With finances looking bleak, trustees approved a new policy for the village.
The Fredonia Board of Trustees passed a resolution this week requiring official approval for all purchases. Former Trustee Jim Lynden was unimpressed.
“The resolution will not do enough to fix your disaster,” said Lynden, who served three terms before getting voted out in November. “The treasurer is supposed to account for every cent that’s spent and she normally does.”
The resolution states that no new contracts are to be put in place without trustees’ approval. However, Lynden said that should also normally be the case, anyway.
“Please stop your gaslighting,” he told trustees. “It was brought to your attention by several residents and past officials that this budget was unsustainable and you were overspending. Take the responsibility and address the tough and necessary decisions in the budget itself. You have the ability to readdress your budget.”
Lynden added, “It’s not a tax increase that we need. As the mayor said, housing developers are stymied by the shock of tax bills. You don’t need to increase your taxes, you need to address your budget.”
Another familiar face at Fredonia board meetings, former Village Attorney Sam Drayo, spoke in support of the resolution.
The vote was 4-0 with Trustee Ben Brauchler not present.