Sheriff asked to explain spending
Bretschneider to face County Commissioners tonight
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

The state’s County Government Finance Review Board may have approved Sheriff Richard Bretschneider’s 2006 special projects budget, but town officials want more information on his spending proposals before signing off on purchases.

Bretschneider, who did not return calls, has been asked to speak before the County Commissioners tonight at the 7 p.m. selectmen’s meeting specifically to explain why he wants to buy two retinal eye scanners totalling $50,000 and a used van for $13,000.

On Aug. 31, the commissioners withheld approval of invoice payments for these items. The next day, Town and County Administrator Libby Gibson sent Bretschneider a memo asking for a report on his reasons for the purchases, his procedures for making the purchases and documentation of compliance with legal requirements to obtain the equipment and vehicle.

On Aug. 3, the County Review Board approved $723,004 of Bretschneider’s $933,004 budget, seeking more detail on how he intended to spend $210,000 on what he listed as special projects. Bretschneider responded to that request and subsequently had all but $75,000 approved, an amount to be spent on a patrol/rescue boat, which the board said required sign-off from the Department of Public Safety.

In his response, Bretschneider explained that the special projects items include two retinal eye scanners used to identify missing or unidentified children. The scanners each cost $25,000. He described the $13,000, 2002 Chrysler vehicle as intended for use in a Community Watch Program. The program is to consist of two salaried deputy sheriffs who will patrol neighborhoods which are recognized areas of drug trafficking.

Questions from town officials on Bretschneider’s use of county deeds excise funds first arose earlier this year when Finance Director Connie Voges was examining invoices he submitted for payment. Some expenses that raised concern over spending propriety included donations to nonprofit organizations, a lawn mower for the Boys and Girls Club and expenditures that did not appear to directly benefit island law enforcement.

Gibson’s memo to Bretschneider about discussions at tonight’s meeting additionally asks him to propose steps that could be taken to “improve coordination and communication between the operations of the Sheriff’s office and the County.”

I