Accounting Practices
Join us as we count down some of the most read stories in Merrimack in 2013.
It's the end of the year and that means it's time to count down some of the top stories to hit Merrimack Patch this year (local stories of the year below).
It's been a newsy year around the country as Sandy Hook students returned to school in a new location following the tragic shooting at the end of 2012. In April, two bomb blast created chaos and terror at the finish line of the Boston Marathon killing three and injuring hundreds who lost limbs, suffered serious burns and shrapnel wounds and a plethora of other injuries. Days later, an MIT police officer was killed and his friend was critically injured late that night in a shootout with the bombing suspects.
We saw a country unite behind the city whose baseball team, months later earned its third World Series win in nine years.
Outside of New England, we saw George Zimmerman acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin, and Jodi Arias was found guilty of murdering boyfriend Travis Alexander. A royal baby was born in July and the President Obama-led Affordable Care Act went into effect.
Over the days leading up to the end of the year, we'll choose a story or topic a day that has generated the most buzz in town this year. Check back each morning as we bring you back through 2013.
Accounting Irregularities Bring Merrimack Youth Association Comes Under Scrutiny
In June, Merrimack Youth Association became the center of discussion by the Town Council when information came to light that a person formerly affiliated with the Merrimack Youth Baseball program as its treasurer had been investigated for embezzling money from the town's baseball program. At the conclusion of the investigation, however, the County Attorney's Office concluded it would be difficult to prove money that was missing from the organization's coffers, but later found, was more than sloppy accounting practices.The information surfaced just days before the non-profit, volunteer-run organization was due to meet with the Town Council regarding the $72,000 set aside for the MYA in 2013-14 budget. During a discussion regarding disbursement of the money, the Town Council demanded a full audit of the organization and 25 other stipulations in a 26-point, three year contract that was mostly similar to previous contracts signed by the organization.
The MYA agreed to the audit as well as receiving it's annual budget money in quarterly installments provided they remain in good standing with their contract.
Since then, however, the MYA has lost out on one payment at the end of October for not yet having a complete audit. Further discussion of the audit, which as of last week had been completed by a local firm, but not yet released to the Council, will be held at the Jan. 9 Town Council Meeting, where they expect to have the audit in hand.
Regardless, the Council will discuss its future relationship and funding of the MYA at the Jan. 9 meeting. Stay tuned for more on that story, soon.
Previous:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
