A Simple Question Deserves a Simple Answer I patiently wait for Board President Brennan’s response to my request for an investigation into allegations regarding Superintendent Rhau’s behavior and continuous violation of the Contract. Brennan has already agreed with me that Rhau should have gotten prior board approval before attending those conferences, and has admitted that Rhau has never brought back any information or material for sharing with others, such as the board. Brennan also concedes that he had no knowledge that Rhau had been to Orlando, San Diego or Boston, and lays the blame squarely on the former board president (Vince Buono) who, according to Brennan, had not followed the proper procedure of putting it on the agenda so other board members would be aware. In light of Brennan’s concurrence, it would seem appropriate to anticipate positive action on Brennan’s part. However, while Brennan may not have (and certainly should not have) a problem with taking suitable action against Rhau for the violations, he still has to deal with the District, and it will be extremely interesting to hear what the other eight board members may have to say about this matter. To reiterate, if and when I receive official answers, regardless of what those answers may be, I will relate them in the Heidcamp Report, as well as post them on the watchdog web site. If the board refuses to respond to my written request or address the problems, they will leave no choice but to take my complaint to the next level.   A Prohibited Conflict of Interest In the mean time, while I patiently await that response, I’d like to share some new information with readers. According to school board minutes (Dec.13,2005), a motion was made by Brennan and seconded by Petramale to approve the establishment and implementation of an audit committee (as per the "New York State Five Point Fiscal Accountability Plan") and further, to approve the appointments of Edward Kovac, Robert McCaig, Donald Tucker and Terry Parisian to the four-member committee for the period of January 1, 2006 through June 2006. It has also been brought to my attention that the Board received a copy of the Commissioner’s new Fiscal Accountability Regulations in February 2006 (which I have FOILed, but have been told that it will take 20-days). I have been advised that, pursuant to the new regulations contained in the report, it would constitute a prohibited conflict of interest to appoint any close or immediate family member of a school board member to the position of internal auditor. According to school records, Board Member Bob McCaig was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee while his brother, Don McCaig, serves as the Internal Auditor. Shouldn’t this constitute a "prohibited conflict of interest" in accordance with the Commissioner’s regulations? It certainly would appear as such. And, if so, why didn’t former board president Buono, who had knowledge of this back in February 2006, take the necessary and proper action to correct it? And why did newly-elected board president Brennan allow McCaig’s brother to be reappointed at the July reorganizational meeting when he knew, or should have known, that it would be considered a prohibited conflict of interest? In reference to this question, I e-mailed board president Brennan on July 24, 2006, and asked the following :   "Mike:......... I heard a rumor that there may be a conflict of interest with Bob McCaig’s brother Don McCaig being an internal auditor. Is this true? ......George" Here was Brennan’s response: "This is the first I am hearing of this. Who would start something like this,. Sounds like someone wants to go after Bob. This stuff has to end. Thanks for letting me know before this becomes something.... Mike"   "Sounds like someone wants to go after Bob"? "This stuff has to end"? What kind of defensive answer is that? What is he talking about, all I asked was whether or not it is true! It’s hard to believe that was the first time Brennan had heard about this, especially since he had received a copy of the Commissioner’s new Fiscal Accountability Regulations back in February, and was the board member who made the motion regarding the establishment and implementation of an Audit Committee! I’m a little confused by Brennan’s response. To date, he has not given me a straight answer to my simply-put-question, "Is it true?" Perhaps Brennan or the school attorney will give the public the real answer to this question—surely we have a right to know. When I receive a copy of the Commissioner’s Fiscal Accountability Regulations, which was given to each board member in February, I will reproduce it on my web site so members of the public can judge for themselves whether or not a conflict of interest exists.   In another matter, Brennan contacted me to inform me that my report was not correct last week in that certain board members did not receive copies of the 2005 Audit Report. He claims that they did receive a copy–and I promised him that if he were to provide proof to me, I would stand corrected. However, in order to verify my assertion, I asked those board members again and I was told, again, that they don’t recall having received a copy. It is unbelievable that with all the documents pointing out the thousands upon thousands of dollars being wasted by the current administration that I have presented over the past 20-weeks, this is all the board has come up with in its own defense. ...unbelievable. There is no doubt in my mind that changes need to be made on that board next election and I’m confident there will be.   Thank You In closing, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have e-mailed me, called me or stopped me on the street to offer encouragement and ask me to continue in my efforts to keep the public informed. The support is overwhelming. I’ve received thousands of hits on the watchdog web-site and I pledge to continue keeping the books to the Saugerties Central School District open to the public regardless of those who may try to silence me. I’ve also had many people ask just who the board members are who went to the newspaper in an effort to silence The Heidcamp Report! For the record, one of them was Michael Brennan and he admitted it! Stay tuned........and please visit www.saugertieswatchdog.com . George D Heidcamp, Sr. August 3, 2006