Submitted by mjohnson on

Spotted this and thought I would point it out to everyone.

The 'true' friends of Fort Knox

By Michael Celli
BUCKSPORT (Nov 9): It is hard for most politicians to admit that they have made a mistake. In reading the mailings from the four-member executive committee of the Friends of Fort Knox, three of whom are active politicians, it is apparent that this leadership cannot admit that it has made a mistake, and cannot change course.

When the board demanded Leon Seymour’s resignation, it announced to the press that Leon had done a wonderful job. Only after 60 Friends members demanded that Leon be reinstated did the board concoct alleged performance problems.

When it was critical to sales at the gift shop to acquire inventory and not wait for John Hyk to get around to signing a check, Leon used a debit card. The inventory he purchased with the debit card had long ago been approved in the board’s budget, and this was no different than paying weekly payroll, which expenses had also been approved long ago. Since payroll didn’t require Hyk’s signature, there is no reason that purchase of already approved inventory should have required Hyk’s signature.

You can read the rest of this column at Village Soup.
http://www.villagesoup.com/guestcolumns/story.cfm?storyid=63391

Forums: 

Mud slinging

Interesting article. There is no doubt some truth in the article but only half truths. The gift shop had remained open throughout the season and is seldom open in the off season anyway. It was open more this off season than what I had seen in previous years.

To date, neither side mentioned what was Leon purchased. Facts hinge on the use of an unauthorize debit card to the amount above $500 which was the cap put on expenditures. Fact is that payroll is not the same as an external expenditure. Hyk signature on checks was added as a contol device and was probably not a bad idea. Still Leon knew what he was doing was wrong but decided to go against his bosses anyway. Still there are other issues that involved that have not been made public. At least not by the Friends of Fort Knox.

The two ousted Directors, needed to be terminated because the Corporate filing only allowed for 11 directors. The corporation was illegally operating with 13. The last elected directors where the ones that were let go. These happened to be Cirello and Campbell according to Hyk. (This was an unfortunate coincidence.) So the actual BOD vote for Leon's resignation was 9-2.

The letter make mention of private contracts with members who are paid by FOFK. Yet Mr. Celli along with at least one other members were being paid to give presentations at the fort. In fact, the 20th Maine had once done encampments at the fort free of charge. It was brought to my attention that they have been paid for at least the past three years. This arrangement was set up by Mr. Seymour. Still one of the private demostrators not only was being paid but were also making extra money on the side at the fort through private sales of wares.

For what it is worth. No one who volunteered at the Halloween Children's day were paid nor reimbursed. Not even the 29th GVI.

Finally the cancellation of the freight at the Fort was not just cancelled. It was cancelled due to a seris of threats, intimidations and general chaios after Mr. Seymour began his funder raiser "Fright at the Fork". Yes, "FORK". This event was held directly across the Bridge at commercial business place that is empty and for sale. The proceeds were said to originally go to the Fort but have since changed to other purposes.

Sadly, the True friends group are acting in a terrorist fashion. Your only choice is to support them or be damned. This was made clear to me in a personal e-mail from Mr. Celli. It is very evident that this issue is not about the Fort and in a larger sense not even about People...it is about money. Secondary it appears to be about who can line who's pocket.

The True Friends are complaining about the Friends paying for an attorney yet they are spending just as much and probably more campaigning to get Mr. Seymour re-hired. It would not surprize me if after this whole affair is over, both side will have spent between $10-30 thousand dollars. That money that would have been spent with the Fort. Why doesn't Mr. Seymour simply accepted the consequences of actions and moved on?

Will

A shame

I take no sides in this but to say, its a real shame that stuff like this has to happen. as my father used to say " theres no winners in a skunk p***ing match" not to say both side dont have points or for that matter problems with their arguments. its a sign of the times as long as theres litigation we are going to have these things crop up. im a rule bender at times and sometimes not, but not bending em to the point of criminal. maybe they dismissed him wrong...if you have a cause to fire someone dont spare their dignity fire em for what they did, and if it was bad enough bring charges....if he colored outside the lines a little (or a lot) but has done good service in the past, give em the benifit of the doubt and just warn him not to do it again...i dont suppose its tantamount in taking the command staff of the 20th Maine to Vegas for a weekend of cards and strippers and beer on the Ft.s ticket....
But on the other hand, I personally would'nt want to fight hard to get the job back at a place that doesnt want me....Never understood that. So I hope ive placed enough blame on both sides of the issue or not and be just vague enough to be absolutly uncomprehensible, because when the stark light of day dawns, Im gonna roll out o my tent and see everyone involved in that at some event...
Seamus
(the ever neutral, devils advocate)

"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth

PRIMA NOCTA

Of contradictions and conflicts.

I hear you Mike. The big problem is really that one side is calling foul while committing the same acts themselves. There is so many different conflict of interest situations with the problem that it really is sickening. There are also too many hands in the pot stirring the stew. But what really burns me up is all the lies coming from the True Friends supporters.

They talk about a democracy but are trying to pull a Coup d'état. A large bulk of their supporters are new member who were never involved with the Fort before. There are elections for Board position every so often, so that is the time to vote in new board members. Not after building an army of people just to vote certain people in.

It is not just about the fort anymore! The park will include the new tower on the new bridge. Not really certain what this will really mean.

On the employment issue. It is agreed that I wouldn't want to go back to work with the same bunch that didn't want me. So here we have the basis for the Coup d'état.

Well, one more week may decided the outcome. The meeting and voting will be at the Wager Middle School in Winterport, November 15th. 6:30PM.

Hopefully this will end the debate for better or worse.

Will