The Carver Marion Wareham Regional Refuse District is getting closer to hiring a new executive director, but there are still many issues the waste disposal district has to contend with.

The waste disposal district presently has six applicants to fill the executive director position, a position that has been vacant since January when its then-executive director Ray Pickles was fired on charges of embezzling over $800,000 from the waste disposal district.

The topic was discussed at the July 31, Marion Selectmen's meeting when the board was given an update by Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson.

"Back in January of this year, the three town administrators met with the then-executive director (Ray Pickles) with questions surrounding the assessments for each town,' Dawson said.

It was budget time and it became apparent there were unanswered questions, Dawson said. "There were documents missing, backup material that was needed but never provided," he said.

As a result of that the three town administrators approached the board of directors for the Carver Marion Wareham Regional Refuse District.

"After considerable discussion and debate the then executive director's services were terminated. And we began the process of updating the financial control associated with the (refuse) district."

"We've begun the process of looking into audits, " Dawson said. "The last completed audit for the Carver Marion Wareham Regional Refuse District was 2012. The 2013 audit was ongoing at the time the three town administrators took over looking for information, most particularly the minutes of previous meetings and backup material to support the audit findings. Those were never reported."

"The most serious issues we found around management issues surrounding minutes of meetings and the proper documentation of things" Dawson said. "We continue to work on the audit and the scope of the audit and are trying to correct that."

Dawson said a fairly new board of have been appointed. Two of those members are from Marion; former Marion Selectman Steve Cushing and current Selectman Norm Hills.

"They have been busy trying to right the ship and put better controls in place and updating records," Dawson said. "In addition to that they have advertised for an executive director for the district."

At a meeting in mid July, the board of directors instructed the three town administrators to act as the screening agent for the executive director position. Six applications were received. The three town administrators now will act as a screening committee to meet with the applicants, discuss qualifications and then make a recommendation to the board, Dawson said.

In May, the CMW district filed a civil suit in Plymouth Superior Court in an attempt to freeze the assets of the former executive director, as well as a former member of the board, his wife, Diane Bondi-Pickles, who the district alleges received money from "sources that may not have been entirely proper"

There was an ex parte hearing in Plymouth Superior Court. The judge issued a temporary restraining order freezing those assets. A hearing was held before Judge Jeffrey Locke and continued the attachment of real estate of the two parties involved. Essentially what that does is while additional information is investigated, we know if when restitution may be ordered.

Since January, the Carver Marion Wareham Waste Disposal District  has a "much better understand of how it works and the accounting for that to put in controls on the town's side of thing," Dawson said.

Selectman John Waterman had asked if a foresenic audic had been done. Dawson responded it had not becauee key information is missing.

"From January to the first quarter of the calendar year. It was very difficult to wrap our arms around the true financial picture because in many cases were paying invoices from a long time ago. that's skewed the numbers from a quarterly perspective., Dawson said. "But we now have a much clearer picture of our revenue sources, which are different today than they were even a couple of years ago because of the way the recycling market has changed. There used to be some revenue from that now its an expense. But we do see much clearer source of funds and we can move fund into stabilization accounts.

Waterman suggested that there be more than one person signing checks to pay invoices. Dawson said currently only one person is required to sign checks.

"There needs to be a checks and balances system," Waterman said.

"When you have aboard and you have a strong executive director it's easy for the board to lose control, right? Waterman asked, suggesting that two signatures be required for check signing.

"I guess I'm saying we need a strong board chairman to make this work. I'm not saying Steve's not it, but we need someone to challenge what's happenin," Waterman said. "There needs to be someone on the other side who needs to ask questions, not just go along with it."

Dawson noted that Cushing has only been chairman since January.

"As I said the  board has put in a number of controls. One of the things we need to get to is really strong financial policies,' Waterman said. "We need to keep our fingers on the pulse and not rubber stamp and there needs to be more board members involved with the checks."

Waterman suggested there be one or two members on the district board with a financial background.

"It's a separate body but we can certainly make recommendations, Dawson said.